LineageOS 24.0

LineageOS 24.0 marks a significant milestone for the open-source mobile operating system, as it celebrates 10 years on December 24, 2026. This release is part of the project's ongoing story of making devices run LineageOS, despite the challenges posed by Google's frequent refactoring of Android.

Since the first release in June, the team has been working diligently to rewrite all changes and features for the Android 17 codebase. As a result, LineageOS has released early this year, surpassing expectations.

The 24.0 branch is now feature and stability parity with its predecessor, 23.2, and is ready for initial release. It brings several improvements, including a simpler installation process through new browser-based flash tools using WebUSB. These tools allow users to flash LineageOS directly from their browser, reducing the need for separate flashing utilities.

However, these new flash tools do not replace the existing installation guides found in the LineageOS Wiki. Instead, they offer an alternative for those who prefer a streamlined flashing experience. The team acknowledges the risks associated with flashing custom software and urges users to back up essential data and follow the provided instructions carefully.

LineageOS has also undergone an extensive Accessibility Audit, conducted in partnership with the a11y project. The goal was to improve accessibility in LineageOS, and the effort has already resulted in changes to the recovery navigation/UI. The team is grateful for the accessibility-in-development training provided to over 40 contributors, which facilitated these improvements.

While LineageOS 24.0 is ready for initial release, the team emphasizes that it will initially support a select group of devices. Additional devices will be added as they meet the specified requirements and are prepared by their respective maintainers.

Moreover, the team has decided to only accept LineageOS 22.2 submissions for devices using Linux Kernel versions 4.4 and 4.9. These legacy kernel versions carry numerous platform commits that are challenging to maintain in newer Android versions. Instead, the team recommends using SoC-specific common kernels for better maintenance and integration of the latest features and security patches.

The team expresses gratitude to Contributors Nicholas Lim and Luk1337 for their substantial contributions to the new flash tools. They encourage users to explore these tools at flash.lineageos.org and to follow the installation guides for their devices to upgrade to LineageOS 24.0.