Google I/O 2025: How to watch and what to expect

Google I/O is an annual developer conference that's also one of the biggest Google events of the year, joining the Made by Google event, which happens closer to August.

Google I/O is set to take place in mid-May this year as well, bringing you the latest innovations in the Android and Google ecosystem. Google usually has keynotes and multiple workshops spanning across these two events. We don't know what the exact schedule looks like as yet, but Google did say that the first day of I/O 2025 will begin "with keynotes, followed by breakout sessions, workshops, demos, networking opportunities, and more continuing on day two."

Google put out an elaborate list of sessions that we could expect at this year's conference on Wednesday, April 23. The developer conference will be split into four focus areas: AI, Android, Web, and Cloud. Each of these topics will showcase its own set of keynotes and workshops. Some of which may be livestreamed. All this will begin with Google's main keynote starting at 1 p.m. ET, which will be followed by the developer keynote.

When is Google I/O 2025?

Google I/O is all set to take place starting on May 20 this year with the first keynote beginning at 10 am PT. Google revealed this year's I/O date following its traditional puzzle format, which was interestingly designed using the Gemini API and AI Studio.

Taking place at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, the event will also be livestreamed for the rest of the folks who can't make it to the event. Google will announce its innovations in AI, upgrades to Android, and occasionally reveals hardware — though that is becoming rare.

How to register and watch the Google I/O 2025 keynote/sessions?

The tech giant indicated in the date reveal that registrations for the event are now open. Developers who are interested in attending the event get to register for free, and this will keep them posted about all things I/O, including updated schedules closer to the event.

That said, developers don't have to register for the live event since it is open to all via the online, remote experience. However, to customize your experience at I/O and make the most of your time there, Google suggests that developers create their Google Developer Profiles.

For the rest of the folks who intend to tune into the event online, Google will livestream the event in tandem via its official page and YouTube channel. While it's too early for Google to put out a livestream link, we will update this article when it does.

What to expect from Google I/O 2025

Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive

The next big OS upgrade for Pixel and Android devices could be a part of this year's I/O. We're talking about Android 16, which also goes by a fun internal codename, "Baklava." This one seems quite obvious, not just to us but also to you as a reader, considering the two beta versions of Android 16 are currently out to people who'd want to take the OS for a spin on eligible Pixels.

Additionally, we received confirmation at MWC that Android 16 will be released much earlier — in June, considering the teams have reached something called the "Trunk Stable" stage, where all the developers contribute their efforts towards a single branch of code.

Along with Android 16, Google will also be giving us a glimpse Android's new UX design, Material 3 Expressive. It's being called "the future of Google's UX Design." According to Google, this new UX will make app UIs more engaging and visually distinct. Material 3 Expressive will have apps that showcase "emotional design patterns." This is supposed to help boost user's interaction with a specific app by adding more expressive elements to it.

At I/O Google plans to share design files and even alpha code with developers, allowing them to start experimenting with Material 3 Expressive as early as possible

Additionally we might be seeing some of Android 16's features in action according to the President of the Android ecosystem, Sameer Samat —possibly during Google's first Keynote. This year's I/O lineup will showcase sessions that will explore new features and the future of the OS. Google is gearing up to show developers how to create "delightful, high-quality apps for all form factors (phones, foldables, tablets, wearables, TV, Auto, XR)" for Android 16.

We're specifically excited to see the Live Updates feature that everyone with the Beta version is chatting about, along with a more stable version of audio sharing.

Android XR

Another exciting thing that Google has openly been hinting about is Android XR. And we're hoping to see a full reveal of its capabilities at I/O this year. For starters, XR stands for extended Reality and is Google's latest software platform, made "in collaboration with Samsung."

This software will potentially bring apps to smart glasses, AR glasses, and mixed-reality headsets. Sameer Samat, president of the Google ecosystem, told Android Central that they "never stopped working on" XR despite these public failures and that the "Gemini era" means "the time is right for XR."

Last year, it sneakily showed off a prototype of Google's AR glasses while showing Project Astra's capabilities. Additionally, Samsung also showed off its mixed reality headset dubbed "Project Moohan" at the MWC last week. Samsung's headset will technically be powered by Android XR. With the company being openly showcasing it, we have a hunch we'll see more of it during I/O 2025.

This year, during a technical session, Google will showcase the latest updates to the Android XR SDK Beta, which is set to launch at I/O, and we will also get to see glimpses of 3D content creation for the Platform. That said, these sessions are developer-focused and will allow them to learn more about creating immersive content and hand-tracking for existing apps.

Google also confirmed that the public launch of Android XR is scheduled for "later this year."

Wear OS 6

We don't expect to see a Wear OS 6 launch; however, last year's event gave us a glimpse of what we could expect from Wear OS 5. Considering Google may follow suit, it could probably show off some of the next Wear OS's capabilities.

For now, what we do know is that Wear OS 6 will power the upcoming Pixel Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 8, and eventually OnePlus Watch 4. The tech giant hasn't officially announced anything about this year, but according to our wearables lead, Michael Hicks, credible reports suggest that "Gemini will replace Assistant on Wear OS soon and that a major hardware upgrade could make this version more powerful than ever."

That said, here's what we wish will come with Wear OS 6.

Plenty of AI

Lastly, we will also be counting the number of times Google says "AI" this year while hoping for it to show off more of Gemini's latest skills as it did at I/O 2024. Considering that Google Assistant is being fully replaced by Gemini in most of Google's devices and products.

Google has lined up multiple technical sessions and Keynotes discussing everything from "What's new in the Gemmaverse?" to "The future is now, with Compose and AI on Android XR." Attendees will also get to witness how Gemini is helping reshape knowledge and productivity, building with AI, revolutionizing search, and more. Google's leadership is set to discuss the latest advancements in AI as well.

We're keeping also our fingers crossed and eyes peeled if and when Google will show off its upcoming flagship device, aka the Pixel 10, at least a quick short tease. Rest assured, this year's I/O will be filled with the latest tech developments within the company.

Android Central will be present at Google I/O this year as well, bringing you all the deets firsthand. We will also have a live blog during the event so you can keep up with the announcements as they happen. Be sure to tune in on May 20 for our live coverage!