Android 17 prefers to throttle one problematic app instead of affecting the performance of your whole phone.
New memory limits for individual apps are aimed at controlling excessive memory usage before it leads to broader performance issues and battery drain.
Android 17 is enforcing stricter limits on apps that consume an excessive amount of memory, with Google's preference being to hinder a single app rather than allowing it to impact the overall performance of the device.
According to Google, Android 17 implements memory limitations per app that correspond to the total RAM of the device. This feature is intended to identify extreme memory usage before it results in UI lag or increased battery consumption. Applications that consistently exceed their memory allowance may ultimately be shut down.
What occurs when an app exceeds its limits
Android 17 does not grant the same RAM quota to all apps. Google notes that the thresholds have been purposefully set conservatively, so typical app usage seldom exceeds them.
When an app surpasses its limit, Android may begin reclaiming memory instead of immediately prioritizing the closure of other processes. If the app continues to use more memory, Android 17 can eventually terminate the problematic app.
This approach allows Android to manage the issue proactively before it affects other functionalities on the phone.
How much memory can an app utilize
The allowed memory varies based on the device and the visibility of the process. Google's AOSP documentation indicates that, for an 8GB device, a visible process has a 5GB limit, whereas a non-visible process is allotted 3GB.
Exceeding this limit does not result in the immediate termination of the app. Android can first recover memory and transfer inactive data into compressed zRAM, which might slow down the offending app while still keeping it operational.
Termination occurs later in more severe situations, such as when a memory leak continues to allocate resources after the available swap space is full. In such cases, the app bears the consequences rather than forcing Android to terminate other essential processes first.
What you can expect on your device
In general, you should not notice much difference during regular use. Google anticipates that typical app activities will remain well within these limits.
These rules apply universally. AOSP states that preinstalled apps are also subject to these limits, and developers do not receive any exclusion that allows their apps to bypass the system.
Therefore, if an app suddenly experiences lag or closes due to high memory demand, Android 17 may be functioning precisely as intended, ensuring the phone continues to operate smoothly while addressing the problematic app first.
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Android 17 prefers to throttle one problematic app instead of affecting the performance of your whole phone.
Android 17 implements stricter memory limits for individual apps, which can slow down or stop apps that consume excessive resources. This gives Google a new method to safeguard the overall performance of the phone, preventing a single memory-intensive app from causing broader issues.
