Google will modify its Android Open Source Project (AOSP) publication frequency beginning in 2026. Instead of aligning new source code pushes with each public Android release, Google will publish code to AOSP only twice a year—in the second and fourth quarters. According to the company, this change aims to align with its trunk-stable development model, enhancing platform stability and complexity management.
AOSP Publication Details
The new publication approach will match Google's revised Android release schedule. A major Android version will be released in the second quarter, followed by a minor, developer-focused update in the fourth quarter. Google emphasizes the need for a stable and secure platform, which this controlled release schedule will support. The recommended branch for developers will be 'android-latest-release,' while 'aosp-latest-release' will refer to the most recent code available in AOSP.
Impact on Custom ROMs
This update could significantly affect custom ROM projects like LineageOS. Moving forward, developers will need to base their releases on the main mid-year AOSP release and its QPR4 (Quarterly Platform Release 4) build. Google will no longer issue separate first-quarter and third-quarter AOSP updates, likely slowing the integration of platform changes and new feature rollouts for unsupported or older devices.
Continued Security Updates
Security-related changes will remain unchanged in their push schedule. Google will continue to release these vital updates monthly through a dedicated security branch, ensuring essential security patches are available promptly. Regular Pixel users will still receive updates on a quarterly basis, maintaining the current schedule.
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