Privacy Sandbox on Android offers two programs to help ad tech platforms and app developers design, test, and prepare for future production rollouts to users.
Developer Preview program - Use the Developer Preview program to conduct initial testing of proposed APIs, evaluate how to integrate them with your solutions, and provide feedback. We'll introduce new APIs and features in this program over time and promote stabilized APIs to the Beta program.
Beta program - Use the Beta program to integrate your solutions with stable Privacy Sandbox APIs for testing on a limited number of Android 13 devices in production, which will increase over time. Access the APIs in Beta releases through the Extension SDK, a new mechanism for delivering features outside of major Android releases.
As you read through the Privacy Sandbox on Android documentation, use these Developer Preview or Beta buttons to select the program version that you're working with, as instructions may vary.
Developer Preview program
The Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview program continues to provide a way to conduct initial testing of proposed APIs, provide feedback, and evaluate how you might adopt them for your solutions. New public APIs and behaviors will first appear in the Developer Preview program. You’ll have access to the Developer Preview SDK, tooling, and documentation. Once the APIs are stabilized, they’ll graduate to final APIs released in a Beta program release.
Get started
To get started, perform the following steps:
Step 1: Enroll your organization in with the Privacy Sandbox
You need to complete an enrollment process in order to utilize the ads-related APIs.
Step 2: Set up your development environment
You need to set up the Privacy Sandbox on Android SDK in Android Studio.
Step 3: Configure AdServices permissions
You need to declare API-specific permissions and configure SDK access to resources managed by the targeted API.
Step 4: Set up a device or emulator image
To perform end-to-end testing, you need to interact with a supported Android 13 device. You can either download and configure a Developer Preview Pixel device image or use an emulator image.
Step 5: Configure devices to use Privacy Sandbox on Android
You need to configure a number of settings to enable (or disable) Privacy Sandbox on Android to run on devices.
What developer resources are available?
The Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview program includes the following tools and resources.
SDK
Using Android Studio, you can download the Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview (based on Android 13) through the SDK Manager. Learn more in the guide about setting up your development environment and accessing privacy-preserving APIs.
System images
The Developer Preview includes several system image options that you can use for development and testing:
- 64-bit emulator system images for mobile devices.
- System images for supported Pixel test devices.
Visit the Downloads page to get an image for on-device development and testing.
Preview APIs
Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview initially provides a development-only system and Android library that doesn't have a standard API level. If you want to target the new platform and build with the new Privacy Sandbox on Android APIs during this time, you must target the Developer Preview version of Privacy Sandbox on Android. To do so, update your app’s build configuration.
The Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview SDK builds upon Android 13. When you target your app for Privacy Sandbox testing, you should also account for changes introduced in the Android 13 Beta release.
Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview provides an early look at the new proposed APIs. This means that some features may not yet be implemented, and that the APIs are subject to change. In particular, the preview APIs from the Developer Preview builds aren't intended for deployment on end-user devices.
API Reference
The full Developer Preview API reference is available. Note that these new APIs are under development, and you can only use these APIs if you are building with the Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview SDK.
Support and feedback
As you test and develop with Privacy Sandbox on Android, review the release notes and use the issue tracker to report issues and give feedback.
Timeline and updates
The Privacy Sandbox on Android Developer Preview program will run over the course of 2023. You can review regular progress updates on the program and sign up to receive updates in your inbox.
At key development milestones, we'll deliver updates for your development and testing environments. Each update includes SDK tools, system images, emulators, API reference documentation, and sample code (apps and ad SDKs).
Keep your development environment up-to-date
We strongly recommend you keep your development environment up-to-date with the latest release. When new updates are available, we'll notify you on the Android Developers Blog and on the progress updates page. Sign up for email updates, to receive a message in your inbox, as well.