If you’re a developer, this blog breaks things down into what you need to know and how to handle it.
First Things First: Do These Changes Affect You?
Yes, even if you don’t target Android 16 right now, many of these changes will impact how your app behaves on Android 16 devices. So it’s best to test and adapt early.
1. Live Updates — A Smarter Way to Show Notifications
What’s new?
Think of Live Updates as upgraded notifications. If your app tracks something live (like food delivery, ride arrival, fitness activity, or cricket scores), you can now show updates directly on the lock screen—and they stay updated without spamming new notifications.
Why it matters:
No need to push repeated notifications. Android lets you update the same one, in real time.
What you should do:
Learn the new Live Update API and use it instead of sending multiple notification updates.
2. Material You 3+ — Your App UI Might Look Different
What’s new?
Android 16 now pushes the updated Material You design with smoother animations, dynamic themes, and new shapes. Even the quick settings panel (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) is more flexible.
Why it matters:
If your app’s UI looks off or overlaps with system elements—it may need tweaks.
What you should do:
Use Material 3 components and test your app in different screen sizes, orientations, and theme settings.
3. Desktop Mode — Android Apps Can Feel Like Desktop Apps
What’s new?’
Android 16 brings desktop mode to life—apps can now open in floating windows, just like on a PC or tablet. It’s Google’s version of what Samsung DeX has been doing.
Why it matters:
Your app may now run on larger screens, side-by-side with others, or in a resizable window.
What you should do:
Make sure your app s upports resizing and works well in split-screen or windowed mode.
4. Bluetooth Auracast — Broadcast Audio to Many Devices
What’s new?
Android 16 adds support for Auracast, which lets you send audio from one phone to many nearby devices at once—like a silent disco.
Why it matters:
If your app streams audio (e.g., music, podcasts, conference apps), you can offer group listening.
What you should do:
Explore the new Bluetooth audio sharing APIs.
5. MIDI 2.0 and New Video Codec Support (continued)
What’s new?
- MIDI 2.0: Better support for digital instruments and music apps
- APV Codec: New video format that saves space and plays smoother
Why it matters:
If your app handles digital instruments, music production, or media playback, these updates improve precision, performance, and efficiency. MIDI 2.0 allows for better device communication (like pitch, tone, and controls), and the new APV video codec helps stream and play high-quality videos using less bandwidth and battery.
What you should do:
- For music or media apps: Explore MIDI 2.0 support in the new Android SDK.
- If your app plays or records video, check compatibility with the AV1 and APV codecs.
6. Privacy and Storage Updates – More Control for Users
What’s new?
Android 16 puts privacy first. It strengthens how apps request access to files and photos:
- Apps can no longer access the entire media gallery directly.
- Users will now use a system-level Photo Picker, where they manually select photos to share with the app.
- Apps accessing external files must follow stricter rules and use scoped storage.
Why it Matters:
If your app uploads images or files (e.g., chat apps, forms, or profiles), this will affect your flow.
What you should do:
- Stop using READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.
- Implement the new Photo Picker API.
- Shift to MediaStore or Storage Access Framework for file access.
7. Credential Manager Upgrades – Easier, Safer Logins
What’s new?
Android 16 improves the Credential Manager to support passkeys (passwordless login), alongside saved passwords and biometric authentication.
Why it matters:
Passkeys offer a more secure and seamless login experience. No more forgetting passwords, and no need to type anything.
What you should do:
- Use CredentialManager APIs to offer sign-in with passkeys, passwords, or Google credentials.
- Test login flows with fallback options (e.g., fingerprint or PIN).
8. Smarter System Behaviors
What’s new?
Android 16 brings subtle but impactful system optimizations:
- Broadcast throttling: Reduces battery drain by limiting how often your app can receive system-wide broadcasts.
- Background task limits: Apps that run tasks in the background too frequently will face new restrictions.
Why it matters:
Battery and performance are prioritized. If your app uses background services or frequent broadcast receivers, you may see issues on Android 16 devices.
What you should do:
- Migrate recurring background work to WorkManager or JobScheduler.
- Reduce reliance on frequent alarms or polling.
- Use FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging) for updates instead of background sync.
9. Better Support for Large Screens and Foldables
What’s new?
Android 16 is designed with foldables, tablets, and desktop usage in mind:
- Improved multi-window handling
- Better app continuity during screen rotation or resizing
- Support for keyboard/mouse input on tablets and Chromebooks
Why it matters:
If your app only works well in portrait mode or breaks in split-screen, this is a problem.
What you should do:
- Test with various screen sizes and orientations.
- Use WindowSizeClass, WindowInsets, and responsive layout patterns.
- Ensure input fields and navigation elements work with hardware input.
10. Testing Tips for Android 16
Even if your app is stable now, it might break silently or misbehave on Android 16. Here’s how to avoid surprises:
Testing checklist:
- Run your app on an Android 16 emulator or test device.
- Check all foreground/background services.
- Test UI on tablets, foldables, and landscape mode.
- Validate file upload flows using Photo Picker.
- Check notifications, especially if you’re using persistent updates.
Final Developer Action List
- Update your target SDK to 34+ (Android 16)
- Test and migrate the notification logic to Live Updates
- Use Material 3 components for adaptive UI
- Optimize for multi-window and desktop mode
- Replace legacy storage access with the Photo Picker and SAF
- Implement passkey login using Credential Manager
- Shift background tasks to WorkManager
Android 16 is all about modern, secure, and user-friendly apps. These changes are here to help your app perform better, not just look good. If you adapt early, you’ll deliver smoother, smarter experiences that feel right at home on any Android device, from foldables to desktops.
Not sure where to start? Prioritize updates to storage access, foreground services, and UI responsiveness.
Want help updating your app for Android 16 or need a migration checklist for your team? Let’s chat
