The version history of the HarmonyOS distributed operating system began with the public release of the HarmonyOS 1.0 for Honor Vision smart TVs on August 9, 2019. The first expanded commercial version of the Embedded, IoT AI, Edge computing based operating system, HarmonyOS 2.0, was released on June 2, 2021, for phones, tablets, smartwatches, smart speakers, routers, and internet of things. Beforehand, DevEco Studio, the HarmonyOS app development IDE, was released in September 2020 together with the HarmonyOS 2.0 Beta. HarmonyOS is developed by Huawei. New major releases are announced at the Huawei Developers Conference (HDC) in the every end of second quarter of each year together with the first public beta version of the operating system's next major version. The next major stable version is then released every fourth quarter of the following year since HarmonyOS 5. The current third generation HarmonyOS versions evolve from unified OpenHarmony-based HarmonyOS NEXT iterations since HarmonyOS 5 version. The current major version being HarmonyOS 6 which was released on November 25, 2025.
Overview The early mixed framework, pre-OpenHarmony, was the first public release of HarmonyOS 1.0 with LiteOS and Linux kernel space with AOSP compatibility layer occurred with the release of Huawei's former brand Honor Vision smart TVs on August 15, 2019, after it was announced on August 10, 2019, as the first HarmonyOS powered commercial product in Huawei's domestic market, China alongside smart IoT devices on LiteOS kernel.
The second generation evolved HarmonyOS into a fragmented mixed and multi-framework with HarmonyOS 2.0 with Linux kernel that carried AOSP dual-framework base mobile telephony with watered down OpenHarmony L3-L5 source code branch on top of EMUI fork was released on June 2, 2021 that began on December 16, 2020 that introduced early native mixed-HAP file format coexisting with APK with limited API functionalities on wearables, mobile and TVs, smart IoT screens, two months after OpenHarmony source code officially released on September 10, 2020, commercially in Huawei's domestic Chinese market, as de facto Beta testers for Chinese users, and was quickly adopted by 10 million users within a week. It was gradually rolled out globally to tablets, smartwatches and bands in Huawei's product lines between the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022. Followed by HarmonyOS 3.0 API 8 iteration with the introduction of declarative programming and stronger Super Device connectivity with terminal devices in July 2022.
HarmonyOS 3.1 with API 9 and an enhanced feature built for Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets set was released March 30, 2023 that was first preinstalled on the latest Huawei flagship smartphones Huawei P60 series.
The last major dual-framework release HarmonyOS 4.0 was released on August 4, 2023, followed by HarmonyOS 4.2 update and 4.3 factory maintenance iterations in April and November 2024 respectively, with OpenHarmony 3.2 API 9 that saw reduction of AOSP codebase on some started and small Linux kernel mode devices in transition with OpenHarmony L3-L5 codebase expansion on wearables as well as system hardening on Linux kernel level on mobile devices similar to custom AOSP-based GrapheneOS. At the same time, HarmonyOS NEXT was announced and launched internally for developers at HDC 2023 with demos. Followed by OpenHarmony 4.0 API 10 October 26, 2023 where both versions are in line with earlier HarmonyOS NEXT builds that is the unified modular OS software stack, closed distro branch from OpenHarmony L0-L2 pure codebase with the new microkernel-based HongMeng Kernel transitioning from Linux kernel on early internal builds demoed and transitioning completely from former HarmonyOS 4.x AOSP mobile and LiteOS kernel smart devices legacy versions.
On 18 January 2024, Huawei released its third generation iterative version of the operating system, a custom OpenHarmony-based HarmonyOS NEXT version, starting with Developer Preview 1 for all registered public developers in China that was integrated into the next HarmonyOS Galaxy Edition (Star River) version of HarmonyOS NEXT, folded into consumer HarmonyOS 5 version, the successor of current HarmonyOS which was announced at HarmonyOS Developers event held in China that is due for commercial release on November 26, 2024 that aims to replace the current dual-framework closed L3-L5 OpenHarmony source code version of classic HarmonyOS versions that contains Linux, AOSP and LiteOS compatibilities next to native HarmonyOS APIs which versioning are now streamlined with OpenHarmony L0-L2 branch open source code as single framework. The evolved HarmonyOS platform has vertical integration of Huawei's in-house HiSilicon Kirin chips and Ascend AI accelerator chips for private cloud AI processing on the platform. Major OpenHarmony OS core and common platform API upgrades are up streamed by OpenAtom Foundation. Minor custom in-house API upgrades by Huawei are downstreamed.
On June 20, 2025, Huawei dropped the 'NEXT' suffix going forward for HarmonyOS 6 version, second version of HarmonyOS NEXT iterative version as part of unification of the operating system into one single universal framework for all device types.
First Generation
Name OS version APIversion Initial stablerelease date Latest security patch version (release date) AOSP version HarmonyOS 1.0 5 August 9, 2019
Second Generation
Name OS version APIversion Initial stablerelease date Latest security patch version (release date) OpenHarmony (OHOS) L3-L5 version Latest Huawei Mobile Services version (release date) AOSP/EMUI version HarmonyOS 2 6 August 5, 2021 HarmonyOS 3 8 October 26, 2022 HarmonyOS 3.1 9 May 16, 2023 HarmonyOS 4 9August 18, 2023 HarmonyOS 4.2 9April 26, 2024 HarmonyOS 4.3 8November 26, 2024 HarmonyOS 4.5 (TV) 9September 24, 2024 HarmonyOS 5/NEXT Lite Wearable (OpenHarmony Lite/LiteOS kernel) 12September 19, 2024
Third Generation
Name Codename APIversion Initial stablerelease date Latest security patch version (release date)HarmonyOS system versionOpenHarmony (OHOS) L0-L2 downstream versionHarmonyOS 5 5.0.4(16)November 26, 2024HarmonyOS 5.0.1 5.0.5(17)March 30, 2025HarmonyOS 5.1 5.1.1(19)June 11, 2025HarmonyOS 6 6.0.1(21)November 25, 2025
Version history
The following tables above show the release dates and key features of all HarmonyOS operating system updates to date, listed chronologically by their official application programming interface (API) versions as listed below in detail:
HarmonyOS 1.0 HarmonyOS 1.0 [1.0.0 - OpenHarmony 1.0.0] (API version 5)
The first release of HarmonyOS was on August 9, 2019, for the Honor-branded smart TV series, followed by Huawei Vision S-branded smart TV series during (HDC) Huawei Developer Conference of 2019 alongside Wireless Wi-Fi routers and IoT systems in 2020. The system incorporated the HarmonyOS microkernel for Trusted execution environment with hardware and user authentication for security, alongside system for Linux kernel and LiteOS kernel space. Introduced with in-house development using Ark Compiler with LiteOS Studio IDE for third-party apps in LiteOS kernel and Linux kernel environment with Ark Compiler Android apps support on AOSP libraries with comprehensive programming languages support as well as Huawei Quick App IDE for Quick Apps for Vision TVs on screen and screenless devices, this version incorporates the key modules based on the open-source framework with the following features:
HarmonyOS 1.0.1
On September 9, 2020, Huawei opened up HAP app development for HarmonyOS 1.0.1 Vision TV with the new DevEco Studio IDE alongside HarmonyOS 2 Beta with the newer HarmonyOS SDK that introduced the new HarmonyOS API framework with HAP file format for universal app development between IoT and TV systems which began dual/mixed framework of HarmonyOS TV systems and eventually HarmonyOS 2 across mobile and car systems. Huawei donated HarmonyOS 1.0 L0-L2 branch source code to the OpenAtom Foundation, and launched the first version of the open source variant operating system called OpenHarmony 1.0 on September 10, 2020. The final minor update for Honor and Huawei Vision TVs, HarmonyOS 1.0.1.66 SP3 was released October 20, 2020.
HarmonyOS 2 HarmonyOS 2 was launched at the Huawei Developer Conference on 10 September 2020 as a public beta for smart home applications, smartwatches, and head-on-displays and Vision TVs only. Huawei announced it intended to ship the operating system on its smartphones in 2021. The first developer beta of HarmonyOS 2.0 was released on December 16, 2020, for the Chinese domestic market on older Huawei smartphone models which include developer features to build HAP apps and SDK tools for developers. Huawei also released the DevEco Studio 1.0 IDE, which is based on IntelliJ IDEA, and a cloud emulator for developers in early access on September 9, 2020. An updated DevEco Studio 2.0 IDE Developer Beta version for HarmonyOS app development with HarmonyOS 2.0 beta on smartphones on December 16, 2020 with subsequent beta releases of 2.1 beta releases in the early first half of 2021. The system was able to run native HarmonyOS apps built on HarmonyOS Ability Package (HAP) with a new app package .app across the whole ecosystem of devices.
Released as public beta on June 2, 2021, HarmonyOS 2 includes in-house development for the teeOS kernel and app framework for the general public in the Chinese domestic market of smartphones, tablets, HiCar systems, wearables, IoT systems and Vision TVs with an updated DevEco Studio 2.1 IDE alongside subsequent DevEco Studio 2.2 beta releases afterwards.
On August 5, 2021, stable official release of HarmonyOS 2 was launched on 65 Huawei devices in China.
This version includes a new Harmony OS 2.0 home screen based on EMUI design, 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. It has shared multitasking known as Task Center for Huawei devices between phone and tablets as well as running more than one app on tablet and phone screens. The new OS is also optimized for Huawei Super Device, connecting Huawei computers, tablets and smartphones with on-screen gestures and multi-screen collaboration. HarmonyOS 2.0.1 On October 15, 2021 Nova 9 series received an incremental update of HarmonyOS 2 that adds short video creation with Camera and other optimizations refining the system. HarmonyOS 2.1 MatePad Paper factory in March 16, 2022 and subsequent updates alongside Huawei Watches such as Watch GT3, Watch 3 and Watch D received HarmonyOS 2.1 updates in October 25, 2021.
HarmonyOS 3 HarmonyOS 3.0 [3.0.0 - OpenHarmony 3.1] (API version 8), HarmonyOS 3 was announced on Huawei Developers Conference 2021 on October 22, 2021. and launched on July 27, 2022 as beta with stable release on October 26, 2022 in China.
The Harmony OS 3 version was reported to bring more stability and increased performance of the system's kernel for better user experience and low power consumption. The new release also aims to bring more power to the Super Device feature, which allows connectivity between smart devices with a single super device such as a smartphone. It includes Huawei services such as Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) for Harmony Ability Packages (HAP) native HarmonyOS apps, Celia Assistant and Service Center in global markets.
Java language support dropped on HMOS 3.0 for main full support of eTS, JS programming languages in the new version of the operating system with an updated DevEco Studio 3.0 IDE released afterwards on September 17, 2022. Since API Level 8, .hap apps can run on both HarmonyOS and OpenHarmony simultaneously in one unified development environment as one project.