Google unveiled the 2019 API level requirements for applications hitting the Play Store this year as well as for existing apps planned for future updates.

API Level 14 corresponds to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, which is six years old! Android 8.1 Oreo still contains all the components needed to make these six-year-old apps work.

This just applies to new apps. However, from November, existing apps on Android will also need to target an API level within two years of the latest OS release, a level of 31 or higher.

Validate that your current Android apps run on the new API 21 level with ART enabled. And if you use the NDK for your C/C++ Android apps, validate against the 64-bit emulator.

Check the Android SDK Manager on this morning and you'll spot packages for a new API level: Android P. There are packages for the SDK itself, plus Android TV, Google APIs, and Google Play variants ...

Starting from August 2019, new app submissions to the Play Store will be expected to target API level 28, which is Android 9.0 Pie.

Google Play will soon hide older apps for new users to encourage developers to support the latest Android functionality. Google is expanding Play’s Target Level API requirements.