5 Popular Android Features That Were Killed By Google

Google has earned a reputation for removing popular Android features, while often not adequately replacing them, and here's five that met the chopping block.
Techrights

Links 14/03/2026: Mass Layoffs at Facebook ('Meta') and Sweeping Layoffs at Twitter (xAI), Social Control Media and Slop Are Only Debt

A Hong Kong court has ruled that two Tiananmen vigil activists have a case to answer over calls to “end one-party rule” in China in a subversion trial under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Android 17 Beta 2 starts clamping down on apps that misuse accessibility services

Android 17 Beta 2 now enables a stricter Advanced Protection feature that clamps down on apps that aren't classified as ...

Android's Advanced Protection Mode may soon disable a key Chrome feature to boost security

Google may allow users to disable WebGPU in Chrome via Android Advanced Protection Mode to shield users from sophisticated online attacks.

Android 17 will protect you from apps that deceptively gain accessibility permissions

The move could impact some popular apps ...

Google adding a WebGPU kill switch for Chrome on Android 16Google adding a WebGPU kill switch for Chrome on Android 16Google adding a WebGPU kill switch for Chrome on Android 160 0

Google will let you make Chrome on Android 16 more secure by introducing a toggle for disabling WebGPU. But doing this will come with some trade offs.
ZDNet

I changed 12 settings on my Android phone to extend its battery life by hours

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. I've spent a significant portion of my life searching for ways to extend the battery life on my Android phones. Admittedly, that sounds rather ...