Supported phones
Which phones and Android versions OpenBeacon runs on.
OpenBeacon runs on Android phones with Android 7.0 or newer. An iPhone app is planned, but isn't available yet.
OpenBeacon is in beta. It has been checked on every Android version below using emulators, but hasn't yet been tested on a range of real phones. If something doesn't work on your phone, please tell us which phone and Android version you have.
Android versions
To find your version, open Settings, then About phone, and look for Android version.
| Android version | Status |
|---|---|
| 16 | Checked on an emulator |
| 15 | Checked on an emulator |
| 14 | Checked on an emulator |
| 13 | Checked on an emulator |
| 12 and 12L | 12 checked on an emulator |
| 11 | Checked on an emulator |
| 10 | Checked on an emulator |
| 9 | Checked on an emulator |
| 8.0 and 8.1 | 8.0 checked on an emulator |
| 7.0 and 7.1 | 7.0 checked on an emulator |
| 6 and older | Not supported. The app can't be installed. |
Android 17 hasn't been checked yet.
What's different between versions
Newer Android versions give you more control over location, so the app asks for permissions a little differently:
- Android 10 and newer: sharing your location while the app is closed needs a separate background location permission.
- Android 11 and newer: background location is granted in your phone's Settings, by choosing Allow all the time for OpenBeacon's location permission.
- Android 12 and newer: you can choose approximate location instead of precise. People in your groups will then only see roughly where you are.
- Android 13 and newer: the app asks to show notifications. Location sharing still works if you say no. Android also lists OpenBeacon in its active apps list, where you can stop it. That stops sharing until you open the app again.
Other things that affect sharing
- OpenBeacon uses Google Play services for location, so phones without them may not be able to share.
- Some phone makers have battery savers that close apps in the background. If your location stops updating when the app is closed, set OpenBeacon's battery usage to unrestricted in your phone's settings.