how to get stock android

Tristan Rayner / Android Authority

The chances are very adept that your Android smartphone doesn't have stock Android. Nigh manufacturers layer their ain software over the cadre Android operating system, a process known as "skinning." If you lot have a recent phone from Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, or fifty-fifty Google, you are using an Android skin.

Yous might accept read online somewhere that the pure version of Android is superior to these skins. That'due south a highly subjective opinion, but it might have made you lot curious. What is stock Android exactly? Is it really better than having an Android skin? How does one get a stock Android telephone?

We're going to accost all those questions and more in this article!

Editor's note: This article is updated every bit of September 2022. We will add/remove content as Google launches new updates and variants to the operating system.

What is stock Android? Stock Android at a glance

Tristan Rayner / Android Authority

The purest version of Android is colloquially known as AOSP, which references the Android Open-Source Projection. This version of the operating system is its "default" country, with no Google apps, no customizations, and no extra features. Generally, all versions of Android are based on this release.

At present, you tin can install the AOSP version of Android on a telephone and call it "stock." However, in most real-world cases, stock Android is i step above this. It commonly features the inclusion of Google apps, including the ever-important Google Play Store. Notwithstanding, similar the AOSP version, stock Android usually doesn't feature any additional customizations (or at least a very express amount).

See also:What is Android?

Every twelvemonth, Google releases a new version of Android. Whatever new features, fixes, and improvements to the operating system come up to stock Android. Notwithstanding, yous'll demand to check with your phone'due south manufacturer about if and when you'll run into that update on your device.

There are a lot of folks out at that place who think that stock Android is superior to other versions because of its simplicity. Generally, skinned versions of Android come up with "bloatware" (pre-installed apps you may or may not desire) and are "heavy" (pregnant they accept lots of additional lawmaking that could slow down the operating arrangement). These issues make some users long for a simpler, lighter version of Android, which the stock variant provides. However, skinned versions of Android often have many more than features available. For case, a native dark mode didn't land on stock Android until Android 10, while skinned variants had had this feature for years prior.

The latest version of stock Android

The almost recent stable launch of Android is Android 11, which launched in 2022. In 2022, we will encounter Android 12 launch.

By and large, a phone with stock Android tin can see updates to the latest versions of Android quickly, considering the telephone's manufacturer doesn't need to make many software changes. However, this does not guarantee every phone will always have the latest version. Manufacturers only keep phone software updated for a sure flow of time, so phones somewhen age out. You lot'll need to check with your specific manufacturer to run into how long your telephone will meet updates.

Do note that at that place are a few programs that use what is essentially stock Android without using that terminology. Phones inside the Android One program employ a subtly altered version of stock Android, for case. Android Go phones similarly utilize software that riffs on stock Android. We explicate this in-depth in the article below.

Continued reading:Stock Android vs Android One vs Android Go

How to cheque your version and for updates

Joe Hindy / Android Authorisation

It'south very like shooting fish in a barrel to cheque which Android version y'all are using. On your stock Android phone, follow the steps below:

Head to Android Settings by tapping the gear icon in the notification shade or the Settings app in the app drawer.
One time at that place, curl down and tap Nigh Phone.
Scroll a bit until y'all find your Android Version.

If y'all find that y'all are on an older version of Android, there might be an update for you. To check for Android updates using stock Android, perform these steps:

Caput to Android Settings by tapping the gear icon in the notification shade or the Settings app in the app drawer.
One time in that location, scroll downwardly and tap Arrangement.
On the Organisation page, tap Advanced at the bottom of the list. This volition expand the list to show more options.
At the bottom of the listing, yous'll now see System Update. Tap that.
Tap the "Bank check for Update" push button to encounter if at that place's an update bachelor.

If there is no update available but you are on an older version of Android, information technology might be that your telephone is too old for new updates. It'south also possible that the newest update only isn't bachelor yet for your phone. Bank check with your phone's manufacturer for more than data.

Can you lot go stock Android on any phone?

Oliver Cragg / Android Dominance

Allow'due south say you buy the latest Samsung phone, which comes with One UI software. Is in that location a manner to remove the 1 UI skin and instead accept a stock experience?

The brusk respond to this question is "no." In that location is no simple way to remove an Android pare from a smartphone and simply exit stock Android backside. Nevertheless, there are ways to completely remove all the software from the phone and install a fresh version of stock Android. The new version of Android is referred to as a "ROM" (read-simply retentiveness) and the procedure of installing it is colloquially called "flashing." At that place are many robust online communities revolving effectually flashing different ROMs on all types of phones and other devices.

It is non like shooting fish in a barrel to get stock Android on some phones. In full general, y'all're stuck with whatever skin comes with information technology.

Since Android is open up-source software, anyone can download the source lawmaking, alter information technology, and put it online for people to use. By flashing different types of ROMs from Android enthusiast communities, you tin can not only go a truly stock feel simply also effort out all-new Android skins.

Keep in mind, though, that flashing ROMs unremarkably voids your telephone's warranty. In some express cases, a bad flash tin can "brick" your device, pregnant make it inoperable. We recommend that only people who are technically inclined try to flash ROMs on their devices, as it tin exist catchy. For anybody else, we recommend finding a phone for sale that already has a stock Android experience.

What stock Android looks like

Here is a gallery of screenshots that should give y'all an thought of what to expect from stock Android.

What brands/phones offer stock Android?

Not many companies offer a stock Android experience anymore. Fifty-fifty companies that did once do so — such every bit Xiaomi — take since stopped. Below, you'll find some prominent companies that offer an unskinned version of Android.

Nokia

Tristan Rayner / Android Authority

At that place's no other visitor as committed to stock Android as HMD Global, the company that owns the Nokia smartphone brand. Every unmarried Nokia smartphone comes with Android One onboard, which is as close as you tin can get to true stock present.

The big trouble, though, is that HMD Global only makes upkeep and mid-range Nokia phones. If you want a flagship-caliber device comparable to a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, y'all won't find one with a Nokia logo. This is an unfortunate cede stock Android fans volition need to brand.

Near Motorola phones come with My UX, which is the company's proprietary Android peel. There are a few, though, that come with Android One. The semi-recent Motorola One Activity is 1 such device. Even though it came out in 2022, it's still for sale and remains Moto'southward well-nigh prominent Android One telephone.

Equally with Nokia-branded devices, though, yous're not going to detect powerful hardware with the Motorola One Activity. For more than on this phone, check out our full review.

Google (sort of)

David Imel / Android Authorization

Back in the solar day, Google co-created the Nexus line of smartphones. Those phones all shipped with stock Android. In 2022, though, Google started making phones past itself and re-branded them as Pixel phones. These devices come with Pixel UI on board, which is technically an Android peel.

Granted, Pixel UI is very, very close to stock. However, information technology is not technically stock as Google adds in tons of Pixel-exclusive features and pre-installs apps here and at that place. The bottom line here, though, is if you are unhappy with what HMD Global and Motorola have to offer, a Google Pixel telephone might exist your side by side-all-time choice.

Phones with unlockable bootloaders

OnePlus Nord CE vs Redmi Note 10 Pro rear logos

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authorization

Finally, the best stock Android telephone might be a phone y'all already have. If your phone comes with an unlockable bootloader, the chances are loftier that there is a community of modders sharing stock ROMs you can wink.

Not every phone comes with an unlockable bootloader, though. Some phones, such every bit Pixel devices, are easy to unlock. Other phones are hard or even impossible. Our all-time advice is to visit the forums over atXDA-Developers and browse around to come across what phones take unlockable bootloaders. It will require some piece of work on your part, but this is likely the only way to get a telephone with stellar hardware and stock Android.

That'due south everything you need to know about stock Android! Be certain to bookmark this page as we will update it as information changes over time.