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Abhinav
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Getting to work with a team of app developers gives you crazy insights about tech. Recently, Android 15 (API level 35) quietly changed something weβve all experienced but rarely thought about: where apps are allowed to live on the screen.
With this release, Google has made edge-to-edge layouts the default. That means apps no longer sit neatly under the status bar or above the navigation barβthey now stretch into every pixel of your display.
This is about more than looks. It changes how apps interact with the parts of the screen traditionally reserved for system elements, also known as safe areas.
Safe areas are screen zones guaranteed to be free from system UI elements. Think of them as invisible boundaries around:
In earlier Android versions, apps automatically avoided these regions. Even if you werenβt thinking about it, your phone made sure a βSendβ button didnβt hide behind the navigation bar.
With Android 15, Google flipped the default:
In short, the system stopped babysitting layouts. Apps now own the full canvasβbut with that freedom comes responsibility.
For users:
For apps:
This shift echoes Appleβs move during the iPhone X era, when apps had to learn to live around the notch.
Itβs part of Androidβs ongoing push toward immersive visuals, where every pixel matters.
Android 15 changes the role of safe areas:
For most people, this means apps will gradually look sharper and more immersive as developers adapt. For developers, itβs a wake-up call to modernize layouts.
Here are some excellent resources that explain the shift:
In short: Android 15 makes apps live in the entire screen space. It feels immersive and future-ready, but also demands that apps adapt to safe areas thoughtfully. The result? A more modern Android experience for all of us.
Continue reading...
With this release, Google has made edge-to-edge layouts the default. That means apps no longer sit neatly under the status bar or above the navigation barβthey now stretch into every pixel of your display.
This is about more than looks. It changes how apps interact with the parts of the screen traditionally reserved for system elements, also known as safe areas.
What Are Safe Areas?
Safe areas are screen zones guaranteed to be free from system UI elements. Think of them as invisible boundaries around:
- The status bar at the top (time, battery, network icons)
- The navigation bar or gesture area at the bottom
- Cutouts or notches for cameras and sensors
In earlier Android versions, apps automatically avoided these regions. Even if you werenβt thinking about it, your phone made sure a βSendβ button didnβt hide behind the navigation bar.
What Changed in Android 15
With Android 15, Google flipped the default:
Edge-to-edge by default
Apps now extend behind the status bar, navigation bar, and cutouts.
Cutouts are always allowed
Even if an app didnβt explicitly request it, content may appear under a notch or hole-punch camera.
No more automatic padding
The system doesnβt hold back space for apps anymore. Developers need to consciously respect safe areas if they donβt want text, buttons, or images to get hidden.
In short, the system stopped babysitting layouts. Apps now own the full canvasβbut with that freedom comes responsibility.
Why This Matters
For users:
- Apps feel more immersiveβphotos, videos, and maps stretch to the very edges.
- The overall look feels cleaner and modern.
For apps:
- Poorly adapted apps might show text under the battery icon, or have buttons blocked by the navigation bar.
- Well-designed apps now look sleek, balanced, and edge-to-edge.
This shift echoes Appleβs move during the iPhone X era, when apps had to learn to live around the notch.
Why Google Did This
- To create a consistent full-screen design language across Android.
- To encourage modern UI practicesβinstead of legacy layouts frozen in older styles.
- To take advantage of todayβs larger, higher-resolution displays.
Itβs part of Androidβs ongoing push toward immersive visuals, where every pixel matters.
The Big Picture
Android 15 changes the role of safe areas:
- Before: the system managed them for you.
- Now: apps must be aware of them.
For most people, this means apps will gradually look sharper and more immersive as developers adapt. For developers, itβs a wake-up call to modernize layouts.
Want to Dive Deeper?
Here are some excellent resources that explain the shift:
- Android Developers: Edge-to-edge in Views
- Android 15 Behavior Changes
- Insets Handling Tips for Android 15 (Android Developers on Medium)
- Reddit discussion on edge-to-edge enforcement
In short: Android 15 makes apps live in the entire screen space. It feels immersive and future-ready, but also demands that apps adapt to safe areas thoughtfully. The result? A more modern Android experience for all of us.Continue reading...
