Update – Google had initially said that the beta would be released today, but the company has since reached out and said that it will instead be “coming soon.”
Google’s rolling out the Android 17 beta starting today, marking the next phase of the company’s faster release schedule. The update brings changes that’ll affect how apps work across different screen sizes, plus performance improvements and new tools for media and camera apps.
The biggest change developers need to know: apps won’t be able to opt out of orientation and resizability restrictions anymore. Google introduced these adaptive requirements in Android 16, but gave developers the option to skip them. That option disappears with Android 17, meaning apps have to work seamlessly across phones, tablets, and foldables without exceptions.
What’s actually new in this build
Performance gets some attention with new generational garbage collection that cuts CPU costs. Google’s also adding custom notification restrictions to reduce memory usage, which should help older devices handle the update better.
Media and camera apps get professional-grade tools for consistent audio experiences across different hardware. The update includes seamless transitions between camera modes, addressing a common complaint from photographers who hate the jarring switches between lenses on multi-camera phones.
Google’s been working toward a continuous release model to push updates faster. This includes the SDK release schedule changes and the minor SDK release added last year. The Android Canary program replaces the old developer preview system, creating a year-round feedback loop instead of limiting early testing to just the first few months of the release cycle.
Google’s expected to release the stable version of Android 17 in June 2026. If you’re enrolled in the Android 16 QPR3 Beta program, you’ll automatically receive Android 17 Beta 1. You can’t opt out without wiping your device until the beta cycle finishes.
Anyone who doesn’t want to test the beta needs to leave the Android Beta Program now and skip the downgrade OTA update. You’ll need to wait for the final stable release of Android 16 QPR3, which arrives in March. The important part: opting out won’t wipe your data as long as you ignore the downgrade update.
This follows Google’s pattern of releasing Android versions earlier than the traditional fall timeline. Moving major releases to mid-year gives manufacturers more time to adapt the software for their devices before holiday launches.