Need to know if your phone or tablet is up to date? You can easily identify the Android Version installed on your device. And possibly install an update to benefit from new functions.
Like any operating system, Android evolves over time, with regular updates that correct bugs and close security vulnerabilities and major versions that improve and enrich it by providing new functions. When you buy a device running Android (phone, tablet, multimedia box, etc.), it comes with a certain system version.
This determines its original capacities but also its possibilities of evolution. Depending on the case, and according to the policy of its manufacturer, it can thus benefit from major functional updates. For example, to go from Android 11 to Android 12 – or be satisfied with security updates. Contractually, manufacturers are obligated to offer security updates for two years after a device is released.Â
It is, therefore, always useful to know the Android Version installed on a device. On the one hand, this makes it possible to know if it is up to date, if it can benefit from the new functions introduced in recent versions and if it will evolve in the future. On the other hand, it is valuable to know its compatibility with applications. Indeed, some apps require a minimum version of Android, refusing to install and therefore to work with versions that are too old.Â
Identifying Your Android Version
It is very easy to identify the Android version installed on a device with its exact number and thus know if it is up to date. In all cases, you have to explore the settings menus. But, as always in Android, the exact path to take to display this information varies from one device to another, depending on the version of the system, the model, and its manufacturer.
This is because of the software overlays, which sometimes significantly modify the interface and menus (OneUI at Samsung, MUI at Xiaomi, EMUI at Huawei, ColorOS at Oppo, OxygenOS at OnePlus, Pixel Experience at Google, etc.). As it is impossible to list them all, here are some examples of common brands. Examples that you can easily adapt to your device by browsing through the menus.
How to display the version of Android on a Google Pixel mobile?
The Pixel Experience overlay of Google’s Pixel models is logically the closest to “pure” Android standards. The method to get the Android version type can therefore be easily adapted for other devices.Â
- Open Settings and go to the System menu.
- Then tap on the Advanced Settings menu.
- Then open the System Update menu.
- The screen that appears indicates the version of Android installed on the device. To check if new updates are available, press the blue button Search for updates.
- To get the Android build number on your device, open Settings, go to the About phone menu. The precise number is indicated at the very bottom.
How to display the version of Android on a Xiaomi mobile?
On Xiaomi devices (Redmi, Poco, and other ranges), you have to go through the information on the manufacturer’s MUI overlay.
- Open Device Settings and enter the About Phone menu at the top.
- In the displayed window, you will see some information: the version of the MIUI overlay and the Android version, with its build number. To check if there are any updates available, tap the MIUI Version box.
- The search for updates is automatic. However, you can manually check for a new version by tapping Check for updates.
Samsung Mobile
With the Samsung OneUI overlay, you have to go through two different menus if you are looking for the version number of Android or if you want to check the availability of an update.Â
- To find the Android version number, open Settings and go to the About phone menu.
- Then tap on the Software Information option.
- The next screen displays the version number of OneUI and the Android version installed.
- To check if an update is available, open Android Settings and go to the Software Update menu.
- Then tap Download and Install.
- If a new update is available, your smartphone will offer to download and install it.
