Second beta of Android 15 lets users block access to private apps

Along with Google’s developer-focused I/O conference comes the latest version of Android 15, which is now in its second beta. It has some cool new features like the ability to hide a collection of apps inside a “private space”, customizable vibrations so you can perceive different types of notifications just by sentiment, and richer widget previews too.

The new Private Space feature is the coolest of all: it can hide apps you don’t want others to see in a biometric or PIN-protected container in the app drawer. It’s one of several new security features coming to Android.

Private Space takes advantage of Android user profiles, so apps you place in a Private Space also hide notifications for the apps and files created or downloaded in them. You could, for example, lock all your dating apps in one space and not be inundated with matches at undesirable times.

Another cool new feature is custom vibrations for incoming notifications. Users can now set distinct vibrations for a Slack or Teams message versus an Uber Eats delivery update without taking their phone out of their pocket.

For developers who enjoy creating widgets, there is a new advanced widget preview capability that helps users understand what they will look like before placing them on the home screen. For example, when you look inside the Widget Picker and see the option for a contact card, you can now see an actual person from your contacts in the preview instead of a placeholder.

The second beta of Android 15 has other notable additions today this didn’t make it to the relatively pedestrian first release. The latest version also works on more devices, including foldables and tablets from manufacturers like Lenovo, Realme, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, Nothing and others.