If you have a smartphone running is Android 12 that can’t upgrade this version in the past, I have some bad news: Google is leaving your phone support.
Rip Android 12
As seen by the Android Authority, Google is no longer making security updates for Android 12 and Android 12L running devices. The company deleted the Android version from Android Security Bulletin in April 2025, which notes security threats that Google has identified as well as which versions of Android receive these patchs. The company highlights Android 13, 14, and 15 in various various risks, but not Android 12.
This outlet is not just out of these mistakes: Android Authority reported that Google withdrew support for Android 12 and 12L by March 31, which states that the company eliminated security patchback ports for these versions of this date. Back porting occurs when a developer takes security patch from the new version of the software and adds it to the old version of the software. It seems that Google was doing this for Android 12 from the new version of Android, but has stopped by the end of March.
Google has not exactly said why it is currently eliminating the support of Android 12, but it has to be almost certainly with the OS age. The company released the version again in October of 2021. It was a relatively large refreshment for Android, which was especially introduced to the devices for the first time. The content you have significantly changed the shape of Android, adjusting the UI elements, the app’s icons, and applying a universal theme based on the colors of your wallpaper. This update included numerous privacy settings as well as control of a handful of new indicators. According to the Android Authority, Google has mostly stopped back porting of the Android OS about three and a half years after the release, so from the tracks at the moment.
Is your device affected?
The biggest problem here is that there are many devices that run Android 12. The State Coverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr countries updates this version of Android, while 9.14 % of Android users in the United States are running it. Black Linko claims that more than three billion Android phones are active worldwide, which means that there may be more than 370 million Android phones about depriving security works.
What do you think so far?
If your Android phone can’t update past from Android 12, it may be time to upgrade. Certainly, you can survive without new Android features, but Hello The latest information is important. Of course, no one will detect security flaws within Android that affect Android 12, but since Google no longer patching this version, it will be disgraced. Similarly, bad actors can exploit the flaws that keep you weak.
If you are looking for a new Android smartphone, the Life Hacker’s sister Site PCMAG has a list of your favorite Android phones for 2025. If you choose a new Google or Samsung phone, know that the company guarantees seven years of software and security support. If you buy a pixel 9A today, for example, you will not need to worry about a similar situation by 2032.
