Are you eager to get a sneak peek at the upcoming Android 12 update? Google has just released the Android 12 Developer Preview for select Pixel devices, giving you the opportunity to try out the new features and improvements before the official release. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing the Android 12 Developer Preview on your Google Pixel device. Please note that this preview version may not be stable and is intended for developers, so proceed at your own risk.
Prerequisites
Before you begin the installation process, make sure you meet the following prerequisites:
- Google Pixel 3/XL, Pixel 3a/XL, Pixel 4/XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, or Pixel 5
- A computer with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and Fastboot tools installed
- USB cable to connect your Pixel device to the computer
- Basic knowledge of using ADB and Fastboot commands
Method 1: Sideload Android 12 Developer Preview via Recovery and ADB
Download the Preview Files
The first step is to download the Android 12 Developer Preview files for your specific Pixel device. Visit Google’s Full OTA Image hosting site and scroll down to find the OTA download for your device. Make sure you download the correct file for your Pixel model.
Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging
On your Pixel device, go to Settings and scroll down to About Phone. Tap on it, then find the Build Number and tap on it seven times to enable Developer Options. Once enabled, go back to the main Settings page, scroll down to Developer Options, and enable USB Debugging.
Connect your Pixel Device to your Computer
Using a USB cable, connect your Pixel device to your computer. Make sure you have the ADB and Fastboot tools properly installed on your computer.
Boot into Recovery Mode
To boot your Pixel device into Recovery Mode, power off your device completely. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until you see the Bootloader screen. Use the volume buttons to navigate to the Recovery Mode option and press the Power button to select it.
Sideload the Android 12 Developer Preview
In Recovery Mode, use the volume buttons to scroll down and select the “Apply update from ADB” option. On your computer, open a command prompt or terminal window and navigate to the folder where the Android 12 Developer Preview file is located.
Enter the following command to sideload the Android 12 Developer Preview:
adb sideload filename.zip
Replace “filename” with the actual name of the Android 12 Developer Preview file you downloaded earlier. The sideload process will begin, and you can monitor the progress on both your computer and your Pixel device.
Reboot your Pixel Device
Once the sideload process is complete, select the “Reboot system now” option in Recovery Mode to reboot your Pixel device. It may take a few minutes for the device to boot up with the Android 12 Developer Preview.
Method 2: Flash Full Factory Image via Fastboot
Download the Factory Image
Visit Google’s Full OTA Image hosting site and download the full factory image for the Android 12 Developer Preview that corresponds to your Pixel device. Make sure you download the correct file for your Pixel model.
Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging
On your Pixel device, go to Settings, then About Phone, and tap on the Build Number seven times to enable Developer Options. Once enabled, go back to the main Settings page, scroll down to Developer Options, and enable USB Debugging.
Connect your Pixel Device to your Computer
Connect your Pixel device to your computer using a USB cable. Ensure that you have the ADB and Fastboot tools installed on your computer.
Boot into Fastboot Mode
To boot your Pixel device into Fastboot Mode, power off your device completely. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until you see the Bootloader screen.
Flash the Full Factory Image
On your computer, navigate to the folder where you downloaded the Android 12 Developer Preview factory image. Extract the contents of the ZIP file. Open a command prompt or terminal window in the extracted folder.
Run the following command to flash the full factory image:
flash-all
This command will initiate the flashing process, which will install the necessary bootloader, baseband firmware, and the Android 12 Developer Preview on your Pixel device. The process may take a few minutes, and you can monitor the progress on your computer.
Reboot your Pixel Device
Once the flashing process is complete, your Pixel device will automatically reboot with the Android 12 Developer Preview installed. You can now explore the new features and improvements of Android 12.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully installed the Android 12 Developer Preview on your Google Pixel device. As a developer preview, this version of Android 12 may not be stable and is intended for testing and development purposes only. Make sure to backup your data before proceeding with the installation and be aware of the potential risks involved.
Remember to regularly check for updates from Google to stay up to date with the latest Android 12 builds. Enjoy exploring the new features and enhancements that Android 12 has to offer!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The installation of the Android 12 Developer Preview may void your device’s warranty and could potentially cause issues or data loss. Proceed at your own risk.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
