Android 15 is pulling the plug on apps built for Android Marshmallow
0Android 15 is pulling the plug on apps built for Android Marshmallow
Google is taking significant steps to protect regular users by ensuring that developers keep their apps updated. Since last year, the Play Store has been hiding outdated apps, making them harder to find. However, starting with Android 14, the operating system itself has begun blocking users from sideloading apps built for very old Android versions. Specifically, Android 14 doesn't allow users to install apps that target an SDK version lower than 23, which corresponds to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, released in 2015.
Google chose SDK version 23 as the threshold because malicious developers often built apps targeting SDK version 22 or lower to bypass key security features introduced in newer Android versions. Android 6.0 introduced the runtime permission model, requiring apps to obtain explicit user consent before granting certain sensitive permissions. Previously, malicious apps could obtain all necessary permissions during installation, taking advantage of users not scrutinizing the permission list before installing.
The Android OS has started raising the target SDK version, following Google Play's yearly cadence. The upcoming Android 15 release may set the new target SDK version threshold to 24. In the latest Android 15 Developer Preview 2 release, the OS blocks the installation of apps built for SDK version 23, i.e., Android 6.0 Marshmallow. When attempting to sideload such an app on a Google Pixel 8 Pro running Android 15 DP2, the INSTALL_FAILED_DEPRECATED_SDK_VERSION error is displayed, stating that the "app package must target at least SDK version 24."
Keep your apps updated and target the latest SDK versions to ensure compatibility with newer Android releases and maintain user security.