Android 17 has been out since June, but only runs on 1% of devices. Android 16 is the most widespread

Pixels received Android 17 in mid-June, so one might expect it to have gained significant traction in four months. The opposite is true. According to new Google data, highlighted by 9to5Google and ZDNET, the latest version of Android is only running on about 1% of active devices. The numbers are current as of October 19, and freshly updated Samsung devices are apparently not yet included.

Android 16 holds a quarter of devices, Android 17 one percent

As 9to5Google writes, the largest slice of the pie now belongs to last year’s Android 16 with a 25.4% share. In the previous statistics update, which Google published at the turn of the year, it only had 7.5%. It is followed by Android 14 with approximately 15% and Android 15 with 14.7%.

Older versions are not disappearing either. According to ZDNET, Android 13 holds 11.8% and Android 11 holds 10.1%. Android 12 has 9.6% according to 9to5Google. For unclear reasons, Android 11 thus holds a higher share than the version one year newer. Together with even older systems, over 40% of active devices do not even have Android 14.

For completeness: Google no longer regularly updates the public chart and only publishes numbers in the Android Studio developer tool. They include devices that have connected to the Google Play Store within seven days.

Samsung likely hasn’t impacted the numbers yet

However, one percent needs context. Android 17 has so far mainly been received by Pixels, while other manufacturers must first adapt the system to their own overlays. Samsung only started rolling out One UI 9 with Android 17 to a wider range of phones in recent weeks. According to 9to5Google, it is therefore highly unlikely that Samsung devices with the new system would have made it into the October one percent at all.

Slow adoption is nothing new, however. Even Android 16 had only 7.5% at the last count, roughly half a year after its release. A new Android version must go through each manufacturer separately, who then modifies it, tests it, and only then releases it. Anyone who wants the latest Android on release day is only guaranteed to get it with Pixels. And the Pixel 11 Pro also recently went on sale.

Which Android version do you have on your phone?

Sources: 9to5Google, ZDNET