Android 11, a six-year-old version, still runs on 1 in 10 phones

About 10% of Android phones still run Android 11, a six-year-old version of the system, according to a report from Android Authority. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of Android users have upgraded to Android 17, the newest release. That means millions of people are using software that may no longer get fixes.

What this means

Android is the software that runs most non-Apple phones. Each new version brings changes and security fixes. Phones on very old versions can miss those fixes. Security fixes close gaps that attackers could use to get at your data.

The upgrade picture is mixed. A quarter of users on the newest version is a real share. But the report's headline point is that Android 17 is barely making a dent, because a large group is still far behind.

What to do

• Open your phone's settings and look for the Android version number.
• Check whether an update is waiting, and install it if one is.
• If your phone cannot update any further, consider that when you plan your next purchase.

What is not known yet

The material available does not say which phone makers or models make up the Android 11 group. It does not say whether those phones still receive any fixes, or how many phones the 10% represents. It also does not explain why so many users have not moved up. Those details would show who is most at risk.