This page lists the new features introduced in Android Studio preview releases.
The preview builds provide early access to the latest features and improvements
in Android Studio. [You can download these preview versions](https://developer.android.com/studio/preview). If you encounter any problems using a preview version
of Android Studio, [let us know](https://developer.android.com/studio/report-bugs). Your bug reports
help to make Android Studio better.

Canary releases contain leading edge features under active development, and are
lightly tested. While you can use Canary builds for development, be aware that
features might be added or changed. Release Candidates (RC) are the next version
of Android Studio, and are almost ready for stable release. The feature set for
the next version has been stabilized. See
[Android Studio release names](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/studio-release-names) to understand Android
Studio version naming.

For the latest news on Android Studio preview releases, including a list of
notable fixes in each preview release, see the [Release
Updates](https://androidstudio.googleblog.com/) in the Android Studio blog.


## Current versions of Android Studio

The following table lists the current versions of Android Studio and their
respective channels.

|                      Version                      | Channel |
|---------------------------------------------------|---------|
| Android Studio Narwhal 3 Feature Drop \| 2025.1.3 | Stable  |
| Android Gradle plugin 8.13.0                      | Stable  |
| Android Studio Narwhal 4 Feature Drop \| 2025.1.4 | RC      |
| Android Studio Otter \| 2025.2.1                  | Canary  |

<br />

## Compatibility with Android Gradle plugin previews

Each preview version of Android Studio is published alongside a corresponding
version of the Android Gradle plugin (AGP). Preview versions of Studio should
work with any
[compatible](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases#android_gradle_plugin_and_android_studio_compatibility)
stable version of AGP. However, if you're using a preview version of AGP, you
must use the corresponding preview version of Studio (for example, Android
Studio Chipmunk Canary 7 with AGP 7.2.0-alpha07). Attempts to use divergent
versions (for example, Android Studio Chipmunk Beta 1 with AGP
7.2.0-alpha07) will cause a Sync failure, which results in a prompt to update to
the corresponding version of AGP.

For a detailed log of Android Gradle plugin API deprecations and removals, see
the [Android Gradle plugin API
updates](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/gradle-plugin-api-updates).

## Studio Labs

Studio Labs lets you try out the latest AI experimental features in a stable
version of Android Studio, so you can more quickly integrate our AI assistance
offerings in your development workflow. For more information, see
[Studio Labs](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/labs).
| **Note:** Studio Labs is accessible in RC and stable releases starting with Android Studio Narwhal. In the corresponding canary versions of Android Studio, the features are enabled by default.

The following are features currently available in Studio Labs.

|          Feature           |                                                                       Description                                                                       |                                                Docs                                                |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Compose preview generation | Gemini can automatically generate Compose previews, including mock data for preview parameters, for a specific composable or all composables in a file. | [Generate Compose previews](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/generate-compose-previews) |
| Transform UI               | Use natural language to update your app UI directly from the Compose preview panel.                                                                     | [Transform UI](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/transform-ui)                           |

## Android Studio Narwhal 4 Feature Drop \| 2025.1.4

The following are new features in Android Studio Narwhal 4 Feature Drop \|
2025.1.4.

To see what's been fixed in this version of Android Studio, see the [closed
issues](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/fixed-bugs/studio/2025.1.4).

### New setting to open new projects with the Project view

There is a new setting to have new projects open in Project view by default.
To enable the setting go to
**File** (**Android Studio** on macOS) **\> Settings \> Advanced Settings \> Project View**
and select **Set Project view as the default**.

### Android SDK Upgrade Assistant now supports Android 16 / API 36

The migration from Android 15 / API 35 to Android 16 / API 36 has been added to
the Android SDK Upgrade Assistant. To get help migrating, go to
**Tools \> Android SDK Upgrade Assistant**.

### Watch Face Format support in Android Studio

Android Studio Narwhal 4 improves the workflow for creating
[watch faces](https://developer.android.com/training/wearables/watch-faces) by introducing editor support
for the [Watch Face XML Format](https://developer.android.com/training/wearables/wff) to write, debug, and
fine-tune your watch face designs directly within the IDE.
![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/preview/features/images/declarative-watch-faces-support.gif) Android Studio added support for the Watch Face Format.

Android Studio lets you directly edit the XML files used in Watch Face Format.
It now provides code completion for tags and attributes based on the
official Watch Face Format schemas and live error validation that helps
identify issues like missing required attributes. Android Studio also includes
resource linking to quickly navigate to drawable resources and other
referenced XML elements along with advanced syntax support for handling
arithmetic expressions and data source references embedded in the XML.
Finally, you can deploy watch faces directly from Android Studio.

## Android Studio Otter \| 2025.2.1

The following are new features in Android Studio Otter \|
2025.2.1.

To see what's been fixed in this version of Android Studio, see the [closed
issues](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/fixed-bugs/studio/2025.2.1).

### Journeys for Android Studio

[Journeys for Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/journeys) helps make
end-to-end tests easy to write and maintain by letting you use natural language
to describe the steps and assertions for each test---called a journey. By
leveraging Gemini's vision and reasoning capabilities, steps written in natural
language are converted into actions that Gemini performs on your app, making it
both easy to write and understand your journeys. Additionally, you can write and
describe more complex assertions, which Gemini evaluates based on what it sees
on the device in order to determine whether your journeys pass or fail.  

And because Gemini reasons about which actions to perform to satisfy the goals,
journeys are more resilient to subtle changes to your app's layout or behavior,
resulting in fewer flaky tests when running against different versions of your
app and different device configurations.

Write and run journeys right from Android Studio against any local or remote
Android device. The IDE provides a new editor experience for crafting journeys
as well as rich results that help you better follow Gemini's reasoning and
execution of your journey.
| **Note:** Before you get started, make sure that you're signed into your developer account and have enabled Gemini in Android Studio.

### Backup and Sync

![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/preview/features/images/backup-and-sync.png)

You can now back up Android Studio settings to cloud storage using either your
Google or JetBrains account. This helps sync your settings, such as keymaps,
Code Editor settings, system settings, and more. To get started, do one of the
following:

- After opening a project in Android Studio, sign into your Google Account by
  clicking the avatar in the top-right corner of the IDE, and clicking **Sign
  in**.

  ![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/preview/features/images/google-sign-in.png)
  1. Follow the prompts in the dialog that appears and make sure to check the box to authorize Android Studio to access your **Google Account Storage**.
  2. Follow the prompts to authorize Android Studio.
- Navigate to **Settings \> Backup and Sync**.

  1. Select **Google** to use your Google Account Storage to sync your app data across Android Studio installs. Alternatively, you can use a **JetBrains** account to sync your app data across IntelliJ and Android Studio installs.
  2. After you follow the prompts to authorize Android Studio to access your preferred account's storage, return to Android Studio.
  3. On the **Settings \> Backup and Sync** page, you can review the categories of app data that you want to sync to your account.
  4. To disable Backup and Sync, uncheck the box that enables the feature.

If you already have data synced to your selected device, Android Studio gives
you the option to either download settings from your remote storage (this is the
default option) or upload your local settings and overwrite settings synced to
your remote storage.

### Suggested fixes for crashes

In Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop, we launched Gemini insights for crashes
reported in the [App Quality Insights](https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/app-quality-insights) tool
window. Now, Android Studio can use Gemini to analyze the crash data along with
your source code to suggest potential fixes. After selecting a crash in the App
Quality Insights tool window, navigate to the **Insights** tab and click
**Suggest a fix** after Gemini generates an insight for the crash. Gemini then
generates suggested code changes that you can review and accept in an editor
diff tab.
![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/preview/features/images/suggested-fixes.png) **Note:** Before you get started, make sure you enable context sharing in the Gemini settings (**Android Studio \> Settings \> Gemini** ) under **Context Awareness**.

### Compose Preview Screenshot Testing tool

Use the Compose Preview Screenshot Testing tool to test your Compose UIs and
prevent regressions. The new tool helps you generate HTML reports that let you
visually detect any changes to your app's UI. Learn more at [Compose Preview
Screenshot Testing](https://developer.android.com/studio/preview/compose-screenshot-testing).

### Use a local LLM

Android Studio Otter lets you choose the LLM that powers the
IDE's AI features.
![Android Studio Gemini chat window showing the model picker with options for Gemini and a local LLM.](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/gemini/images/use-a-local-llm/model-picker.png) Model picker in Android Studio.

The LLM must be on your local machine, which is advantageous if you have limited
internet connectivity or restrictions regarding the use of AI models, or you
just want to experiment with open-source research models.

A local LLM offers an alternative to the LLM support built into Android Studio.
However, Gemini in Android Studio typically provides the best Android
development experience because Gemini is tuned for Android and supports all
features of Android Studio. With Gemini, you can choose from a variety of models
for your Android development tasks, including the no-cost default model or
models accessed with a paid Gemini API key.

Support for local LLMs requires installation of an LLM provider such as [LM
Studio](https://lmstudio.ai) or [Ollama](https://ollama.com) on your local computer along
with a compatible model of your choice.

### Monochrome icon support in Asset Studio

Android Studio Narwhal Feature Drop 2025.1.3 Canary 2 and later simplify
the creation of themed app icons. With Android 13 (API level 33) and higher,
users can opt for themed app icons, which adapt to the wallpaper and theme of
the user's device.

To support this feature, Android Studio integrates a new monochrome icon option
directly into the **Image Asset Studio wizard** . When you're creating an adaptive
app icon, you now see a dedicated **Monochrome** tab in addition to the existing
**Foreground** and **Background** tabs. You can either provide a separate
monochrome app icon (see the [design specs](https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/views/launch/icon_design_adaptive#design-adaptive-icons)), or allow
Android Studio to default to reusing the foreground layer of the adaptive icon
for the monochrome layer.

You can access **Image Asset Studio** through the **Resource Manager** , or by
right-clicking a project directory and navigating to **New \> Image Asset**.

Select **Launcher icons (Adaptive and Legacy)** as the icon type to see the
new **Monochrome** tab.

After importing the icons,
you can [preview your themed app icons](https://developer.android.com/studio/write/create-app-icons#preview-themed-app-icons).
![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/images/design/monochrome-icon-support.png) Monochrome Icon Support in Asset Studio

### Automatic Logcat retracing

With Android Studio Otter and AGP 8.12, Logcat automatically retraces stack
traces when R8 is enabled (`minifyEnabled = true`).

Because code processed by R8 can change in various ways, the stack trace no
longer refers to the original code. For example, line numbers and the names of
classes and methods can change. Previously, to debug with the original stack
trace, developers had to use R8's `retrace` command-line tool.

With AGP 8.12, Android Studio automatically retraces stack traces so that you
can see the original stack trace directly in Android Studio, with no extra work,
improving the debugging experience when R8 is enabled.

### Support for remote MCP servers

Starting with Android Studio Otter 1 Canary 3, you can connect to remote MCP
servers using Android Studio. With a remote MCP server, the Gemini in Android
Studio agent can access external tools and resources, and you don't have to do
as much work installing and maintaining the server yourself. For example, you
can connect to Figma's remote MCP server to connect to Figma files without
installing Figma's desktop app. To learn more about how to add an MCP server,
see [Add an MCP server](https://developer.android.com/studio/gemini/add-mcp-server).
Quickly add a screen to your app using the Figma remote MCP server.

<br />


![](https://developer.android.com/static/studio/gemini/images/figma-remote-mcp-setup.png) Connect to the Figma remote MCP server in Android Studio.

<br />