Google stops supporting Android 4.4 KitKat after nearly 10 years

According to the latest Google statistics, less than 1% of active Android devices worldwide are still running on KitKat. Therefore, continuing to maintain Google Play Services support for this aging version of Android will waste time, effort and money, while not bringing significant benefits to users.

Play Services allows Google to deliver new features and regular updates to its apps and services on Android devices independently of operating system updates. With Google officially ending support for KitKat, future Play Services releases (after version 23.30.99 in August) will no longer work on devices still running Android 4.4.

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The last time Google stopped supporting older versions of Android was in 2021 with Jelly Bean, which launched in 2012. Like KitKat, Jelly Bean's active user base dropped to less than 1% before entering a phase of complete discontinuation.

Users who are still using KitKat-based devices may consider upgrading to a newer Android phone or using a custom ROM to ensure continued access to the latest Google apps and services. Apps may also stop supporting KitKat over time as Google Play Services no longer supports this older operating system platform.

Kareem Winters

Update 25 July 2023