Android 14 developer preview with new privacy features, passkey support released: Details

Google released the first Developer Preview of Android 14 last month, and now the company is back with the second Developer Preview. According to GSM Arena, the new release brings additional privacy, security, and performance improvements, and continues to refine the experience on tablets and foldables.

Google’s official timeline suggests that after this developer preview, the first beta will arrive in April, followed by three more in the following months.

Android 14 Development Preview 2 includes support to allow apps to access only specific photos and videos, or access all of them, or no access at all.

In Android 14, Credential Manager is a platform API, which allows apps to login using security keys. In the second DP, improvements have been made to the style of the Account Picker UI, as well as API changes based on feedback from DP1, as per the report.

Apps targeting Android 14, which will initially be a very small subset, will need to grant privileges to start background activities.

DP2 comes with optimizations to Android’s memory management system, improving resource usage while apps are running in the background. There will also be fewer non-dismissable notifications in Android 14, and there are also improved APIs for app stores.

According to the report, the second Developer Preview is still, as the name suggests, only recommended for app developers for app testing. Once the first beta launches next month, consumers will also have easier access. Android 14 Developer Preview 2 can be installed on Google Pixel 4a 5G and later devices.