Android Studio is the official IDE for Android development, and includes everything you need to build Android apps.

This page lists new features and improvements in the latest version in the stable channel, Android Studio Otter. You can[download it here](https://developer.android.com/studio)or update to it inside Android Studio by clicking**Help** \>**Check for updates** (**Android Studio** \>**Check for updates**on macOS)

This is a stable release of Android Studio. Note that patches might contain new minor features and bug fixes. See[Android Studio release names](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/studio-release-names)to understand Android Studio version naming.

To see what's been fixed in this version of Android Studio, see the[closed issues](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/fixed-bugs/studio/2025.2.1).

To view the release notes for older versions of Android Studio, see[Past releases](https://developer.android.com/studio/past-releases/past-android-studio-releases).

For early access to upcoming features and improvements, see the[Preview builds of Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio/preview).

If you encounter problems in Android Studio, check the[Known issues](https://developer.android.com/studio/known-issues)or[Troubleshoot](https://developer.android.com/studio/troubleshoot)page.

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## Android Gradle plugin and Android Studio compatibility

The Android Studio build system is based on Gradle, and the Android Gradle plugin (AGP) adds several features that are specific to building Android apps. The following table lists which version of AGP is required for each version of Android Studio.
| There is now a time-based compatibility policy for AGP and Android Studio. Each Android Studio version will support AGP versions released within the previous 3 years. AGP versions older than 3 years will no longer be supported in newer Android Studio versions. If your project's AGP version is incompatible, Android Studio will require you to update AGP.
| If your project is not supported by a specific version of Android Studio, you can still open and update your project using an[older version of Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio/archive).

|       Android Studio version       | Required AGP version |
|------------------------------------|----------------------|
| Otter \| 2025.2.1                  | 4.0-8.13             |
| Narwhal 4 Feature Drop \| 2025.1.4 | 4.0-8.13             |
| Narwhal 3 Feature Drop \| 2025.1.3 | 4.0-8.13             |
| Narwhal Feature Drop \| 2025.1.2   | 4.0-8.12             |
| Narwhal \| 2025.1.1                | 3.2-8.11             |
| Meerkat Feature Drop \| 2024.3.2   | 3.2-8.10             |
| Meerkat \| 2024.3.1                | 3.2-8.9              |
| Ladybug Feature Drop \| 2024.2.2   | 3.2-8.8              |
| Ladybug \| 2024.2.1                | 3.2-8.7              |
| Koala Feature Drop \| 2024.1.2     | 3.2-8.6              |
| Koala \| 2024.1.1                  | 3.2-8.5              |
| Jellyfish \| 2023.3.1              | 3.2-8.4              |
| Iguana \| 2023.2.1                 | 3.2-8.3              |
| Hedgehog \| 2023.1.1               | 3.2-8.2              |
| Giraffe \| 2022.3.1                | 3.2-8.1              |
| Flamingo \| 2022.2.1               | 3.2-8.0              |

### Older versions

|  Android Studio version  | Required AGP version |
|--------------------------|----------------------|
| Electric Eel \| 2022.1.1 | 3.2-7.4              |
| Dolphin \| 2021.3.1      | 3.2-7.3              |
| Chipmunk \| 2021.2.1     | 3.2-7.2              |
| Bumblebee \| 2021.1.1    | 3.2-7.1              |
| Arctic Fox \| 2020.3.1   | 3.1-7.0              |

For information on what's new in the Android Gradle plugin, see the[Android Gradle plugin release notes](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/gradle-plugin).

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## Minimum versions of tools for Android API level

There are minimum versions of Android Studio and AGP that support a specific API level. Using lower versions of Android Studio or AGP than required by your project's`targetSdk`or`compileSdk`could lead to unexpected issues. We recommend using the latest preview version of Android Studio and AGP to work on projects that target preview versions of the Android OS. You can[install preview versions of Android Studio alongside a stable version](https://developer.android.com/studio/preview/install-preview#install_alongside_your_stable_version).

The minimum versions of Android Studio and AGP are as follows:

| API level |   Minimum Android Studio version   | Minimum AGP version |
|-----------|------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 36.1      | Narwhal 3 Feature Drop \| 2025.1.3 | 8.13.0              |
| 36.0      | Meerkat \| 2024.3.1 Patch 1        | 8.9.1               |
| 35        | Koala Feature Drop \| 2024.2.1     | 8.6.0               |
| 34        | Hedgehog \| 2023.1.1               | 8.1.1               |
| 33        | Flamingo \| 2022.2.1               | 7.2                 |

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## Android Studio and Cloud services compatibility

Android Studio includes service integrations that help you and your team make faster progress as you develop, release, and maintain Android apps. This includes Cloud services such as Gemini in Android Studio, Play Vitals, and Firebase Crashlytics. Cloud services are only available on the latest stable channel version of Android Studio and major versions (including their patches) released in the previous 10 months. When a version falls outside of that compatibility window, service integrations become disabled and you are required to update Android Studio.
| This Cloud services compatibility policy is being announced with the stable channel release of Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop. Enforcement will begin with the stable channel release of Android Studio Narwhal Feature Drop, which will fall out of the compatibility window in Q2 of 2026.

### Android Studio versions that are currently compatible with Cloud services

As of the stable channel release of Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop, all versions of Studio are compatible with Cloud services. Enforcement will begin with Android Studio Narwhal Feature Drop.

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## Studio Labs

Studio Labs lets you try out the latest AI experimental features in a stable version of Android Studio, so you can more quickly integrate our AI assistance offerings in your development workflow. For more information, see[Studio Labs](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/labs).
| **Note:** Studio Labs is accessible in RC and stable releases starting with Android Studio Narwhal. In the corresponding canary versions of Android Studio, the features are enabled by default.

The following are features currently available in Studio Labs.

|          Feature           |                                                                       Description                                                                       |                                                Docs                                                |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Compose preview generation | Gemini can automatically generate Compose previews, including mock data for preview parameters, for a specific composable or all composables in a file. | [Generate Compose previews](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/generate-compose-previews) |
| Transform UI               | Use natural language to update your app UI directly from the Compose preview panel.                                                                     | [Transform UI](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/transform-ui)                           |

The following are new features in Android Studio Otter.

## Backup and Sync

![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/preview/features/images/backup-and-sync.png)

You can now back up Android Studio settings to cloud storage using either your Google or JetBrains account. This helps sync your settings, such as keymaps, Code Editor settings, system settings, and more. To get started, do one of the following:

- After opening a project in Android Studio, sign into your Google Account by clicking the avatar in the top-right corner of the IDE, and clicking**Sign in**.

  ![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/preview/features/images/google-sign-in.png)
  1. Follow the prompts in the dialog that appears and make sure to check the box to authorize Android Studio to access your**Google Account Storage**.
  2. Follow the prompts to authorize Android Studio.
- Navigate to**Settings \> Backup and Sync**.

  1. Select**Google** to use your Google Account Storage to sync your app data across Android Studio installs. Alternatively, you can use a**JetBrains**account to sync your app data across IntelliJ and Android Studio installs.
  2. After you follow the prompts to authorize Android Studio to access your preferred account's storage, return to Android Studio.
  3. On the**Settings \> Backup and Sync**page, you can review the categories of app data that you want to sync to your account.
  4. To disable Backup and Sync, uncheck the box that enables the feature.

If you already have data synced to your selected device, Android Studio gives you the option to either download settings from your remote storage (this is the default option) or upload your local settings and overwrite settings synced to your remote storage.