Are Android Apps Backwards Compatible?

Should I build an app that targets Android 2.2 and release it on the Android Marketplace; Would the app be available for download and use on devices running a version of Android OS

Solution 1:

It depends what you have in the minSdkVersion field in your AndroidManifest.xml. If it is set to 4 or lower, then it will be visible to people using 1.6.

There's a good explanation here.

Solution 2:

The android SDK is completely backward compatible using the mechanism that @Graham mentions. The other question will be "how far should you go". Use this graph to see the population of users on each platform level.

http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

This is pure opinion, but I would advise starting your app at API levels 7 or 8. The benefits of the APIs in EClair+ are worth losing this 0.4% still on 1.x devices.

Solution 3:

If you are targeting 2.2, users with earlier SDK will not be able to download it.

They will see: This app is Incompatible with your device XXXXXXX