Google is set to change how it develops the

Android operating system

, shifting all development to a private internal branch starting next week. The move, confirmed to

Android

Authority, marks a significant shift in Google’s nearly two-decade-long approach to open-source development.

According to a report by Android Authority, Google will consolidate its Android development entirely within its internal branches, ending the current practice of publicly sharing development progress. While this may sound alarming to some, the company emphasizes that Android will remain open-source, with full source code continuing to be released when new versions are completed.
The primary motivation behind this change is streamlining the development process. Previously, Google maintained two separate branches—a public Android Open Source Project (

AOSP

) branch and an internal development branch—which required complex and time-consuming merging efforts. By moving all development internally, Google hopes to reduce technical complexity and merge-related challenges.

For the average Android user, this change will be virtually imperceptible. Phone updates, app functionality, and the overall Android experience will remain unchanged. However, developers and tech enthusiasts will lose the ability to track real-time development progress and discover early hints about upcoming features.
The most significant impact will be on platform developers, custom ROM creators, and tech journalists who have traditionally relied on AOSP commits to gain insights into Google's future plans. Where they once could peek behind the curtain of Android's development, they will now only see the finished product.
Google is expected to provide more details about this transition in an official announcement later this week. While the change represents a more private approach to development, the company remains committed to its open-source roots, ensuring that the full source code will continue to be publicly available upon each Android release.