# Android 12

> 12th major release of the Android mobile operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q105607376](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105607376)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_12)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/android-12

## Summary

Android 12 was established on February 18, 2021[1]. This marks the beginning of its development. As a result of its establishment, Android 12 became a notable entity in the tech industry. 
The establishment date of February 18, 2021[1] is a key fact about Android 12. 
Android 12's establishment on February 18, 2021[1] is the primary fact known about it. 
It was established on February 18, 2021[1].

## Summary  
Android 12 is the 12th major release of Google’s Android mobile operating system. It was officially introduced on 18 February 2021, carries the codename “Snow Cone,” and is distributed under a proprietary license via over‑the‑air updates.

## Key Facts  
- **Inception:** 18 February 2021 (announced by Google)【source】  
- **Developer:** Google, the American multinational technology company【source】  
- **Version identifiers:** 12.0.0_r21 (stable, released 4 Oct 2021) and 12.0.0_r43 (stable, released 3 Jan 2023)【source】  
- **Predecessor / Successor:** Follows Android 11 and is followed by Android 13【source】  
- **License:** Proprietary license【source】  
- **Update method:** Delivered via over‑the‑air (OTA) updates【source】  
- **Official website:** https://www.android.com/android-12/ (English)【source】  
- **Logo & screenshot:** Android 12 logo (SVG) and homescreen screenshot are publicly available on Wikimedia Commons【source】  
- **Aliases / codename:** Snow Cone (working title), also known as “Snow Coner” and “Snow Cone” in various languages【source】  
- **Device compatibility:** Runs on a wide range of Android‑based devices, including Samsung Galaxy M11/M51, Asus ROG Phone 6, OnePlus 8T, Xiaomi Mi 11/10T Pro, Nokia X10, and many others【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Android 12 first released?  
**A:** Android 12 was announced on 18 February 2021, with the first stable build (12.0.0_r21) released on 4 October 2021.  

### Q: What is the codename for Android 12?  
**A:** The internal development codename for Android 12 is “Snow Cone.”  

### Q: Which devices can run Android 12?  
**A:** Android 12 is compatible with many modern Android smartphones and tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy M11 and M51, Asus ROG Phone 6, OnePlus 8T, Xiaomi Mi 11 series, Nokia X10, and numerous other models listed in the source data.  

### Q: How are updates delivered for Android 12?  
**A:** Updates are provided as over‑the‑air (OTA) packages directly from Google or device manufacturers.  

### Q: Is Android 12 open source?  
**A:** No. Android 12 is distributed under a proprietary license, though parts of the underlying Android Open Source Project remain open source.  

## Why It Matters  
Android 12 represents a pivotal evolution in the Android ecosystem, delivering a refreshed user interface, enhanced privacy controls, and performance optimizations that affect billions of devices worldwide. Its “Material You” design language introduces dynamic theming that adapts to user preferences, while new privacy dashboards give users clearer insight into data access by apps. By supporting a broad spectrum of hardware—from budget smartphones to high‑end gaming devices—Android 12 ensures a consistent, secure, and modern experience across the Android market. The OTA update mechanism simplifies distribution, allowing faster security patches and feature rollouts, which is crucial in an era of escalating cyber threats. For developers, the stable version identifiers (e.g., 12.0.0_r43) provide a reliable target for app compatibility testing, helping maintain a vibrant app ecosystem. Overall, Android 12 strengthens Google’s position as the dominant mobile OS by balancing innovation, user control, and broad device support.  

## Notable For  
- **Dynamic “Material You” UI:** Introduced a system‑wide theming engine that personalizes colors based on the user’s wallpaper.  
- **Enhanced privacy suite:** Added a privacy dashboard and indicators for microphone, camera, and location usage.  
- **Broad hardware support:** Officially runs on a diverse list of devices from multiple manufacturers, spanning entry‑level to flagship models.  
- **Stable version tracking:** Provides clearly versioned stable releases (e.g., 12.0.0_r43) for developers and security auditors.  
- **OTA‑centric update model:** Emphasizes over‑the‑air delivery, reducing fragmentation and speeding up security patch deployment.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Android 12 is the twelfth major iteration of the Android operating system, a mobile platform created by Google in 2008. It continues the lineage of Android releases, succeeding Android 11 and preceding Android 13. The release is identified by the codename “Snow Cone” and is distributed under a proprietary license.

### Release History  
- **Announcement:** 18 Feb 2021 (Google blog) – marks the official inception of Android 12.  
- **First stable build:** 12.0.0_r21, released 4 Oct 2021.  
- **Subsequent stable build:** 12.0.0_r43 (SSV1.210916.052), released 3 Jan 2023, with an additional stable tag 12.0.0_r49 on 5 Jul 2023.  

### Versions & Build Tags  
| Build Tag | Stability | Release Date |
|-----------|-----------|--------------|
| 12.0.0_r21 | Stable | 2021‑10‑04 |
| 12.0.0_r43 (SSV1.210916.052) | Stable | 2023‑01‑03 |
| 12.0.0_r49 (SSV1.210916.069) | Stable | 2023‑07‑05 |

These tags are referenced in Google’s source repositories and serve as the definitive identifiers for security and compatibility checks.

### Licensing & Distribution  
Android 12 is released under a **proprietary license**, distinguishing it from earlier open‑source Android releases. Distribution occurs primarily through **over‑the‑air (OTA) updates**, a method endorsed by Google and documented on Russian Wikipedia (source).  

### Device Compatibility  
The platform is installed on a wide array of devices, including but not limited to:  

- Samsung Galaxy M11, M51  
- Asus ROG Phone 6  
- Razer Edge handheld console  
- OnePlus 8T, Nord 2 5G  
- Xiaomi Mi 11, Mi 10T Pro, Mi 11 Ultra, 12, 11 Lite 5G NE, Redmi series, Poco series, etc.  
- Nokia X10, G10  

These devices span multiple price tiers and manufacturers, illustrating Android 12’s extensive hardware reach.

### Update Mechanism  
Updates are delivered **over‑the‑air**, allowing users to receive security patches and feature upgrades without manual flashing. This OTA model reduces fragmentation and accelerates the adoption of critical fixes.

### Branding & Visual Assets  
- **Logo:** Android 12 logo (SVG) hosted on Wikimedia Commons.  
- **Screenshot:** Homescreen image available via Wikimedia Commons.  
- **Aliases:** Snow Cone, Snow Coner, Arabic “أندرويد إس”, Korean “안드로이드 7.0 (누가) 이전”.  

### Related Entities  
- **Parent OS:** Android (original OS launched 23 Sep 2008).  
- **Category:** Mobile operating system, software version.  
- **Package Management:** Google Play (source).  

## Schema Markup  
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  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Android 12",
  "description": "The 12th major release of Google's Android mobile operating system, introduced on 18 February 2021.",
  "url": "https://www.android.com/android-12/",
  "sameAs": [
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## References

1. [Source](https://www.blog.google/products/android/android-12/)
2. [refs/tags/android-security-12.0.0_r43 - platform/build - Git at Google](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/build/+/refs/tags/android-security-12.0.0_r43)
3. [Source](https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2021/02/android-12-dp1.html)