Google to discontinue Play Services Support for Android 4.4 KitKat next month

Google recently revealed that it will cease support for Google Play Services on Android KitKat (4.4), effective next month. This discontinuation specifically impacts API levels 19 and 20. First launched a decade ago, Android KitKat now accounts for less than 1% of active devices as users progressively shift to more recent Android versions.

This is not the first time Google has terminated support for an older Android version. In 2021, Google ended support for Jelly Bean, released in 2012. Similar to KitKat, Jelly Bean's active devices had also fallen below the 1% mark before support was discontinued.

Android KitKat, at its launch, brought a myriad of new features, such as wireless printing, enhanced multitasking speed, improved NFC support, and new sensors for better connectivity, among others. If you're still using Android 4.4 KitKat, you should seriously consider updating your Android version, or upgrading your smartphone.