diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/util/AppVersion.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/util/AppVersion.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fb042fb489
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/util/AppVersion.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & AUTHORS
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+package com.tailscale.ipn.ui.util
+
+import com.tailscale.ipn.BuildConfig
+
+class AppVersion {
+  companion object {
+    // Returns the short version of the build version, which is what users typically expect.
+    // For instance, if the build version is "1.75.80-t8fdffb8da-g2daeee584df",
+    // this function returns "1.75.80".
+    fun Short(): String {
+      // Split the full version string by hyphen (-)
+      val parts = BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME.split("-")
+      // Return only the part before the first hyphen
+      return parts[0]
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/AboutView.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/AboutView.kt
index 7640b6cc9d..fb0c098976 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/AboutView.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/AboutView.kt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import com.tailscale.ipn.BuildConfig
 import com.tailscale.ipn.R
 import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.Links
 import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.theme.logoBackground
+import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.util.AppVersion
 
 @Composable
 fun AboutView(backToSettings: BackNavigation) {
@@ -69,9 +70,14 @@ fun AboutView(backToSettings: BackNavigation) {
                 Text(
                     modifier =
                         Modifier.clickable {
+                          // When users tap on the version number, the extended version string
+                          // (including commit hashes) is copied to the clipboard.
+                          // This may be useful for debugging purposes...
                           localClipboardManager.setText(AnnotatedString(BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME))
                         },
-                    text = "${stringResource(R.string.version)} ${BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME}",
+                    // ... but we always display the short version in the UI to avoid user
+                    // confusion.
+                    text = "${stringResource(R.string.version)} ${AppVersion.Short()}",
                     fontWeight = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium.fontWeight,
                     fontSize = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium.fontSize)
               }
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/SettingsView.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/SettingsView.kt
index d83f50d8ff..c4254177f7 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/SettingsView.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/view/SettingsView.kt
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.viewModel.SettingsNav
 import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.viewModel.SettingsViewModel
 import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.viewModel.VpnViewModel
 import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.notifier.Notifier
+import com.tailscale.ipn.ui.util.AppVersion
 
 @Composable
 fun SettingsView(settingsNav: SettingsNav, viewModel: SettingsViewModel = viewModel(), vpnViewModel: VpnViewModel = viewModel()) {
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ fun SettingsView(settingsNav: SettingsNav, viewModel: SettingsViewModel = viewMo
           Lists.ItemDivider()
           Setting.Text(
               R.string.about_tailscale,
-              subtitle = "${stringResource(id = R.string.version)} ${BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME}",
+              subtitle = "${stringResource(id = R.string.version)} ${AppVersion.Short()}",
               onClick = settingsNav.onNavigateToAbout)
 
           // TODO: put a heading for the debug section