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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To find an Android Automotive kernel’s end-of-life date, identify the build’s exact Android Common Kernel (ACK) branch and look it up in Google’s Android common kernels support-lifetime table. Then check the vehicle maker’s update commitment separately. The ACK date is when Google’s support for that common-kernel branch ends; it does not, by itself, tell you when a specific car will stop receiving security updates.
What the ACK end-of-life date tells you
Android Automotive OS (AAOS) builds can use Android Common Kernel branches identified by labels such as android14-6.1. The label identifies a kernel branch; an Android version or a kernel release number alone may not identify the exact branch you need. Google’s lifecycle table is organized by ACK branch.
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Google says kernels are no longer supported by Google after their listed end-of-life date, and devices running them are considered vulnerable. For a deployed vehicle, however, the table does not establish what security fixes its manufacturer has integrated or delivered. Treat the ACK date as a branch-support milestone, not as a vehicle warranty or a confirmed end date for vehicle updates.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallHow to find the date that applies to a build
- Identify the exact branch. Check the vehicle’s software information, or ask the manufacturer or engineering team for the build’s kernel release and ACK branch. Obtain the complete branch label, such as
android14-6.1; do not infer it from the Android release name alone. - Look up the branch. Find it in the “Support lifetimes and security patches” table on Google’s Android common kernels page. Record the EOL date and when you checked the table, because lifecycle information can change.
- Confirm the pairing. Check that the build is based on the branch you found and that the kernel branch is supported with that Android platform version. Google’s GKI release process describes branch- and Android-release-specific compatibility. A supported pairing does not prove that a vehicle receives updates.
- Check patch status separately. Compare the build’s Android security patch level with the latest relevant AAOS Update Bulletin. A bulletin describes available fixes, not proof that a particular vehicle has received them.
- Ask who services the vehicle. Request the update commitment for the exact vehicle and build from its manufacturer or responsible supplier. Google’s manufacturer guide for long-term Android security says the manufacturer directly providing a device is responsible for updates to its specific implementation.
Keep the two outcomes distinct in any report: Google ACK branch EOL: [date] and vehicle manufacturer's update commitment: [confirmed date or not publicly established]. The first cannot substitute for the second.
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Published ACK branch dates
The following dates were listed in Google’s support-lifetime table on October 7, 2026. They apply to the named ACK branches, not to every vehicle using a related Android version.
| ACK branch | Listed EOL date |
|---|---|
android12-5.10 |
2027-07-01 |
android13-5.10 |
2027-07-01 |
android13-5.15 |
2028-07-01 |
android14-5.15 |
2028-07-01 |
android14-6.1 |
2029-07-01 |
android15-6.6 |
2028-07-01 |
android16-6.12 |
2029-07-01 |
android17-6.18 |
2030-07-01 |
For example, if a build is confirmed to use android14-6.1, the table’s listed EOL is 2029-07-01. That gives you Google’s branch-support date; you still need vehicle-specific information to determine what updates the car will receive. Verify the live table before relying on any date.
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Why a vehicle’s update timeline can differ
A vehicle manufacturer may ship a fixed Android version and later backport security fixes without upgrading the full operating system. Google’s manufacturer guide says a full OS update may be at the manufacturer’s discretion unless other business agreements apply. It also says the manufacturer directly providing the device is responsible for its specific implementation, and clarifies that the guide does not legally or contractually bind Google or other manufacturers.
Google’s guide says it currently provides active security-backport support for three years from an Android API-level public release and recommends considering third-party backport support for Android versions older than three years. It also recommends a servicing agreement with SoC vendors. These are statements of Google’s guidance and policy, not a universal commitment that a named automaker or supplier will support a particular vehicle for that long.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to interpret AAOS bulletin and patch-level information
The AAOS Update Bulletin supplements Android Security Bulletins with fixes affecting Android Automotive. It says bulletins are normally published on the first Monday of each month, or the next workday when that Monday is a holiday. The October 2026 bulletin was published October 5, 2026, and lists security patch level 2026-10-01.
The bulletin notes that patches may come from the car manufacturer, AOSP, upstream Linux, or SoC manufacturers. A current patch level is useful when assessing a build, but it does not demonstrate that a manufacturer has applied a particular fix or will continue delivering patches. Confirm delivery and future coverage with the responsible manufacturer or supplier.
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