LineageOS 24 Is Ready: Android 17 for Many Smartphones

What happened

The LineageOS team released version 24 of its custom operating system about four months after Google released Android 17. The new version is built on the June version of Android 17 from Google's open-source code, called AOSP. It works on many new and older phones, and 24 devices were newly added to the supported list.

Key facts

• Release: about four months after Android 17 came out.
• Last year's LineageOS 23 (based on Android 16) came out at about the same time.
• 24 devices were newly added to the supported list.
• Security patches are included from August 2025 to October 2026.
• LineageOS is expected to turn 10 on December 24, 2026.

Security updates and Google's new rules

Google now sends big security fixes only every three months. Small, high-risk fixes still come every month. Google also now releases its Android source code to AOSP only twice a year. The newer Android 17 QPR1 update from September did not reach the AOSP code, so LineageOS does not include it. This means custom ROM makers have more work to do.

New apps and features

Many core apps were redesigned in Google's newer "Material Design 3 Expressive" style and got several improvements. A new photo editor called Canvas offers basic tools like cropping, white balance and filters. The Jelly browser can now run web-app-like shortcuts. The Twelve music player should load large libraries faster. The updater was also reworked, and updates are now streamed by default, which shortens install time on phones with A/B partitions.

Why it matters

A custom ROM like LineageOS lets people keep using a phone with newer software, even after the maker stops support. Because Google now changes how it releases code and security fixes, custom ROM teams must work harder to keep phones safe and up to date.