Google forces Android apps to support larger screens with Android 16 update

13 articles · Updated · Android Police · Apr 24

Android 16, or API Level 36, now overrides developers’ resizeableActivity settings on devices with screens wider than 600dp, forcing apps to render edge-to-edge.
This move aims to address persistent issues with poorly optimized apps on foldable and large-screen Android devices, but has sparked backlash from developers whose portrait-locked apps are breaking under the new policy.
Google’s intervention highlights ongoing challenges in foldable phone software, with many developers still prioritizing iOS; Apple’s rumored entry into foldables could further accelerate improvements in app optimization for larger screens.

Could Google’s aggressive strategy backfire and lead to more broken apps on large screens?

What makes an app truly 'foldable-ready,' beyond just filling the larger screen?

Will a wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 screen even matter if most apps remain unoptimized?

With the August deadline near, how many top Android apps will meet Google's new foldable rules?

If Apple's foldable is delayed to 2027, can the Android ecosystem solve its app problem alone?

How does a top-tier app like JioHotstar change the daily use of a foldable phone?