Android SDK Manager - Do you need to install all Android platforms?

Question

I just recently downloaded the Android SDK.
Downloading all the packages in the "SDK Manager" will take way too much time. So I'm wondering whether I should deselect all the platforms except the latest one.
Do I need all the platforms or which ones do I need?

Answer 1

Not at all. You just need to install those platforms which you are targeting for your apps and which you intend to test your app with. If I were you, I'd install:

• API 24 (Multiple app windows, Notification enhancements, Multi-locale support)
• API 23 (Runtime permissions toggling, Doze mode and BoringSSL)
• API 21 (Massive changes, including Material Design)
• API 19 (Many changes to various API methods)
• API 18 (New features such as BLE, new API methods)
• API 14 (Big overhaul - addressed several issues in Honeycomb)
• API 11 (Quantum shift - native Fragments & Action Bar from API 11 onwards)
• API 10 (Last of the "old" Android platforms - there are still people using this)

You should also install

• SDK Tools 24.0.2
• SDK Platform-tools 21
• SDK Build-tools 21.1.2
• Google Play Services SDK
• Google USB Driver

Optional:

• Offline documentation for each SDK Platform.
• Platform source code - useful for a look under the covers.