TL; DR
- Google is ending support for Play Services for devices running on Android Jelly Bean.
- This applies to all variants of the operating system: Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3.
- To be clear, Jelly Bean devices continue to work. You will only face app issues and pose a major security risk.
Do you remember 2012? At this point, Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy ended with The Dark Knight Rises, the song “Somebody That I Used To Know” was in the air and Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (aka Ad-Rock) died. Oh yeah, that was also when Google launched Android Jelly Bean.
In August 2021, Google will release the Play Services APK version 21.30.99. This will be the last time Jelly Bean devices will receive an update. It applies to all variants of the operating system, including Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3.
Google estimates that less than 1% of Android users use Jelly Bean, so this should only affect a small number of users. If you’re in this camp, it won’t block your phone or prevent it from working as usual. However, it will make certain apps difficult or impossible to run properly. It will also make your device an even bigger security risk than it already is, as it hasn’t received an Android security patch in years.
If you’re still using Android Jelly Bean, this message will be the final sign that it’s time to upgrade. Check out our article on the best Android phones currently available and grab something new.