Google is continuing its tradition of assigning sweet-themed codenames to Android versions, and for Android 17—expected in 2026—the company has picked the dessert Cinnamon Bun. This choice surprised fans, who had been speculating about possible names based on alphabetical order and last year’s pick of “Baklava” for Android 16. Here’s why Google settled on this name, what it means, and how it connects to changes in Android’s development process.
Android’s Sweet Tradition
For most of Android’s history, Google publicly used dessert-based codenames—like Marshmallow, Jelly Bean, or Lollipop—following alphabetical order. With the release of Android 10 in 2019, the public naming practice was dropped in favor of a more universal branding, but the internal tradition continued. Android 15 was codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream, Android 16 became Baklava, and for Android 17 (corresponding to API level 37.0), the codename Cinnamon Bun has now been chosen.
A cinnamon bun is a popular dessert in Northern Europe and North America, consisting of rolled dough with a cinnamon-sugar filling, often topped with icing. The name reflects Google’s internal system where codenames are used to track development stages, even though the marketing name for Android 17 will simply be its version number.
Why Cinnamon Bun?
The choice of Cinnamon Bun is tied to Google’s transition to a new Trunk Stable development model, introduced in 2024. This approach uses a single stable code branch, with new features and fixes hidden behind “flags” until they’re ready. It streamlines integration and release processes.
Under this system, Google introduced a new build identifier scheme:
In 2024, Android 14 QPR2 and QPR3 builds used prefixes AP1A and AP2A, with “A” marking the first year of the new system. In 2025, with Android 16, the prefix switched to “B,” leading to a dessert starting with “B”—Baklava. In 2026, with Android 17, the prefix will be “C,” hence Cinnamon Bun.Although fans suggested other “C” desserts—like Cheesecake or Croissant—Google settled on Cinnamon Bun. A source inside the company confirmed that CinnamonBun is indeed the internal codename for API level 37.0.
Dessert Codename History
Here’s the recent timeline of Android’s sweet codenames:
Android Version
Codename
Year Released
1.5
Cupcake
2009
1.6
Donut
2009
2.0, 2.1
Éclair
2009
2.2
Froyo
2010
2.3
Gingerbread
2010
3
Honeycomb
2011
4
Ice Cream Sandwich
2011
4.1–4.3
Jelly Bean
2012
4.4
KitKat
2013
5
Lollipop
2014
6
Marshmallow
2015
7
Nougat
2016
8
Oreo
2017
9
Pie
2018
10
Quince Tart (internal)
2019
11
Red Velvet Cake (internal)
2020
12, 12L
Snow Cone (internal)
2021
13
Tiramisu (internal)
2022
14
Upside Down Cake (internal)
2023
15
Vanilla Ice Cream (internal)
2024
16
Baklava (internal)
2025
17
Cinnamon Bun (internal)
2026 (expected)
The codename Cupcake has already been used for Android 1.5, so its reuse was ruled out. Among many possible “C” desserts, Google picked Cinnamon Bun for its recognizability and popularity.
When to Expect Android 17Android 17 is expected in June 2026. Starting with Android 16, Google accelerated release schedules so that summer device launches could ship with the latest OS. For instance, Android 16 was released earlier than usual to support summer launches of devices like the latest Pixel smartphones. If this pattern holds, Android 17 will debut mid-2026, with early beta releases appearing in the first months of the year. In early betas, the “Android version” field may show “Android CinnamonBun,” but the final release will display “Android 17.”
Codename SignificanceLike previous versions, the codename won’t be used in marketing. However, Google traditionally unveils dessert-themed statues at its campus, so a cinnamon bun sculpture might appear in 2026. For developers, “CinnamonBun” is already in use in documentation and builds for API level 37.0, confirming its official internal status.
ConclusionGoogle has chosen Cinnamon Bun as the internal codename for Android 17, continuing the sweet tradition and reflecting the company’s shift to the Trunk Stable development model. The name aligns with the new build identifier scheme, where 2026 is marked with the letter “C.” While fans may have expected other desserts like Cheesecake, the cinnamon bun comes as a pleasant—if unexpected—choice. Android 17 will likely arrive in June 2026, with beta versions rolling out soon to reveal its new features.
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