Android 17 has reached about 1% of active phones since June, and roughly 40% still run Android 13 or older. Updates are free and protect your data.
Android 17 came out in June 2026, and only about 1% of active Android phones run it so far. The most common version is still Android 16, at 25.4%. Many people are several years behind on updates, which can leave their phones without newer security protections.
The numbers come from heise.de, based on Android Studio data and reported by Android Authority. They show how Android phones are spread across versions:
Android 14 is the second most used version. Add it up and almost 60% of active phones run Android 14 or newer. About 40% do not.
Software updates often fix security holes, and they can also improve speed and how the phone runs. A phone that skips years of updates misses those fixes, which puts personal data at more risk.
Android 17 adds protections aimed at network snooping. It can flag fake cell towers, which are devices that pose as real phone towers. It can also stop SMS blasters, which are devices that push text messages to nearby phones. The release also lets you "bubble" apps.
Any Android owner could be affected, including people with phones from Google, Samsung, Nothing and other makers. Anyone on Android 13 or older has the most ground to make up. People on a recent version who install what their phone offers are in better shape.
Slow adoption is partly built into how Android works. Google builds the core system, but each phone maker must adapt and test it before sending it out. Apple controls both the iPhone and its software, so its updates tend to spread faster.
The alert box above lists the steps. In short, check for an update, install it and back up first. If your phone no longer gets updates, a replacement is worth planning.
Android 17 had less time to spread than Android 16 had at the last comparison, so the 1% figure will likely grow. The material does not say how fast. It also does not say which phones will get Android 17.
One caution: Google no longer publishes a regularly updated public chart. These figures are estimates drawn from Android Studio data. They cover phones that contacted the Google Play Store over a seven-day period, not every Android device.
Check your Android phone for updates today and install what is offered, since the update is free and may close security gaps.
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