Android 15 may reportedly block the installation of some apps

According to reports, Android 15 may block some apps currently available on the Google Play Store or third-party marketplaces. Google is rumored to launch its next-generation operating system for Android devices in the second half of 2024. With the release of Android 15 Developer Preview 2 on March 21, several new features were showcased. Now, a report suggests that Google may increase the minimum requirements for apps in an upcoming OS update.

A Report Android Police highlights that the software development kit (SDK) requirements have changed and newer versions are now supported. With every new operating system update, Google adds new features and security parameters to the Android ecosystem. However, it provides developers with enough time to meet the latest requirements. For example, currently on Android 14, developers are asked to target Android 6.0 or Marshmallow, which was released in 2015.

The operating system is important because it requires apps to obtain separate user consent for sensitive permissions, such as access to the camera, address book, call logs, and more. But now, reports have found that the Android 15 DP2 version does not allow apps targeting Android 6.0-based SDK 23 to be installed on the device. Instead, it now requires SDK version 24, which is Android 7.1.

The report tested attempts to install apps that had not been upgraded to SDK 24 and found that smartphones running Android 14 were able to easily install and run the app. However, when experimenting on a Google Pixel 8 Pro powered by Android 15 DP2, an error popped up stating “INSTALL_FAILED_DEPRECATED_SDK_VERSION”. Even when trying to sideload an app, the operating system pops up a message stating that the app is not safe to install.

This message is not new, sideloading apps often prompt this alert. However, surprisingly, Anyway to install The button that then appears does nothing and the app cannot be installed. According to the findings, apps still targeting Android 6.0 may stop working after Android 15 is released globally. However, it’s worth noting that there aren’t many apps currently targeting SDK 23 as developers try to bring app versions up to the latest Android standards.