What to know

  • Android 15 may prevent users from installing apps that were built for Android 6.0.
  • If implemented, only apps that were targeted for Android 7.0 or above will be installed on Android 15. 

Android 15 is already making the news with the features we’re seeing on its developer previews. And now, reports suggest that Android 15 will also raise the bar for the apps that can be installed.

Up until Android 14, apps that were designed for Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) could be installed with no issues. But going forward, Google may restrict the installation of apps targeted for the Android version now long in the past. Android 15 could only allow installation of apps that are targeted for Android 7.0 (Nougat) or newer. 

Most apps are targeted to a specific Android version, which tells users that the app has been tested and works without any hiccups on that particular Android version. It doesn’t mean that it won’t work with newer versions; just that it’s ideally designed for a different version. 

Apps do get updated with time and may be targeted for higher versions of Android, if not for enhanced security and privacy, then at least to allow for newer features. And it seems that older apps may get the boot soon because Android 15 won’t allow installation of apps that were designed for versions lower than Android 7, which is now the new floor. 

For most apps, however, this won’t be an issue. But users who are still using apps that were designed for Android 6 may lose access to them unless those apps are tested and updated for a higher Android version. Though that is for developers to take care of, you may want to stick to Android 14 for now if you still have apps from a bygone generation. 

You can find the Android version that an app is target toward from the ‘About this app’ section on Play Store, next to ‘Required OS’.