In February, Google introduced the primary preview launch of Android 14 for builders, with new swipe gestures, app cloning for a number of accounts, assist for the most recent PS5 controllers, safer sign-in choices utilizing passkeys and extra. In the event you’re all for testing out new software program for Android, you may obtain and set up the most recent developer preview — Android 14 Developer Preview 2 — proper now.
Google plans to launch preview variations of Android 14 all through a lot of 2023, with a number of developer previews within the winter, beta releases within the spring and summer time and the ultimate launch someday within the fall. Whereas these prerelease variations of Android 14 are primarily supposed for builders to check out upcoming options which might be within the works, even if you happen to’re not a developer, you may nonetheless get your fingers on this model of Android 14 proper now.
So long as you have got a appropriate cellphone — which presently means it needs to be one among a number of Google Pixel telephones — you may join your gadget to your pc and use Google’s Android Flash Instrument to obtain and set up the Android 14 Developer Preview fairly simply.
It is essential to notice that, like all prerelease software program, the Android 14 Developer Preview could also be unstable at instances, so if you happen to nonetheless need to set up it, it is preferable to take action on a backup cellphone if in case you have one accessible, and never in your main gadget. There could possibly be bugs and different points that break performance, so do not do this on a cellphone you rely on.
In the event you’re OK with taking over that danger, here is the way to obtain and set up the Android 14 Developer Preview in your cellphone.
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Notice: If you have already got Android 14 Developer Preview 1, simply go to Settings > System > System Replace and replace over the air. If you do not have Android 14, observe the steps under.
Which telephones is the Android 14 Developer Preview accessible for?
Google is anticipated to launch Android 14 this fall. At the moment, it will likely be accessible on all kinds of Android telephones, however for now you may solely set up the Android 14 Developer Preview on appropriate Pixel units:
In case your gadget just isn’t on this record, you may have to attend for later releases of Android 14, whether or not it is the general public beta or the general public launch. It is also doable that different telephones will get entry to the developer preview or a beta launch at a later date.
Again up your Android gadget first
When you’ve got a appropriate Android gadget, you may now have to again up your cellphone. By default, your Pixel ought to again up routinely everytime you’re related to Wi-Fi and your cellphone has been idle and charging for two hours, however you may as well do it manually. Relying on the dimensions of your cellphone backup, you might want a paid model of Google One for this methodology, but when not, Google Drive must be wonderful.
To again up your Pixel, go to Settings > Google > Backup and faucet Again up now. Relying on the final backup and what number of apps and information should be backed up, this course of can take as much as a number of minutes. When you’re backed up, you are prepared to start the method of downloading and putting in Android 14.
Now you may have to allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking
To put in Android 14 in your Pixel, you may want to attach the cellphone to a pc through USB, and that requires that your Pixel be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Though unlocking your cellphone is straightforward sufficient, to allow USB debugging you may have to first unlock Developer choices.
1. To unlock Developer choices, go to Settings > About cellphone after which faucet Construct quantity seven instances. Enter your password when prompted, and a brand new Developer choices menu will seem in your System settings.
2. Now, allow USB debugging. Go to Settings > System > Developer choices and toggle on USB debugging. Within the notification that seems, which briefly describes what USB debugging is supposed for, faucet OK.
3. When you’re nonetheless in Developer choices, toggle on OEM unlocking. This unlocks your gadget’s bootloader, which is what hundreds the working system. As soon as unlocked, you can select a special working system in addition up, on this case Android 14.
Flash your gadget utilizing Android Flash Instrument in Chrome
You will have two methods to flash the Android 14 Developer Preview system picture in your Pixel utilizing your pc, however for the sake of simplicity, we’ll be utilizing the Android Flash Instrument, which works solely with sure net browsers, together with Chrome. Additionally, your pc will need to have 10GB of obtainable storage for this to work.
If every little thing is sweet, join your Pixel to your pc through USB, unlock your gadget and go to the Android Flash Instrument web site in Chrome and do the next:
1. First, click on Get Began on the backside of the web site.
2. Subsequent, click on Enable ADB entry within the pop-up that seems (if there are any advert blockers, flip them off).
3. Now click on Add new gadget, select your gadget from the record and hit Join.
4. In your Pixel, verify the field subsequent to All the time permit from this pc after which faucet Enable to present Android Flash Instrument entry to your cellphone.
5. Again in your pc, click on Developer Preview 2 below Standard builds.
6. Click on Set up construct after which click on Affirm.
The pop-up will warn you that putting in Android 14 will factory-reset your cellphone, however that is not a problem if you happen to backed up your Pixel. If you have not accomplished that, again up now. Additionally, make certain to not contact your cellphone or disconnect it from the pc throughout this course of, or else it might brick the cellphone (make it unresponsive and ineffective). In the event you obtain one other pop-up in your pc that mentions accepting the Android 14 construct, achieve this to proceed the method.
Now do the next:
1. Hit Begin on the pop-up that seems in your pc.
2. Again in your Pixel, use the amount keys to decide on Unlock the bootloader after which hit the aspect key, which can trigger your cellphone to restart.
3. The software program will start to obtain, which may take a couple of minutes, relying in your web connection.
4. As soon as the set up course of is full, click on Begin within the pop-up that seems in your pc.
5. Once more, again in your Pixel, use the amount keys to modify to Lock the bootloader after which hit the aspect key.
6. And at last, in your pc, hit Achieved and your cellphone will restart like regular.
The Android 14 Developer Preview ought to now be put in in your cellphone. You may safely disconnect your Pixel out of your pc.
Now you can use Android 14 in your Pixel
As soon as your Pixel boots again up, you may see a notification that claims you are now operating the Android 14 Developer Preview. Hit OK after which arrange your cellphone simply as you’d a brand-new cellphone, which implies connecting to Wi-Fi, copying over apps and information out of your newest backup through Google, agreeing to phrases and circumstances, establishing a password and so forth.
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