Overview
- Google activated per‑app memory budgets in Android 17 on Pixel phones in late August 2026 to stop single apps from using so much RAM that the whole device slows down.
- When an app exceeds its assigned budget Android 17 first compresses and moves data into zRAM and, if that does not relieve pressure, the system will terminate the app process.
- Budgets are computed per app and device class rather than as a single universal number and can range roughly from about 4 gigabytes up to around 16 gigabytes depending on total device RAM and process state.
- Android 17 exposes runtime memory metrics and offers developer tools such as ADB commands and Play Console diagnostics plus optimization guides for high‑memory apps like games and multimedia software.
- The limits apply now only to Google Pixel devices running Android 17, other manufacturers are expected to roll out similar limits in the coming months with wider adoption into 2027, and users on older or low‑RAM phones may see more app closures or CPU‑driven lag from zRAM compression.