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.
Beta program
The Privacy Sandbox on Android Beta program, starting in January 2023, provides stable APIs. We are planning several Beta releases throughout 2023. You can use the Beta program releases to build and test solutions for limited production testing on Android 13 mobile devices. We'll start supporting a small percentage of devices and increase the number over time. To participate, organizations can request access for a limited number of devices, plus register any apps which will utilize the Privacy Sandbox APIs.
For the SDK Runtime, we’re having a closed Beta for developers to test Runtime-enabled SDK distribution to select apps.
To utilize the Beta release, developers will need to compile their solutions with an API level 33 SDK extension update.
Android SDK Extensions
Stable APIs in Beta releases are delivered via the new Android SDK Extensions release method. This release method enables the release of stable Android functionality in between major releases. It features a new versioning mechanism that makes new APIs available to apps on multiple API levels using Google Play system updates. The Privacy Sandbox on Android SDK extension is called Ad Services Extensions. For more information about Android SDK Extensions, see 'sdkextensions'.
Get started
To get started, perform the following steps:
Step 1: Enroll and register for the Beta program
Enroll: You need to complete an enrollment process in order to utilize the ads-related APIs.
Register: To participate in the Beta program, you also need to register here. You'll need information from the enrollment process to register. Registering allows you to:
- Enable your own devices for internal testing purposes.
- Specify a limited number of published apps on the Google Play Store that can directly integrate privacy preserving APIs or integrate SDK solutions that use the APIs.
- Test runtime-enabled SDK distribution using the Google Play Store. This step is not required if you only need to test the SDK Runtime on-device.
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 or use an emulator image for the proper SDK Extension.
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 Beta program includes the following tools and resources.
SDK and emulator system images
Using Android Studio, you can download the latest Ad Services Extension and emulator system images through the SDK Manager. The Privacy Sandbox APIs are final for the particular Ad Services Extension release. Learn more about how to set up your development environment and set up API access.
API Reference
The full Beta API reference is available.
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 Beta program starts in early 2023 to a small percentage of devices. You can use the beta release to build and distribution solutions for limited production testing. We plan to iterate the beta releases for developers throughout 2023.
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.