Google ends Android 6 Marshmallow support after 11 years

Google has officially retired Android 6 Marshmallow, bringing an end to support for the operating system after an impressive 11-year run.

The biggest change is that Google Play Services now only supports Android 7.0 Nougat and newer. That means Marshmallow devices will no longer receive Play Protect updates or future improvements delivered through Google Play Services.

For most users, nothing will suddenly stop working overnight. Your phone will still turn on, your apps will continue working for a while, and you’ll still be able to make calls, send messages, and browse the web. But from this point forward, devices running Android 6 Marshmallow will gradually fall behind as developers target newer Android versions.

If you’re still using an Android 6 phone, which isn’t uncommon in Kenya, especially as a secondary device or among budget-conscious users, I’d start preparing for the inevitable. Without Play Protect updates, older phones become increasingly exposed to newly discovered security threats, and more apps will eventually stop receiving updates altogether.

The move also means Android 6 will no longer be included in Google’s newer APK distribution program, another sign that the platform has reached the end of its lifecycle. Marshmallow first arrived in September 2015, introducing features like granular app permissions, Doze battery optimization and fingerprint authentication. Many of those features have since become standard across modern Android versions.

The good news is that Android 7.0 Nougat is now Google’s minimum supported version, so devices running Nougat and newer will continue receiving Google Play Services updates.

If your phone is still running Marshmallow, however, this is a good reminder to consider upgrading. Even an affordable modern Android device offers years of security updates, better app compatibility, and a significantly improved experience.