On February 13, 2026, Google gave us our first look at what we can expect from Android 17 when it launches later this year.
Android 17 Beta 1 is available now, and Google has uploaded a blog post for developers explaining what they should focus on while updating their apps.
But unlike previous Android updates, Android 17 has some major implications for developers that will benefit users on all Android platforms.
I’ll point out some of the other changes in Android 17 Beta 1 that are beneficial to our phones, but I want to highlight a heading in Google’s blog post that doesn’t sound interesting at first: Orientation and resizability restrictions.
With Android laptops right around the corner, these restrictions will make a significant difference.
Google is laying the foundation for a cohesive Android experience
Apps need to work equally well across all platforms
In Google’s Android 17 Beta 1 blog post, it states that:
Android 17 (API level 37) removes the developer opt-out for orientation and resizability restrictions on large screen devices (sw > 600 dp).
The technical part of this change involves five attributes and APIs that will be ignored when an app runs on a large screen or when an app is categorized as a game.
If you use an Android tablet, foldable phone, or Chromebook, you have likely discovered some apps that are locked to a single orientation.
These tend to be apps that are rarely used outside of our phones (Authy, Lyft, and Venmo are good examples), but some apps are just poorly optimized for large screens.
This behavior is most frustrating on an Android foldable, where it prevents you from using it like a normal Android phone.
Some devices, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, allow the user to force orientation changes, but the resulting stretch of the app’s UI can lead to ugly or awkward interfaces.
All this is about to change, as Google has stated that:
Apps targeting Android 17 must ensure compatibility with the phase-out of manifest attributes and runtime APIs introduced in Android 16.
However, users can choose to opt out of these restrictions via their device’s aspect ratio settings.
This change is likely to cause a scramble among developers as they update their apps to accommodate new orientations, but in the long term, these restrictions will significantly improve the experience of using Android apps on foldables, tablets, and laptops.
Android 17 sets the stage for Android laptops
Aluminium OS is an exciting development
At first, Google’s restrictions seem unnecessarily fussy. Yes, it’s a problem that many apps don’t rotate on large screens, but it’s never been widespread enough to force this change earlier.
However, Aluminum OS needs Android apps to work seamlessly in landscape mode.
Aluminium OS is the upcoming Android-based operating system that is set to replace ChromeOS.
Details are scarce, but Google accidentally showed off a screen recording on the Chromium Issue Tracker, which gave us our first good look at what Aluminium OS will look like.
On the surface, it looks like Aluminium OS is Android optimized for desktop screens, which is likely why Google is forcing developers to adapt to these new restrictions ahead of time.
Google appears to be developing an Aluminum OS to compete with Apple’s macOS.
A job listing that gave us some of our earliest hints about what to expect stated that the team working on ChromeOS and Aluminium OS is also working on “a new focus on Premium devices and experiences.”
ChromeOS, useful as it is, is too clunky to achieve this vision. I regularly use a Chromebook while I’m traveling, and I’ll be the first to admit that there are some apps I won’t touch due to compatibility issues.
If Aluminium OS launches when major Android apps follow these restrictions, then a truly unified Android ecosystem will be a reality.
Without these restrictions, Aluminium OS won’t feel like the premium experience Google is apparently building it to be.
However, Android 17 will also bring significant improvements to our phones.
There are also plenty of improvements on the way for Android phones
Big screens aren’t getting all the love
A useful side effect of these restrictions is that there will be fewer interruptions when you rotate an app.
If you’ve ever had to repeat actions when you rotate your Android device, you know how frustrating this can be.
There will still be interruptions when you rotate an app, but not for actions that typically do not require a UI change.
Other changes include a UI refresh for the Pixel Launcher’s search bar, alternative shortcuts for the AI Mode button in the search bar, and the ability to hide the At a Glance widget.
There are also more compact menus in the Settings app, a new volume overflow button, and a flipped brightness icon.
Android 17 Beta 1 marks a new era for beta testing. Google is abandoning Developer Previews in favor of a continuous Canary channel, which means we won’t have to wait as long to test new features.
Android 17 looks to be a major step forward for the Android ecosystem
I’m excited about Aluminium OS despite Google stating that it will be built with AI at its core. ChromeOS is useful, but clunky, and I’m keen to see a new competitor to Windows and macOS.
As I use Android phones, it makes sense to have a desktop that also runs Android, but my enthusiasm will dissipate swiftly if it ends up being a reskinned ChromeOS.
Nevertheless, I’m happy to see that Google is setting these restrictions for developers ahead of time. It’s a crucial step to ensure the success of Android laptops.
