When you’ve got a smartphone operating Android 12 that may’t improve previous that model, I’ve some dangerous information: Google is dropping help in your cellphone.
RIP Android 12
As spotted by Android Authority, Google is now not seeding safety updates for gadgets operating Android 12 and Android 12L. The corporate omitted the Android model from its April 2025 Android Security Bulletin, which notes safety vulnerabilities Google has recognized and patched, and in addition to which variations of Android obtain these patches. The corporate highlights Android 13, 14, and 15 throughout quite a few totally different vulnerabilities, however not Android 12.
The outlet is not basing this information off these omissions alone: Android Authority experiences that Google dropped help for Android 12 and 12L as of March 31, primarily based on a supply that claims the corporate ended safety patch backports for these variations on that date. Backporting is when a developer takes a safety patch from a more moderen model of software program and provides it to an older model of that software program. It appears Google had been doing that for Android 12 from newer variations of Android, however as of the top of March, has stopped.
Google hasn’t stated precisely why it’s ending help for Android 12 presently, but it surely nearly assuredly has to do with the OS’ age. The corporate launched the model (codenamed Snow Cone) again in October of 2021. It was a comparatively huge replace for Android, notably introducing “Material You” to gadgets for the primary time. Materials You considerably modified the look of Android, adjusting UI parts, app icons, and making use of a common theme primarily based on the colours of your wallpaper. The replace additionally included quite a few privateness settings in addition to a handful of latest gesture controls. In keeping with Android Authority, Google stops most Android OS backporting round three and a half years after launch, so this timing tracks.
Is your machine affected?
The most important situation right here is that there are quite a lot of gadgets on the market operating Android 12. Statcounter says practically 12.5% of Android telephones across the globe are operating this model, while 9.14% of Android users in the United States are operating it. Blacklinko claims there are greater than three billion Android telephones lively the world over, which implies there might be greater than 370 million Android telephones on the market about to lose safety updates.
What do you assume thus far?
In case your Android cellphone cannot replace previous Android 12, it is likely to be time to improve. Positive, you may reside with out new Android options, however safety updates are important. Inevitably, somebody will uncover safety flaws inside Android that have an effect on Android 12, however since Google is now not backporting patches to this model, these flaws will go unpatched. As such, dangerous actors can exploit these flaws in focused assaults, leaving you susceptible.
In the event you’re searching for a brand new Android smartphone, Lifehacker’s sister website PCMag has a listing of its favorite Android phones for 2025. In the event you go for a brand new Google or Samsung cellphone, know that these firm assure seven years of software program and safety help. If you buy a Pixel 9a today, for instance, you will not have to fret a few comparable state of affairs till 2032.
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