What is the open-source license used by Android?

The Android Open Source Project is primarily licensed under the Apache License 2.0. This permissive, non-copyleft license allows people and companies to use, modify, and redistribute much of Android’s source code under defined conditions.

Google chose Apache 2.0 for most Android platform code because it permits substantial customization and does not require every modified or combined project to be distributed under the same license. That flexibility helped phone manufacturers, chipset vendors, and developers adapt Android to different hardware and products.

Android is not governed by one license in every component. The Linux kernel and Android’s kernel changes are distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2, while some libraries and third-party components have their own licenses. Google Mobile Services, including key proprietary apps and services, are separate from the open-source AOSP code.

The Apache license also does not grant permission to use Google’s Android trademark or branding without meeting Google’s compatibility and licensing requirements. Thus, “Apache License 2.0” is the canonical answer for Android’s main open-source platform, even though the wider Android ecosystem is a mixture of open and proprietary software.