Google unveiled the 2019 API level requirements for applications hitting the Play Store this year as well as for existing apps planned for future updates.

Beginning on November 1, 2022, existing apps that don’t target an API level that is within two years of the most recent major Android release won’t be available for download for users of ...

This just applies to new apps. However, from November, existing apps on Android will also need to target an API level within two years of the latest OS release, a level of 31 or higher.

API Level 14 corresponds to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, which is six years old! Android 8.1 Oreo still contains all the components needed to make these six-year-old apps work.

The search giant is recommending developers bump up the minimum API level for apps up to API level 19, or KitKat. "A very small percentage of all Android devices are using API levels less than 19.

Validate that your current Android apps run on the new API 21 level with ART enabled. And if you use the NDK for your C/C++ Android apps, validate against the 64-bit emulator.