Last checked and updated on 13 Jun 2026
What Is New in Android 7.1
Android 7.1 (Nougat) introduced a set of user and developer features that refined the platform experience. This update brought new emoji, touch and display performance improvements, and several key APIs for developers to build upon.
| Category | Key Changes |
|---|---|
| User Features | New emoji, Moves (Google Pixel feature), Daydream VR mode, Touch/display performance, Seamless A/B system updates |
| Developer APIs | App Shortcuts, Circular App Icons, Keyboard Image Insertion, Enhanced Live Wallpaper Metadata, Storage Manager Intent |
| Platform & Security | Filesystem-based encryption, Direct Boot, Metadata encryption, Key Attestation |
What new developer APIs were introduced?
The most significant additions were App Shortcuts and Circular App Icons, enabling deeper app integration. App Shortcuts let you surface key actions directly from the launcher icon, which users access by long-pressing. This is great for jumping straight into a specific activity, like composing a new message.
APIs for inserting images from the keyboard and enhancing Live Wallpapers were also added. The StorageManager intent made it easier to free up space by taking users directly to the system's storage management screen.
How did storage and security change?
Android 7.1 expanded on the encryption model introduced in 7.0. Direct Boot allowed the device to run in a safe state after a reboot but before the user unlocks it, enabling alarms and accessibility features to work immediately.
File-based encryption replaced full-disk encryption, encrypting data at the file level with different keys. This, combined with metadata encryption, significantly hardened the security model against unauthorized access to user data.
What were the key user-facing features?
For users, the most visible changes were the expanded set of emoji supporting Unicode 9 and the new "Moves" menu on Pixel phones. The system-wide touch and display latency were also improved, making the entire UI feel more responsive and smooth.
Support for seamless A/B system updates meant that OS updates could install in the background on a separate system partition, eliminating the long "Optimizing app" screen after a reboot.
FAQ
What are App Shortcuts and how do I implement them?
App Shortcuts are quick actions launched by long-pressing an app icon. You can create static shortcuts in your AndroidManifest.xml or dynamic shortcuts at runtime using the ShortcutManager API. In practice, use them for high-frequency tasks like starting a navigation or a new note.
Is Circular App Icon support mandatory?
No, providing a circular icon is optional. The system will mask your adaptive or legacy launcher icon if you don't supply one. However, providing a dedicated circular asset gives you the best control over how your app looks on Pixel and other launchers that support the feature.
What is the Key Attestation API used for?
Key Attestation allows you to verify the integrity of the cryptographic environment on a device. You can use it to check if a key is stored in hardware-backed secure storage (like a TEE or Secure Element) and confirm the device's boot state hasn't been tampered with, which is crucial for high-security applications.
How does Direct Boot affect my app?
Direct Boot introduces a new device state between power-on and user authentication. If your app needs to run during this state (e.g., for an alarm), you must store its data in device-protected storage using Context.createDeviceProtectedStorageContext(). Sensitive user data should remain in credential-encrypted storage.
Were there any new constraints on native code (NDK)?
Yes, to enhance security, the platform began restricting the use of non-NDK APIs from native code. This change encouraged developers to use the stable NDK APIs instead of relying on undocumented platform libraries, which improved app stability across future OS updates.