Falling-note piano apps on Android in 2026
If you learnt with falling notes and a MIDI keyboard, you probably used Synthesia. On Android its last update was in February 2025, and some owners of newer phones report that it won't open, or isn't offered on Google Play at all. Here's what that means and what you can use instead.
Why an older app disappears on a new phone
Google Play asks every app to target a recent version of Android. Since 31 August 2026, apps that don't are hidden from new users on newer Android versions (Google's target API policy). If you bought an app before, you can usually still reinstall it from your library, but new phones may refuse to run apps built for much older versions.
What to look for in a replacement
- Your own MIDI files. Song-subscription apps such as Simply Piano and flowkey teach well, but you can only play their catalogue, and they cost around £100 or more a year.
- MIDI keyboard input. Listening through the microphone works, but a USB or Bluetooth MIDI connection is exact and handles chords.
- Wait mode and hands separate. These are the two features that make falling notes a way to learn rather than a game.
- One payment. Synthesia's unlock was a one-off. A practice tool you use for years shouldn't need a subscription.
Keyrain
Keyrain is our app, built in 2026 for current Android. It opens your own MIDI files, works with USB MIDI keyboards (Bluetooth once paired) and has wait mode, hands separate, 50–100% speed, A–B loops and a best score per song. It's free to try with three songs and one import, and one payment through Google Play unlocks everything. It doesn't have Synthesia's sheet music view, finger numbers or key-light output yet.
Moving your songs across
Synthesia keeps the MIDI files you added in your phone's storage or wherever you downloaded them. Copy the .mid files to your new phone (or Google Drive), then use Import in Keyrain, or tap a file and choose Open with Keyrain. Scores and progress don't carry over.
Synthesia is a trademark of its owner. Keyrain is independent and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Synthesia LLC. Facts about other apps checked 28 October 2026.