Make sure your Apps are ready for Android 7.1.1

Developing with Android 7.1.1 Nougat Final Release

Android 7.1.1 an update to Android Nougat along with the Android 7.1.1 source code to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is now officially released, so that device makers can get their hands on the latest version of Android. With Android 7.1.1 officially on its way to users, it’s a good time to make sure your apps are ready.

Android 7.1.1 is an incremental release that builds on the features already available on newly released Pixel and Pixel XL devices, it adds a handful of new features for consumers as well as optimizations and bug fixes on top of the base Android 7.1 platform (API level 25). If you haven’t explored the developer features, you’ll want to take a look at app shortcuts, round icon resources, and image keyboard support, among others, you can see the full list of developer features here.

For details on API Level 25, check out the API diffs and the API reference. You can find an overview of all of the Android Nougat developer resources here, including details on the core Android 7.0 Nougat behavior changes and developer features.

Are your Apps Ready? Make Sure.

Take this opportunity to test your apps for compatibility and optimize them to look their best on Android 7.1.1, such as by providing round icons and adding app shortcuts to begin with.

It is beneficial compiling your app with and ideally targeting, API 25. An update to the platform and build tools in Android Studio, as well as the API Level 25 emulator system images is in play. The latest version of the support library (25.0.1) is also available for you to add image keyboard support, bottom navigation, and other features for devices running API Level 25 or earlier.

Downloadable factory and OTA images are also being provided on the Nexus Images page to help developers do a final testing on Pixel and Nexus devices. To help scale this testing, make sure to take advantage of Firebase Test Lab for Android and run the tests in the cloud at no charge through the end of December. After the final testing, publish the apps to alpha, beta, or production channels in the Google Play Developer Console. As mentioned back in August, Google has moved Android Nougat into a regular maintenance cycle and have already started work on refinements and bug fixes for the next incremental update.