It is that point of the 12 months once more when Google releases a brand new model of Android for testing. The primary public beta of Android 14 is now obtainable, and you’ll set up the replace in your Pixel if you happen to’re desirous about taking an early take a look at all of the options which can be coming to Android this 12 months.
However prior to installing the beta, there are some things to notice. The primary beta does not embrace many user-facing modifications apart from the predictive again gesture, and in contrast to the final two years, there are many bugs right here, making it unsuitable to be used on a each day driver.
In case you’ve bought a spare Pixel mendacity round and wish to check out Android 14 as it’s right this moment, then positive, scroll down under for directions on the right way to set up the beta. However if you happen to’re making an attempt to take action in your each day driver, I would not counsel putting in the construct simply but.
Issues ought to stabilize with Beta 2 or Beta 3 as Google works out the kinks, and I am going to replace this publish as soon as I’ve used these builds as quickly as they go dwell.
There’s additionally the truth that Android 14 will not be as large an replace; Android 12 gave us the Materials You overhaul, and Google tweaked a number of interface parts final 12 months with Android 13. Android 14 is actually a continuation of that development, so do not maintain out for any main options.
We’re as a substitute prone to see the standard modifications round safety and privateness, and naturally, the predictive again gesture ought to make Android navigation much more seamless.
With that out of the best way, here is the right way to set up the Android 14 beta.
Which telephones can obtain the Android 14 Beta?
At this second, the Android 14 beta is proscribed to Pixel units ranging from the Pixel 4a. The checklist consists of eight units in complete:
- Google Pixel 4a 5G
- Google Pixel 5
- Google Pixel 5a
- Google Pixel 6
- Google Pixel 6 Professional
- Google Pixel 6a
- Google Pixel 7
- Google Pixel 7 Professional
The Pixel 4 collection misses out on the beta, and for now, you may solely set up Android 14 on Google’s personal units. That can change very quickly as Google permits the finest Android telephones to get in on the motion, and we’re prone to see OPPO, Vivo, Realme, OnePlus, ASUS, and others take part on the motion. We’ll know extra at I/O on Could 10.
Set up Android 14 beta utilizing the Android Beta Program
The simplest and easiest solution to get the Android 13 beta is to enroll within the Android Beta Program.
Merely go to the Android Beta portal, the place you’ll view all of the units eligible for the Android 14 beta. You possibly can then opt-in to the beta, which can then immediate Google to ship your telephone or pill an over-the-air replace. You must then have the ability to set up the replace and restart your telephone to make the change to Android 14.
1. Head to the Android Beta program portal in your Pixel telephone.
2. Sign up to the Google account related to that telephone.
3. Scroll right down to Your eligible units.
4. Discover the system you wish to enroll within the Beta program and faucet Choose-in.
5. Observe the prompts in your telephone to simply accept the over-the-air obtain.
What if I wish to depart the beta program?
You possibly can simply decide out of the beta program by going to the identical Android Beta portal as you probably did to enroll, scrolling right down to your system, and deciding on Choose out. However be warned; doing so will eliminate all the info in your telephone.
Set up Android 14 utilizing the Android Flash Instrument
You may as well use the Android Flash Instrument, a web-based model of the ADB developer instrument, to put in the Android 14 beta onto your telephone.
1. Head to the Android Flash Instrument website.
2. Enable the positioning to entry ADB in your browser.
3. Allow Developer Mode in your telephone (faucet Android construct seven occasions).
4. Allow USB Debugging within the Developer Settings.
5. Allow OEM Unlocking in your system.
6. Plug in your telephone to a USB port in your pc.
7. Choose the system from the pop-up and observe the directions to put in the beta.
Set up Android 14 beta by flashing the bootloader
If you wish to strive Android 14 in your Pixel manually, you may need to flash the OTA onto your Pixel. However earlier than we get began, know that this technique will contain deleting all information in your telephone; if you happen to do not wish to try this, use the Flash Instrument above and sideload the Android 14 beta as a substitute.
Earlier than you begin doing this, make it possible for no OTA updates are but to be put in in your Pixel. Go to Settings > About telephone > System updates and see no pending updates. Additionally, guarantee that you’ve got USB debugging enabled in your telephone.
To get began, head to the Android 14 OTA pictures web page, and obtain the related construct to your Pixel. To sideload the construct onto your Pixel, you may want to make use of ADB — I am a fan of Common ADB Drivers. As soon as put in in your Home windows machine and the OTA picture has been downloaded, you can begin sideloading the construct.
You may first must put your telephone in restoration mode. You possibly can energy off after which maintain the Energy button together with the Quantity Down button for just a few seconds to enter the bootloader menu and choose the restoration choice utilizing the Quantity Down button.
Right here, it is best to see the Android mascot face down with an exclamation mark over it. Maintain down the Energy button and press Quantity Up as soon as to enter restoration mode. Subsequent, navigate to the choice that claims Apply replace from ADB through the use of the Quantity Up button and make sure the choice by urgent the Energy button as soon as.
Now you might be able to sideload the OTA picture. Affirm that your telephone can hook up with your pc and is detectable. For this, plug your Pixel into your pc and run this command:
adb units
You must see your telephone’s serial quantity and sideload subsequent to it. Now we will get to flashing the OTA construct; simply run this in CMD:
adb sideload ota_file.zip
Right here, you will have to change out ota_file.zip with the filename of the OTA construct to your specific system. I am putting in Android 14 on a Pixel 7 Professional, so I entered the next: cheetah_beta-upb1.230309.017-factory-e8416573.zip into CMD. For this to work, make it possible for the OTA file is in the identical listing because the CMD path.
As soon as the OTA file is transferred to your telephone, it ought to return to the restoration menu. Navigate to Reboot system now and make sure with the Energy button to restart your telephone. The OTA replace will likely be put in and your telephone will change to Android 14 with out shedding any information.
What comes subsequent with Android 14?
We’re simply getting began with Android 14, and we must always see extra characteristic additions as we get nearer to the steady construct. Like earlier years, the Android 14 beta program will embrace 4 beta builds, with the second rolling out shortly in Could. The June construct — Android 14 Beta 3 — ought to be steady as Google rolls out a slew of bug fixes primarily based on suggestions from earlier beta variations.
Here is the timeline for the Android 14 beta:
The steady construct ought to be rolled out someday within the fall, in step with what we have seen up to now with Android 13 and Android 12.
We’ll delve into particulars on new options as soon as we get nearer to launch and Google begins introducing new options, however for now, know that Android 14 is not noticeably totally different to Android 13.
I am going to have way more to speak about Android 14 within the coming weeks, so keep tuned.