Google Cuts Security Support for Android 12: Time to Upgrade?

Summary

Google has ceased providing security updates for Android 12, starting with the April 2025 patch. This decision affects devices still running Android 12 or Android 12L, which were originally released in late 2021 and March 2022, respectively. The latest security bulletin now exclusively includes fixes for Android 13 and newer versions.

While this change primarily impacts older devices that have not been updated to a newer OS version, most such devices are already no longer receiving updates. For example, Pixel devices running Android 12 have not received updates for some time, and even Samsung, which provides more regular updates for older devices, has stopped updating the Galaxy S10 series, one of its longest-supported models running Android 12, since 2023.

According to Google’s last reported figures in May 2024, Android 12 was installed on 14.7% of active devices. Despite this, users can still receive some security-related updates through the Play Store. However, the move underscores the importance for users to consider upgrading to newer devices or OS versions for continued security support.