The OS that gets to what’s important.
Go straight to the stuff that matters most. Because Android 11 is optimized for how you use your phone. Giving you powerful device controls. And easier ways to manage conversations, privacy settings and so much more.
Android 11 Highlights
- Conversations
- Content Capture
- Predictive Tools
- Accessibility
- Device Controls
- Privacy 
- Phones ready for Android 11
Android 11 Highlights
Manage your conversations.
See, respond to and control your conversations across multiple messaging apps. All in the same spot. Then select people you always chat with. These priority conversations show up on your lock screen. So you never miss anything important.
Bubbles
With Android 11, you can pin conversations so they always appear on top of other apps and screens. Bubbles keep the conversation going—while you stay focused on whatever else you’re doing. Access the chat anytime or anywhere. Then carry on doing you.
Capture and share content.
Built-in screen recording. Finally.
Screen recording lets you capture what’s happening on your phone. And it’s built right into Android 11, so you don’t need an extra app. Record with sound from your mic, your device or both.
Select and share just got easier.
Select text from your apps. Grab images too. On Pixel devices1, you can easily copy, save and share info between many apps. Like your browser, your delivery app or from the news.
Helpful tools that predict what you want.
- Smart reply
- App suggestions
- Smart folders
A conversation where a user responds to a message that says "hey I'm headed out now" with the words "sounds good!" selected from a toolbar of suggested responses.
Smart reply
Get suggested responses in conversations.Hi there, sounds good or 👋 when you need it. On Pixel devices1, replies are intelligently suggested based on what’s been said in the conversation—so the words you need and the perfect emoji are always at your fingertips.2
App suggestions
Easily get to apps you need most.Pixel devices1 make app suggestions that change based on your routine. So you can see what you need throughout the day, all on the bottom of your home screen. Making it easy to get to your morning workout app when you wake up. Or to access the TV app you use when it’s time to relax.
Smart folders
Smarter ways to organize your apps.Get intelligent suggestions for folder names on your Pixel device1. For a home screen that stays organized. Names are based on theme—like work, photo, fitness and more.
Control your phone withyour voice.
With Android 11, Voice Access is faster and easier to use. Intuitive labels on apps help you control and navigate your phone, all by speaking out loud. Even use Voice Access offline, for more support whenever you need it.
Learn moreDevice Controls
Set the temperature to chill, then dim your lights. All from a single spot on your phone.3 Just long press the power button to see and manage your connected devices. Making life at home that much easier.
Media Controls
Switch from your headphones to your speaker without missing a beat. Tap to hear your tunes or watch video on your TV. With Android 11, you can quickly change the device that your media plays on.
Showing an Android device within a car. When the Android device powers on, an Android app called SpotHero is automatically displayed on the car's dashboard.
Connect Android to your car. Skip the cable.
Hit the road without plugging in. Android Auto now works wirelessly with devices running Android 11—so you can bring the best of your phone on every drive.4
Learn moreYou control what apps can access.
Take charge of your data with Android. You choose whether to give or not, permission to access sensitive data, to the apps that you download. So you stay better protected.
One‑time permissions
Give one-time permissions to apps that need your mic, camera or location. The next time the app needs access, it must ask for permission again.
Permissions auto‑reset
If you haven't used an app in a while, you may not want it to keep accessing your data. So Android will reset permissions for your unused apps. You can always turn permissions back on.
Security updates, right from Google Play.
With Android 11, you get even more security and privacy fixes sent to your phone from Google Play. The same way all your other apps update. So you get peace of mind. And your device stays armed with the most recent defense.
Phones ready for Android 11.
Experience what Android 11 has to offer on devices made for the latest and greatest.
And there’s so much more.
From security enhancements to easier ways to get work done, Android 11 has something for everyone.
Voice AccessIntuitive labels on apps help you control and navigate your phone, all by speaking out loud. Even use Voice Access offline, for more support whenever you need it.
Talkback braille keyboardType braille using just your Android device. No additional hardware needed.
LookoutLookout now has two new modes. Scan Document and Food Label help people with low vision or blindness get things done faster and more easily. Opening Lookout also turns on your flashlight, helping users read in low light. And Lookout is now available on all 2GB+ devices running Android 6.0 or later.
3P performance optimizationsYour camera works even better on photo sharing platforms like Snapchat.
Mute during camera captureDevelopers can use new APIs for apps to mute vibration from ringtones, alarms or notifications.
Bokeh modesDevelopers can now request a bokeh picture via the Android camera2 APIs.
Camera support in EmulatorNow supports a fully functional camera HAL. Making it easier for developers to test apps using the latest Android camera2 APIs.
Bedtime ModeBedtime Mode quiets your phone when it’s time to go to sleep. Schedule it to run automatically or while your phone charges as you rest. Your screen switches to grayscale and your notifications go silent with Do Not Disturb.
ClockThe new bedtime feature in Clock helps you set a healthy sleep schedule. Track screen time at night and fall asleep to calming sounds. Then wake up to your favorite song. Or use the Sunrise Alarm that slowly brightens your screen to start the day.
Work profile enhancementsGet full privacy from IT on your work profile on company-owned devices. Plus new asset management features for IT to ensure security without visibility into personal usage.
Connected work and personal appsConnect work and personal apps to get a combined view of your information in places like your calendar or your reminders.
Schedule work profileEasily disconnect from work. With Android 11, you can now set a schedule to automatically turn your work profile on and off.
Work tab in more placesUse the work tab in more places to share and take actions across work and personal profiles. See work tabs when sharing, opening apps and in settings.
Location access notificationsGet a new notification if your IT admin has turned on location services on your managed device.
Device controlsEasily manage your connected devices all from one spot on your phone.3
Media controlsWith Android 11, you can quickly change the device that your media plays on.
Android AutoAndroid Auto now works wirelessly4 with devices running Android 11.
Context-aware Bluetooth airplane modeIf you have headphones or hearing aids connected to your phone, bluetooth will stay on if you enable Airplane mode.
ConversationsSee, respond to and control your conversations across multiple messaging apps. All in the same spot. Choose priority conversations that will show up on your lock screen.
BubblesPin conversations so they always appear on top of other apps and screens. So you can access the chat anytime or anywhere.
Smart replyOn Pixel devices1, replies are intelligently suggested based on what’s been said in the conversation.2
Keyboard autofillGBoard gives you suggestions to help fill in forms with the info you use most. Like passwords or your home address.
Overview actionsOn Pixel devices1, you can easily copy, save and share info between many apps.
Nearby ShareQuickly and securely send files, videos, map locations and more to devices nearby. Works with Android devices, Chromebooks or devices running Chrome browser.
One-time permissionsGive one-time permissions to apps that need your mic, camera or location. The next time the app needs access, it must ask for permission again.
Permissions auto-resetIf you haven't used an app in a while, you may not want it to keep accessing your data. So Android will reset permissions for your unused apps. You can always turn permissions back on.
Google Play system updatesWith Android 11, you get even more security and privacy fixes sent to your phone, right from Google Play. So your device stays armed with the most recent defense.
Scoped storageAndroid limits broad access to shared storage for all apps running Android 11, so your info stays better protected.
Resume on rebootPick up right where you started. Apps run immediately after an update is installed. So you don’t miss any notifications after your phone has rebooted.
Blocked permissionsIf a user denies an app permission multiple times, the app will be blocked from requesting the permission again.
Soft restartGet Google Play system updates when your phone is idle, with no full reboot required.
Background locationGet more control over location sharing with apps that are not in use. So apps don’t get access to more data than they need.
Screen recorderScreen recording is now built in, so you don’t need an extra app. Record with sound from your mic, your device or both.
App suggestionsPixel devices1 now make app suggestions based on your daily routines. These apps show up on the bottom row of your home screen. So you can get the apps you need when you need them.
Smart foldersSee intelligent suggestions for folder names on your Pixel device1. For a home screen that stays organized.
Call screeningNew APIs to help screening apps better identify spam calls.
Schedule Dark modeSchedule when you want your phone to turn to Dark mode. And when you want it to go back to a standard display.
Picture-in-picturePicture-in-picture windows can be adjusted to fit the size you need.
5G detection APIWith new APIs, apps know if you’re on a 5G connection. So you get better performance.
Hinge angle sensor supportSo apps can better support all kinds of foldable configurations.
Ethernet tetheringShare a tethered internet connection with a USB ethernet dongle.
Gesture sensitivityWhen using gesture nav, you can now fine-tune both Back gestures on the left and right edge independently of one another.
Notification historyYour notification history is now available in settings.
SharesheetPin the apps you use most in the Sharesheet.
FAQs
Is Android 11 a good version? ›
If you want the latest technology first—such as 5G—Android is for you. If you can wait for a more polished version of new features, head to iOS. In all, Android 11 is a worthy upgrade—as long as your phone model supports it. It's still a PCMag Editors' Choice, sharing that distinction with the also-impressive iOS 14.
What are the disadvantages of Android 11? ›Android 11 automatically revokes permissions for apps you don't use very often and will notify you when it does so. It also restricts apps from using sensitive permissions such as your location, microphone, and camera while in the background.
Can Android 11 run 1gb RAM? ›Android 11 to require more than 2GB RAM, Android Go becoming mandatory.
Is Android 11 or 12 better? ›Is Android 12 Better Than Android 11? In short, yes. There's rarely a new version of the Android OS that's not better than its predecessor. Android 12 is no different.
Is Android 11 Oreo or pie? ›| Name | Internal codename | Latest security patch date |
|---|---|---|
| Android Pie | Pistachio Ice Cream | January 2022 |
| Android 10 | Quince Tart | October 2022 |
| Android 11 | Red Velvet Cake | |
| Android 12 | Snow Cone |
You have the option to schedule dark mode to turn on at a custom time, while Android 10 only allows you to turn dark mode on and off. Android 11 gives you several options to effectively manage your storage, while Android 10 only allows you to free up space from the settings tab.
Does Android 11 have problems? ›Original story (published on July 20, 2021) follows:
There have been multiple reports of bugs and issues from Motorola users after receiving the Android 11 update. What is this? To recall, users of Motorola Moto G Pro started facing lagging or screen freezing issues after the Android 11 update.
Pixel Android 11 Problems
Pixel users are also complaining about a variety of other problems including connectivity issues, issues with first and third-party applications, abnormal battery drain, UI lag, sound issues, multitasking problems, issues with media controls, and a whole lot more.
Run/execute the flash-all. bat script on your PC from the files we extracted in Step 2. The script will reset the device and install Android 10, uninstalling Android 11 in the process. The device's screen may go black a few times during this procedure, but it will restart automatically when it is done.
Is 4GB enough for Android 11? ›4GB is now considered the bare minimum for a new device. No matter how much RAM your device has, it's a finite resource that has to be managed. Whenever you open a new app, it needs to occupy a portion of this memory.
Is 8GB RAM enough for Android 11? ›
8GB RAM: 8GB is the best balance between cost and performance. Power users who want to use video editing applications or have many different apps and games to switch between should go for 8GB of RAM, since it's perfect for heavy multitasking that results in high RAM usage.
Is 8GB RAM better than 6GB? ›4GB RAM or 6GB RAM smartphones will work as fast as an 8GB RAM smartphone if they are paired with a strong processor. Additionally, most users cannot even differentiate between the speed and performance level of a 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM smartphone.
How long will Android 11 be good for? ›Google doesn't have nearly as many devices to worry about as Samsung, but they're still not all treated the same. Support timelines for Pixel devices can be found here on Google's website. Newer devices—starting with the Pixel 6 series—receive three years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates.
Which is best Android version? ›| Android version | API level | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Android 9 Pie | 28 | 18.2% |
| Android 10 Q | 29 | 26.5% |
| Android 11 R | 30 | 24.3% |
| Android 12 Snow cone | 31 | - |
Android Lollipop (codenamed Android L during development) is the fifth major version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google and the 12th version of Android, spanning versions between 5.0 and 5.1.
Is Android 11 stable now? ›February 8, 2021: The Galaxy A71 5G is now receiving the stable Android 11 update. February 10, 2021: The stable version of Android 11 is now rolling out to the T-Mobile and AT&T variants of the Galaxy S10. The updates come in at around 2.2GB.
How long will Android 11 be good for? ›Google doesn't have nearly as many devices to worry about as Samsung, but they're still not all treated the same. Support timelines for Pixel devices can be found here on Google's website. Newer devices—starting with the Pixel 6 series—receive three years of Android upgrades and five years of security updates.
Which is best Android version? ›| Android version | API level | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Android 9 Pie | 28 | 18.2% |
| Android 10 Q | 29 | 26.5% |
| Android 11 R | 30 | 24.3% |
| Android 12 Snow cone | 31 | - |
Ever since I upgraded to Android 11 the battery is draining very fast. Android System takes up too much battery. I used to get more than 10 hours Screen on Time before and now I get barely 5 hours. I'm also on Power Saving Mode.