Android 17 prefers to slow down a single problematic app instead of affecting the performance of your entire phone.

      New memory limits per app are set to control high-consumption applications before they affect overall performance and battery life.

      Android 17 is tightening its rules regarding apps that utilize excessive memory, with Google preferring to have one app struggle rather than allowing it to impede the performance of the entire device.

      According to Google, Android 17 implements per-app memory limitations based on a device's total RAM. This feature aims to identify extreme memory usage before it leads to user interface lag or increased battery drain. Apps that consistently exceed their allocated memory may eventually be terminated.

      Consequences of exceeding memory limits

      Android 17 does not assign the same RAM allowance to every application. Google indicates that the memory thresholds are intentionally set low to ensure that typical app usage rarely encounters issues.

      When an app exceeds its memory limit, Android can begin to reclaim memory instead of immediately restricting other processes. If the app continues to ascend beyond its limit, Android 17 may ultimately terminate the problem process.

      This provides Android a method to manage the situation before the rest of the device is impacted.

      RAM usage allowances for apps

      The memory allocation varies depending on the device and whether the process is visible. For instance, Google's AOSP documentation illustrates that an 8GB device allows a visible process a limit of 5GB, while a non-visible process has a limit of 3GB.

      Exceeding this limit does not result in the instant termination of the app. Android can first recover memory and compress inactive data into zRAM, which might slow down the problematic app while keeping it operational.

      Termination of the app occurs only in more severe scenarios, such as a memory leak that continues to allocate resources after all available swap space has been used. The app is penalized rather than forcing Android to remove other important processes first.

      What users can expect on their devices

      In an ideal scenario, users won’t notice much alteration during regular use. Google anticipates that standard app sessions will remain well below these limits.

      These regulations apply broadly. AOSP confirms that preinstalled apps are not exempt, and developers do not receive an allowance to bypass this system.

      Therefore, if an app experiences sudden slowdowns or closures due to high memory usage, Android 17 could be functioning as intended, ensuring the phone continues to operate while addressing the problematic app first.