Google makes it simple to put in the Android 16 preview with its on-line Flash Device

Google has already began work on Android 16, with the primary Developer Preview (DP1) construct of the brand new OS model now available to the public. In recent times, the corporate has adopted a launch cadence of launching DP1’s in the February timeframe, making this an exception to the development.

According to Google, this shift in scheduling is supposed to realign Android software program growth to run parallel with the annual {hardware} launch cycles of its accomplice OEMs.

Android 16 Developer Preview 1 brings with it a number of platform tweaks and enhancements, nevertheless it needs to be famous that this launch is primarily meant for builders searching for an setting to check their apps in. Google says the steady model of Android 16 is deliberate to hit the market within the second quarter of 2025.

Which units at present help Android 15 Developer Preview 1?

Naturally, Pixel units obtain preferential therapy

The following devices are appropriate with the primary Developer Preview construct of Android 16:

• Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, Pixel 9 Professional Fold
• Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Professional
• Pixel Fold
• Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Professional
• Pixel 8a, Pixel 7a, Pixel 6a
• Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Professional
• Pixel Pill

In the meanwhile, your entire listing includes solely of Google’s personal Pixel line of {hardware}. Over time, I anticipate extra handsets and tablets from third-party OEMs to be added into the combo.

It is fascinating to see Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional handsets make the lower this yr — technically, the company has only guaranteed Android model updates for the handsets till October 2024. It is refreshing to see that though the search big is within the clear, it is making good with house owners of older Pixel {hardware}.

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How do I obtain and set up Android 15 Developer Preview 1 on my system?

Android Flash Device makes the method a comparatively accessible one

Sadly, there is not a easy over-the-air (OTA) replace course of in place for getting Android 16 Developer Preview 1 up and operating. As a substitute, you may wish to make use of Google’s Android Flash Device to get your self arrange.

After getting all the pieces you want, comply with these steps:

1. Allow developer choices in your telephone by navigating to Settings > About telephone > and tapping on the construct quantity seven instances in a row.
2. From right here, you may be prompted to enter your telephone’s PIN or password to proceed.
3. Subsequent, backtrack to the principle Settings web page, after which faucet on System > Developer choices.
4. Toggle on USB debugging from the listing of settings that seem on-screen.
5. Toggle on OEM unlocking from this identical listing of on-screen settings.
6. Plug your telephone into your Mac or PC utilizing your USB cable.
7. In your Mac or PC, navigate to Google’s Android Flash Tool net portal by way of your net browser.
8. Faucet or click on on the blue Get Began button, and comply with the prompts that seem on-screen.

To provoke the method, you may want not less than 10GB of accessible storage in your pc. You may be requested to not work together together with your telephone except particularly prompted to by the Android Flash Device, and to not unplug your telephone out of your pc in the course of the course of.

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There’s a secondary methodology for getting Android 16 Developer Preview 1 up and operating in your telephone, nevertheless it’s a extra concerned course of. Doing so requires manually unlocking your bootloader, coming into Fastboot mode, extracting manufacturing facility picture information, and coming into terminal instructions on a PC or a Mac.

If you would like to comply with the steps for manually flashing manufacturing facility photos of this primary preview construct, our sister website Android Police has published a step-by-step guide on the way to just do that. Simply be forewarned that this second methodology is not for the faint of coronary heart.

No matter which methodology you go for, the top end result needs to be an up-and-running construct of Android 16 in its earliest rendition. As soon as your telephone has efficiently rebooted, you may end up plopped onto the out-of-box expertise (OOBE) display screen, and from right here you possibly can go about establishing your system. Through the setup, you may be requested to enter your earlier PIN or password for safety functions.

Subsequent developer preview and beta builds will arrive onto your Pixel over-the-air. Finally, as soon as the steady model of Android 16 reaches basic availability subsequent yr, it will be routinely pushed out to your system as nicely.

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