Google Pixel software support and Android 17 compatibility

Google has implemented varying software support lifecycles for its Pixel hardware. Starting with the Pixel 8 family, the company guarantees seven years of major operating system upgrades and security patches. This extended support window applies to the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a, and the newer Pixel 9 and 10 series, with some devices supported until 2033. Older models, such as the Pixel 6 and 7 families, operate under a five-year support policy, while devices from the original 2016 Pixel through the Pixel 5a are now obsolete.

As Android 17 rolls out to modern Pixel hardware, users of older smartphones often rely on custom ROMs like LineageOS to access newer platforms. Because open-source distributions cannot legally include proprietary Google Mobile Services (GMS) out of the box, users must manually flash GApps packages to access the Google Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, and other essential Google services.