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

Key Takeaways

Android 16 Developer Preview 1 is now obtainable to the general public.
In the intervening time, this primary preview construct is just appropriate with choose Pixel gadgets.
When you can manually flash the preview onto your system, utilizing Google’s Android Flash Instrument streamlines the method.

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 improvement to run parallel with the annual {hardware} launch cycles of its associate OEMs.

Android 16 Developer Preview 1 brings with it a number of platform tweaks and enhancements, but it surely needs to be famous that this launch is primarily meant for builders in search of an surroundings 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.

It is not beneficial that you simply set up this software program launch in your important, on a regular basis handset — there’s an inherent danger of instability in early Developer Preview builds corresponding to this one.

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Forget Android 15: Google’s Android 16 in now officially in preview

With many Android handsets nonetheless ready on their Android 15 replace, Google is trekking ahead with Android 16 Developer Preview 1.

Which gadgets at present help Android 15 Developer Preview 1?

Naturally, Pixel gadgets 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 intervening time, all the record 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 combination.

It is fascinating to see Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional handsets make the reduce this 12 months.

It is fascinating to see Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional handsets make the reduce this 12 months — 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 homeowners of older Pixel {hardware}.

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Google is reportedly planning emigrate ChromeOS over to Android to create one unified working system.

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

Android Flash Instrument 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 an alternative, you will wish to make use of Google’s Android Flash Instrument to get your self arrange.

Along with a supported handset, you will want entry to both a Mac or a PC, in addition to a USB cable able to information switch.

After getting every part you want, observe these steps:

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

To provoke the method, you will want not less than 10GB of obtainable storage in your laptop. You will be requested to not work together along with your telephone until particularly prompted to by the Android Flash Instrument, and to not unplug your telephone out of your laptop through the course of.

It is essential to notice that following together with this course of will wipe all information off your telephone, and the system shall be restored again to default manufacturing unit settings.

A Pixel Tablet sitting vertically next to its dock.

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

If you would like to observe the steps for manually flashing manufacturing unit pictures of this primary preview construct, our sister website Android Police has published a step-by-step guide on the right way to do exactly that. Simply be forewarned that this second technique is not for the faint of coronary heart.

As soon as your telephone has efficiently rebooted, you will end up plopped onto the out-of-box expertise (OOBE) display screen.

No matter which technique you go for, the top outcome needs to be an up-and-running construct of Android 16 in its earliest rendition. As soon as your telephone has efficiently rebooted, you will end up plopped onto the out-of-box expertise (OOBE) display screen, and from right here you possibly can go about establishing your system. In the course of the setup, you will 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. Ultimately, as soon as the steady model of Android 16 reaches basic availability subsequent 12 months, it’s going to be robotically pushed out to your system as effectively.