Android 11 Final Beta Arrives Ahead of Official Consumer Launch
Google releases Beta 3 as the final preview of Android 11, reaching platform stability so developers can complete their app testing. The update also includes a special privacy exception for COVID-19 Exposure Notification apps.
Google releases Android 11 Beta 3 as the final update in this year's preview cycle, signaling that the official consumer launch is imminent. This release candidate build is available now for Pixel 2 through Pixel 4a devices, giving developers a last chance to ensure their apps function properly on the new operating system.
The platform reaches full stability with this update, meaning all app-facing surfaces, SDK and NDK APIs, system behaviors, and non-SDK interface restrictions are completely final. Beta 3 incorporates the latest optimizations and bug fixes, providing developers with the exact environment they need to finish testing their software before the public rollout.
A notable change in this beta involves the Exposure Notifications System, which now allows users to run contact-tracing apps without enabling device location settings. This specific exception exists because these apps cannot infer device location through Bluetooth scanning, while all other apps continue to require location permissions and enabled location settings to perform Bluetooth scans.