Updates usually pop up automatically, but you can always check to see if you have the latest version. Setting > System > System Update by tapping Check for updatesWant to get out of the beta and go back to Android 14? Head over to Google Android Beta PageScroll down to find your device and tap Refuse. This will erase all locally saved data, so back up your device first. You will be prompted to update to roll back to an older version.
Those without a Pixel or supported partner device should keep an eye on the phone manufacturer’s website, forums, or social media to find out when Android 15 will be released.
Top new features of Android 15
These are our favorite features and improvements in Android 15. You can learn more at Google Developers Site. And be sure to read our story about all the new features coming to Android and the Android ecosystem—including Wear OS, Android Auto, and Android TV—in this story here.
Private space
With the help of Google
Android 15 includes a new Private Space, where you can keep sensitive apps separate from the rest of your phone. Whether you want to protect your health data or your banking apps, Private Space keeps them safe behind a second layer of authentication, protected by the same password you use to unlock your device or an alternative PIN. When your Private Space is locked, apps are hidden from your Recents view, notifications, settings, and other apps. You can also delete your Private Space entirely.
What song is that?
We have instructions on how to identify songs with your phoneBut Google is making it easier than ever with Circle to Search in Android 15. If a tune playing on your phone or a nearby speaker catches your attention, press and hold the Home button or navigation bar to activate Circle to searchthen tap the music button to identify the song name and artist. You’ll even get a link to the YouTube video.
Improved audio visual description
Android has a screen reader called TalkBack for people with vision lossand Android 15 uses Google’s Gemini AI to improve image descriptions. Traditionally, image descriptions on websites have been limited to whatever is typed into the alt text field, but Google’s AI can analyze images and describe them in more detail. The new feature also works with photos in your photo library, images on social media, or images in text messages.
Earthquake warning system
People in the US will get potentially life-saving warnings about impending earthquakes when Android 15 goes live crowdsourced earthquake detection technology. This new feature also includes tips on what to do after an earthquake.
More satellite connections
With the help of Google
There’s a significant expansion to satellite connectivity in Android 15. Some RCS and SMS apps can now send text messages over satellite (previously limited to emergency use). Google has also standardized pop-ups and other UI elements to make it more obvious when you’re connecting over satellite. Until now, only Pixel 9 series supports satellite messaging.
Offline Maps on Wear OS
If you have one Wear OS Smartwatch to pair with your Android phone, you can now access offline maps. Any map you download to your phone can be used to navigate on your wrist, so you can leave your phone behind when you go for a run.
Better Bluetooth
Android 15 will bring a bunch of Bluetooth improvements. First, the quick settings pane will now open a pop-up window that lets you select individual devices, go to their settings, and pair new devices, cutting down on navigating the settings menu. It also seems like Google is changing how the Bluetooth toggle works, so when you turn Bluetooth off, it will automatically turn it back on the next day by default. This could be useful. Android Device Finder NetworkUse Bluetooth to find your device. You can turn off auto-on in settings if you want.
Record a portion of the screen
With the help of Google
Instead of recording or sharing your entire screen, in Android 15 you can share a single app without revealing the rest of your screen or incoming notifications. Logins and one-time passwords (OTPs) are automatically hidden from remote viewers. This feature has been available on Pixels, but now Google has built it into Android.
Block malicious apps
Several updates in Android 15 make life harder for malicious apps. They can no longer hide behind other apps by bringing them to the foreground or overlaying them invisibly. There are also changes designed to prevent intent exploits, which let you start an activity in another app by describing the action you want to perform, because they are often misused by malware. These are things that go on behind the scenes to keep users safe.
Application storage
With the help of Google
If you haven’t used an app or game in a while, you might be prompted to delete it, but what if you think you might use it again in the future? With app archiving in Android 15, you can download most apps by archiving them while preserving user settings or game data. Autoarchiving was announced last year, but Android 15 makes it a system-wide option, so people can choose to autoarchive apps when they run low on storage.
Good vibration
Android 15 lets you turn keyboard vibration on or off system-wide, instead of having to dig into keyboard settings. There’s a new toggle in Setting > Sound and vibration > Vibration and tactilewhere you can also use a slider to adjust the intensity of the haptics (this feature was available on some Android phones, but is now system-wide). The second beta also introduces rich vibrations, so people can identify between different types of notifications without looking at the screen.
Share audio
It’s getting easier to share audio from your phone using Bluetooth LE and Auracast with a new audio sharing-focused settings page. The page wasn’t working in the previous Beta, and it’s unclear which devices will support the feature, but those in Android Agency successfully using the Pixel 8 Pro. The feature lets you stream audio from your phone to other devices within Bluetooth range, including the phones and headphones of friends and family, who can scan a QR code to join in.
Better PDF handling
With the help of Google
Trying to do anything with PDFs on your Android phone can be a pain, so the news that Google has baked some PDF improvements into Android 15 is welcome news. PDFs will load smoother, and there’s now support for password-protected files, annotations, form editing, and selecting copies. Perhaps best of all, you can now search within PDFs.
Volume control
It can be annoying when you switch from one app to another and the volume suddenly spikes. Thankfully, Android 15 introduces support for CTA-2075 Volume normalization. That means it compares volume across apps, taking into account the characteristics of your speakers, headphones, or earbuds, and intelligently adjusts the sound to ensure there are no sudden jumps or drops.
Better low light camera
There are a few notable improvements to the camera app in Android 15. First, Low Light Boost brings better low-light previews so you can better frame night shots and scan QR codes when light is limited. There are also new camera app options that give you more control over the flash, so you can adjust the intensity for both single flash and continuous flashlight modes.
Advanced fraud and scam protection
With the help of Google
There are a number of updates in Android 15 aimed squarely at stopping scammers and fraudsters. Google will use AI across Play Protect and on devices to scan for and flag suspicious behavior. Messages containing one-time passwords (OTPs), commonly used in two-factor authentication, are now hidden from the notification system, making them harder to block. Restrictions are also being extended to sideloaded apps—those not downloaded through the Google Play Store.
Taskbar options
Because Android Tablet And folding phoneGoogle has changed the way the taskbar works. It was first permanent, then temporary, and now you can choose. This is handy for docked tablets, where you might want the taskbar to always be visible, but it’s also nice to have the option to hide it. You can also pin your favorite split-screen app combinations. Android 15 allows apps to display edge-to-edge, so they can take advantage of more of the available screen space, even if there’s a taskbar or system bar at the bottom.
Better battery life
There are always tweaks and efficiency improvements in Android updates that can have a positive impact on battery life, but with Android 15, Google is checking more foreground services and limiting which apps are still running in the active state. Devices with more RAM will also see faster app launch times and cameras with lower power consumption, thanks to support for larger page sizes.
Advanced Anti-Theft Protection
With the help of Google
Google is rolling out new Android protections to deter thieves—such as auto-lock when someone snatch your phoneas well as remote locking options—will be available on devices running Android 10 and above. But the factory reset protection update, which helps prevent thieves from forcing a factory reset on a stolen device without knowing your device credentials or Google account, is only available on Android 15.
More foldable screen options
Some best foldable phone automatically switches whatever action you’re taking to the cover screen when you fold it, but Google is now building that option into Android 15. If you prefer the cover screen to lock when you fold it, that’ll be an option too. There’s also more support for apps that display on the smaller cover screen with the more compact flip phone portfolio.
Add Health Connect data
Health Connect started as an app to pull in all your health and fitness data from different devices and apps. It came pre-installed with Android 14, but Android 15 is adding two new types of data: skin temperature (collected by wearables like Oura Ring and Pixel Watch 2) as well as training plans—which can include completion goals around calories burned, distance, duration, reps, and steps, but also performance goals around as many reps as possible (AMRAP), pace, heart rate, power, perceived exertion rate, and speed.
