Android 12L for Surface Duo is now available with new UI and more
Microsoft’s biggest Android update yet is finally here.
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What you need to know
It’s finally here! After months of waiting, Microsoft has released its big Android 12L update for the Surface Duo andSurface Duo 2, which features an updated user interface that incorporates Microsoft’s Fluent design language in many areas of the system, such as the notification shade, Settings app, and Microsoft Launcher activity feed.
Android 12L for Surface Duoalso introduces a new Pen menu feature, which functions similarly to the Pen menu on Windows 11 by clicking the top button on a Surface Slim Pen 2 to reveal a quick launch panel for four apps of your choice. The new pen menu on Android 12L also shows your pen’s battery percentage.
A big theme with this release is UI polish and consistency with Windows 11’s current design language. Many areas of the OS, such as the notifications pane and multitasking switcher, now incorporate blur effects, and many gesture animations have been updated to appear more fluid and integrated with the Microsoft Launcher.
Of course, all the stock Android 12L enhancements are also here, including wallpaper accent color theming, more privacy controls, microphone and camera usage indicators, and more. Interestingly, Microsoft is not adding the Android 12L taskbar experience to Surface Duo.
The update is3.2GB in size for Surface Duo 2and2.6GB for Surface Duo 1.
(Note:If you have an AT&T-branded Surface Duo 1 you may have to wait a few days for that update to be greenlit by the carrier.)
You can read more about the updateon the official Microsoft Blog.
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Here’s the official changelog:
How to update Surface Duo / Surface Duo 2
Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch onTwitterandThreads
