HarmonyOS version history

• Huawei Browser
• Camera support
• Huawei ID, allowing management of over-the-air synchronization of Gmail, People, and Calendar.
• Petal Search, allowing users to search the Internet and phone applications, contacts, calendar, etc.
• Huawei in-house video messaging (pre-MeeTime branding).
• EMUI Huawei smartphone and tablet devices connectivity support
• Mirror Share support
• Huawei Music music streaming service, enabling management, importing, and playback of media files.
• Huawei Video
• Wallpaper support
• Other applications include: Photos and Settings.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.
• Distributed architecture
• Huawei ARK compiler
• Deterministic Latency Engine
• Formal verification of TEE microkernel via Huawei's iTrustee and Multi-device IDE (Beta)
• New HarmonyOS Sans font
• POSIX and ARM CMSIS integration in the kernel abstract layer of Multikernel architecture of LiteOS kernel and Linux kernel.
• Android apk apps and ADB support.

Version 1.2 obtained a Common Criteria certification for security.^[17]

• Huawei AppGallery, allowing application downloads and updates through the Market application.
• JavaScript (JS), Native C++, C and Java programming language development supported for easy porting from Android apps into native HarmonyOS apps.^[28]
• Smartphone and tablet home screen based on EMUI design upgradable from EMUI.
• Support for watches from LiteOS to new HarmonyOS system with new crown UI similar to Apple Watch.
• Support for wearable devices such as fitness bands.
• Support for car systems such as Huawei HiCar
• Android compatibility apps of Android 10 and 11 support with .apk and .aab packages support with Linux kernel on phones, tablets and Vision TVs. Introducing dual-framework of Android and HarmonyOS APIs. Huawei Watch 3 Linux kernel included developer mode with AOSP framework support, alongside HarmonyOS APIs.
• A new control panel design layout with Super Device.
• Service Center, Service Cards, and App Snippets for the atomic services platform exclusive to native HarmonyOS apps.
• Shared app multitasking known as Task Center across Huawei devices between phone and tablets as well as running more than one app on tablet. The Task Center allows phone screens using the base CPU for apps or the GPU of the host distributed device for games. Including drag and drop of documents from one device to another in an app.^[29]
• Optimized for Huawei Super Device, connecting Huawei computers, tablets and smartphones with on-screen gestures and multi-screen collaboration.
• EROFS read only file system support
• (HDFS) HarmonyOS Distributed File System file system
• Comprehensive security kernel stack for hardware authentication and app environment system (teeOS Microkernel).
• HMS Core 5.0 support for backwards AOSP compatibility app framework support with HMS apps.
• HMS Core 6.0 August 2021 for Hongmeng/HarmonyOS compatibility app framework support with HMS apps.

For Smart Screens:

• HarmonyOS 2 update for smart screens from 1.0 brings new smart functions such as smoother connections, includes super terminal, screen split-screen, and smart reminder functionalities.

HarmonyOS 2.0.1 & 2.0.1 SP3 update - October 2021 (Mid-range); December 2021 (High end):

• Stability and optimisation update for all Qualcomm Snapdragon based Huawei smartphones. Also minor user experience enhancements cross device Task Sharing with larger MatePad 11 high end tablet line for high end Huawei flagship smartphones.^[30]

October 25, 2021 (GT 3)

• Brings rich API capabilities to provide better third-party apps experiences^[31]
• Optimisations on audio control centre, as well as system performance, system stability and voice broadcast experience in some scenarios.
• Star River watch face includes a simpler always-on-display (AoD) variant.^[32]

• E-ink tablet Ink experience
• Special home screen layout for E-ink
• Compatible with Android apps
• Compatible with native HarmonyOS apps
• Huawei Browser support
• AppGallery support
• Huawei Mobile Services support
• Huawei service apps - Petal Maps, Huawei Cloud, Huawei Books etc.

Notes

• The update revises "Notes” application, supports multi-level folder, and synchronizes “Notes” app with tablets and mobile. Further, also supports cross-page and cross-notebook copying functions.

Reading

• Bookshelf function helps to group the books according to choice.
• Double-click the stylus to use eraser.

System

• Long press on application icon to add to sidebar.

Security

• The upgraded version integrates August 2022 security patches.

New Feature

• Added Delayed Shutdown auxiliary function. After the screen-off time reaches set time, the screen automatically shut down.

Optimizations

• Optimizes interface display of device
• Improves the stability of Notes app
• Optimizes system performance^[34]

Optimization

• Optimize stylus writing experiences.^[35]

• Improved organised folders with Service Cards support and enhanced Service cards customisations resizing.
  • A new Super Home Screen which is an extension of the super device features introduced on HMOS 2 that allows users to share the mobile home screen application to their devices powered by HarmonyOS operating system. Similar to shared multitasking of apps on HarmonyOS 2 on HarmonyOS powered devices.^[41]
  • Improvements with UI/UX experiences.
  • ArkUI declarative development introduced in JS and eTS replaced imperative UI development under Java.^[42]
  • Optimised and performance latency improvements bringing more fluid experience to the operating system.
  • Super Device enhancements.
  • Celia Assistant and Service Center in global markets.
  • Android compatibility version upgrade to Android 12 for the compatibility of latest Android apps on smartphones and tablets.
  • Status bar customisations on smartphones.
  • Improvements to privacy protections
  • New Super Device settings interface.
  • Java language support dropped for main full support of eTS, JS in this version of the operating system.
  • .hap apps can both run on both Huawei's HarmonyOS and open source HarmonyOS, OpenHarmony.
  • Supports for more than one headphones, earphones connectivity via Bluetooth connectivity on Super Device.
  • New UI embedded on the home screen of Themes customisation with colours, shape of icons etc.
  • Service Cards now has additional customisation sizes.
  • New organisation folders layout that allows system toggles customisation directly on the home screen without the need to drag down Control Panel center.
  • Service Cards can now be organised in folders with customisation sizes.
  • Service Cards can now be organised as a collection of cards that allows users to flick different Atomic Service Cards.
  • Enables sharing with phone's cellular network with a tablet to answer calls or receive SMS directly on the large-screen device.
  • Audio sharing support of Bluetooth with users
  • Auto layout on home screen customisation powered by AI^[43]

For Cars:

• Super Home Screen
• Dual-screen collaboration
• Smart Search support
• Master driving privacy mode
• HUD's adaptive adjustment
• Time wallpaper
• Improvements to Celia Assistant.^[44]

For Smart Screens:

• HarmonyOS 3: 720P becomes 4K, with clearer portraits of the subject.
• Sports Health function supports 200ms low latency, multi-person recognition anti-interference.
• Smoother connections, clearer details and a more stable picture.
• Smart life that support for one-touch access to external storage.
• Children's mode: new support for motion physical games using motion sensors of the camera.^[45]

• Professional Sport functions
• Health Management
• Smart Travel
• Automated enter and exit sleep mode
• Mute Collaboration Function
• Super Device support
• Advanced Dial that comes with Mountain Cloud sea effect, Kaleidoscope Dial and New Watch Faces
• Playing Skills
• System improves and optimises Bluetooth connections with new status icon.^[46]

Service Widgets:

• Combined widgets automatically expand or shrink as widget increase or decreases, and stacked widget automatically rotate and display as the scene changes.

Smart multi-window:

• Added function of saving split-screen state, saving split-screen state to home screen, and clicking split-screen combination icon to open the dual-app split-screen with one click model.

Calendar:

• Added curriculum subscription service, you can import curriculum by taking photos or photo albums, support custom editing of courses and course reminders, and curriculum.
• Service card can be added to the desktop, and easier tutorials.

System:

• The document supports one-step preview, no need to pop up the box to choose the opening method.
• Call audio switched between speaker, earpiece, and different Bluetooth devices in one step through multi-device broadcast control center.
• Added quick download icon for Game Centre app, click to download and use directly.

Smart multi-window:

• Optimized smart multi-window experience. When returning to home screen, floating window automatically shrink to small window to continue task.

Charging:(only involved in NOH/NOP)

• Optimized super fast charging turbo mode charging experience.

App Guard:

• Optimized app guard, improved security, provides second confirmation pop-up window for application jumps, reduce risk of misoperation, and make every jump knowable and controllable

System:

• Optimize Huawei's printing interface, simplify and unify the printing entry, and more accessible to print documents in one step.
• Optimize system performance, sliding operation, page switching, and smoother application startup, dynamic effects interrupted.

Safety:

• Incorporate the June 2023 security patch to enhance system security.^{[47][48][49][50]}

• 3D Always on Display (AOD)
  • Faster start-up and running time of apps
  • Improved user experiences with dynamic special effects in notification centre, Atomic Service Card size adjustments, window size adjustments and audio control.
  • Custom lock screen
  • Better optimisation of icons with minor changes
  • New stock camera app that includes the new rotating zoom ring
  • Second generation satellite communication features support in China
  • Better lifecycle security control of hide on-screen applications and background popup app management
  • Foldable phone UI support to manage large on-screen display with new home screen layout with window rotation and query capabilities through various interfaces optimised for foldable smartphone hardware.
  • New input method cursor direction added
  • Improved AI powered smart multi-tasking split screen functions
  • Brand new lock screen functionality
  • Fluid, smoother and seamless transitions of system animations across the OS.
  • Full declarative ArkUI development framework support for new HarmonyOS Design Language System
  • ArkTS language support and primary, and eTS depreciated, JS for Lite 3.0 API 8 FA backward compat support DevEco Studio IDE template
  • Enhanced Web services and application framework
  • Meta capability expansion of stage development models
  • Added interface for querying application^[54]
  • Huawei Pangu AI Natural Language Processing (NLP) model integrated into HarmonyOS 3.1 Celia Assistant improvements in China^[55]

Optimizations:

• Optimizes the user experience of the Changlian app
• Optimizes the system stability in some scenarios
• Improves the Reminders feature in certain conditions

Security:

• Integrates the December 2023 security patch to enhance system security^[56]

• New Personalization for Personal theme with New "ART" theme and themed icons(can't cover 3rd party apps) and Interact theme with New Panoramic weather theme.
  • New First Boot screen start-up
  • New system theme
  • 1800 native HarmonyOS designed system emojis
  • Interactive Watch Faces
  • Smart Notification Center
  • Improved Service Widgets with Meta (Formerly called Atomic) Services, card style information
  • Refreshed SuperHub improvements with connectivity and integration of all apps between devices that Extract any Information from screen(word and photo) pull to SuperHub.
  • Generative AI and LLM Multimodal learning Voice Assistant Celia/XiaoYi[China] - Powered by Huawei Pangu AI model, supports Chinese and English with Celia Proactive Suggestions and Developers can add Celia Voice services to their atomic services
  • Native intelligence - AI Control, Intent framework, Core AI API and Core DeepLearning API
  • Smart Search
  • Multi-screen sharing
  • Better Performance
  • Application Control Center
  • Children's Remote Guardian
  • Elderly Care
  • Live window, LiveView notifications on smart capsule (Dynamic notifications)
  • Comprehensive Map services kit with Petal Maps SDK.
  • Chinese Noodles emoji
  • Responsive columns - Dichotomous column, tricolumn
  • System-level control AI
  • Control panel with a new Music playback UI/UX improvements of volume and scrubber playback support on Huawei Music and third-party apps
  • Control panel UI improvements of better animations UI/UX interactions
  • China HDR Vivid and Audio Vivid technology standard
  • In-house Ark Engine multimedia API graphics system.^[61]
  • ArkUI-X cross platform framework support with full stack of software development, including programming languages, multilingual front-ends, compilers, execution engines, and a series of tool chains.
  • Vulkan NDK support
  • HarmonyOS SDK has been upgraded to API 10, integrating device and cloud at the same time integrating HarmonyOS NEXT early builds
  • Dynamic notifications on all devices (Phones lockscreen, Watches with Crescent Moon Window and with LiveView).^[62]
  • HUAWEI M-Pencil into a whiteboard marker in seconds, and the shared content can be highlighted and marked.
  • Battery life improvements up to 20%
  • New Screenshot functionalities within app view and windowed apps.
  • New photo editor
  • Auto support
    • The super transfer station supports more applications, and two-finger long press can easily extract text and pictures and drag them into the transfer station.
    • The super desktop expands more scenarios, not only supporting the transfer of mobile games to the smart cockpit screen, but also supporting the transfer of drone aerial images to the smart cockpit.^[63]
  • TV support
  • Router support
  • IoT support
  • Wearables support
  • Audio accessories and devices support Phone Features
• Improved AOD
  • Better look screen customization Watch Features
• Crescent moon window on Watches
  • 3D interactive watch face customisation
  • Watch Face API support for rich 3D games for third-party developers.^[64]
  • NearLink 1.0 support on Huawei Mate 60
  • AOSP codebase reduced to 40%

Changelog includes:

User Interface:

• The Art Protagonist theme enables you to customize the background.
• Added feature of recording clearer audio and sounds via Bluetooth devices.
• Improves overall performance with smoother operations in multiple scenarios such as task switching, app launch, and task interruption
• Added new device-cloud cooperation mechanism to obtain more accurate and rapid control of malicious apps.
• Added new anti-false alarms for viruses and risky apps to make OS safer and pure from malicious apps.
• The Interactive theme can change the custom background when cutting out pictures, which will bring more room for creativity.
• Huawei Celia now suggests that conditions-based widgets can be stacked and displayed to improve the experience.
• Polishes the operation details of more scenarios to make visual effects, prompts, etc. more refined and accurate

System:

• Improves overall performance with smoother operations in multiple scenarios such as task switching, app launch, and task interruption
• Optimized global search experience and make the home screen pull-down feature smoother
• Added WLAN network automatic connection tab, which can individually control whether to auto-connect to previously connected WLAN networks.
• Added Bluetooth device recording switch. When recording from distance to connect Huawei headphones to record via Bluetooth for better quality recording.

Security:

• Integrates device-cloud cooperation mechanism to achieve more accurate and faster control of malicious apps
• Optimizes switching feature between applications and adds “Always Allow” option to give more detailed control experience.

Application:

• Upgraded “Huawei Reading” service. Based on HarmonyOS features, with better high-quality reading experiences with access to millions of good books, AI emotional reading, and cross-device circulation.

^[67][68]

Changelog includes:

User Interface:

• The Interactive Art Protagonist theme enables you to customize the background.
• Added feature of recording clearer audio and sounds via Bluetooth devices.
• Improves overall performance with smoother operations in multiple scenarios such as task switching, app launch, and task interruption
• Hand Gesture Navigation
• AI Image Eraser
• Wisdom Xiaoyi Digital Assistant (Chinese version of Celia)
• Added new device-cloud cooperation mechanism to obtain more accurate and rapid control of malicious apps.
• Added new anti-false alarms for viruses and risky apps to make OS safer and pure from malicious apps.
• The Interactive theme can change the custom background when cutting out pictures, which will bring more room for creativity.
• Huawei Celia now suggests that conditions-based widgets can be stacked and displayed to improve the experience.
• Polishes the operation details of more scenarios to make visual effects, prompts, etc. more refined and accurate

System:

• Smart Payments
• Improves overall performance with smoother operations in multiple scenarios such as task switching, app launch, and task interruption
• Optimized global search experience and make the home screen pull-down feature smoother
• Added WLAN network automatic connection tab, which can individually control whether to auto-connect to previously connected WLAN networks.
• Added Bluetooth device recording switch. When recording from distance to connect Huawei headphones to record via Bluetooth for better quality recording.

Security:

• Integrates device-cloud cooperation mechanism to achieve more accurate and faster control of malicious apps
• Optimizes switching feature between applications and adds “Always Allow” option to give more detailed control experience.
• Information protection and intelligent information hiding

Application:

• Upgraded “Huawei Reading” service. Based on HarmonyOS features, with better high-quality reading experiences with access to millions of good books, AI emotional reading, and cross-device circulation.

Changelog:

Themes:

• Added an interesting triangular-shaped character combined with a sports theme and transformed it into a tennis player of Interactive Themes
• The lock screen interface follows the movement of the human eye gaze area to hit the ball back and forth, resulting in a realistic human-computer interaction experience.
• Added more geometric elements and emoticons
• Geometric stickers and mood stickers now have 1 new set of lock screen animations.
• Mood Party and Geometric Party have 2 new layout styles
• Magazine Themes

Security:

• Added permission for app to deny an advertisement opening with a mobile shake gesture, providing purer app experience.
• Floor-level device search

System:

• Enhanced Ark Engine

TV -

• Smart TV photo wall

Wearables -

• New Watch Face additions^[73]

Applications:

• Optimizes app launch animation, making app experience smoother
• Cervical Spine Health 2.0 via Huawei Health
• New Celia Assistant

Gallery:

• “AI Photo Retouch” added on the image editing menu, in which AI elimination function smartly identifies and erases irrelevant passers-by or debris in the photo, making photo background more harmonious and orderly.

Camera:

• Added new ‘Flash Shot’ mode.
• Optimizes shooting details and improves shooting experience under ‘Moon’ and ‘Macro’ modes.
• Optimizes camera's shooting effects and continues to improve shooting experience
• Optimizes camera's recording experience in some scenarios^[74]

• Native refinement of the system, application, fluency, security, intelligence, and native interconnection.
• Full-stack, self-developed HarmonyOS NEXT core operating system integrated that includes:
  • Native AI LLM model: PanGu-Σ
  • Native Generative AI framework: MindSpore
  • Native Integrated Development Environment: DevEco Studio IDE and DevEco Testing
  • Native Design system: HarmonyOS Design
  • Native Programming framework: ArkUI / ArkUI-X(Cross Platform)
  • Native Compiler & Runtime: Ark Compiler, BiSheng Compiler and Ark Runtime
  • Native File system: EROFS/HMDFS distributed file system
• Native in-house Cangjie programming language alongside ArkTS as primary programming languages support for native HarmonyOS system and kernel
• AOSP system and Linux kernel of EMUI system userland on System Service Layer removed from native compatibility on phones and tablets alongside some other devices via native OpenHarmony user mode.
• Primary HarmonyOS native app file package, APP for HarmonyOS apps only
• Native Package management subsystem^[80]
• Refined and primary native in-house Ark Engine multimedia API graphics stack system that comes with ArkGraphics 2D and ArkGraphics 3D with Cangjie support across all devices with developer access^[81]
• Linux and LiteOS RTOS base on wearables, phones, tablets on System Service Layer replaced with self-developed REE version of HarmonyOS kernel, Microkernel architecture.^[82]
• API 10, 11 features bundled
• New API 12 features
• HarmonyOS NEXT SDK with previous classic HarmonyOS SDK API levels, alongside full standard OpenHarmony SDK development kit access support conglomerated in a complete and comprehensive in-house HarmonyOS SDK API 12, in a form of full development kit.
• PC mode when keyboard used on MatePads and phone docked
• Native PC support
• Native HarmonyOS API apps adapted to PC support
• Native Generative Edge AI computing API system features for Edge Computing
• Native Generative AI and Multimodal learning LLM Voice Assistant Celia/XiaoYi [China & Global] - Powered by Huawei Pangu AI model, supports Chinese and English with Celia Proactive Suggestions and Developers can add Celia Voice services to their atomic services improvements and applications.
• Native device-side AI support for training interface and ArkTS interface for NNRt (Neural Network Runtime) backend configurations via MindSpore framework
• OpenHarmony versioning core baseline of HarmonyOS NEXT system versioning underlining the HarmonyOS operating system baseline versioning
• OpenHarmony user mode contains the kernel abstract layer that wraps the Linux syscall compatible layer via POSIX compatible, third-party musl from LiteOS lineage for HarmonyOS NEXT system kernel, in-house real-time, Microkernel.
• OpenHarmony Device Connector (HDC) native support, a command line tool for connecting and debugging HarmonyOS devices as well as OpenHarmony devices in interoperability, including self debugging on PC-side with native toolchain system.^[83] Replaces Android Debug Bridge on classic dual-framework OpenHarmony L3-L5 based EMUI and HarmonyOS AOSP userland base.^[84]
• Exclusive to in-house Kirin and HiSilicon chips optimisation and adaptation alongside selected Snapdragon legacy chips
• New visual graphical interfaces based on Neumorphism and Glassmorphism design language trend, visual elements on HarmonyOS Design language system for Spatial computing
• New Control Panel interface.
• New and refined notification and lockscreen interface.
• New volume control design.
• New native File and Photos picker app and interface.
• New bundled HarmonyOS native system apps.
• Native HarmonyOS settings app and OTA system
• Modified native Task Switcher interface for PC, phones, tablets and foldables
• Native smart app background and foreground management system
• Live Window UX improvements and developer APIs kit support for native third-party HarmonyOS apps
• Native developer and app kits support
• New native AppGallery app designed for installation of native HarmonyOS apps only.
• New native Huawei Browser with a self-developed, in-house and custom ArkWeb browser engine for native Webview apps, replaces Android version of Huawei Browser that is Chromium browser and Blink browser engine based for native Webview apps and third-party Browser apps built on ArkWeb kernel.^[85]
• Next generation NearLink 2.0 support
• Native HMS Core integration
• New Permission application system with AI, Capability-based security-like REE kernel features, alongside native OpenHarmony-based Access token manager^[86] implements unified app permission management on Core File Kit, departure from previous versions of HarmonyOS with AOSP framework^[87]
• Advanced native multitasking and Task switching system
• Native Push API system
• Continuity of applications between devices via native Distributed Package Management Service (DBMS) from Distribution Service Kit API.^[88]
• Spatial computing support^[89]
• Native Spatial Audio support in Audio Kit API^[90]