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How to download Android 12 and 12L for Google Pixel and other Android devices
Google has just released the stable build of Android 12L for eligible Pixel devices. You can find the download links in this post.
The wait is finally over — Android 12L is here as Google has officially kicked off the update rollout via stable channel. If you’re the lucky owner of a Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 5a, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3a, or the Pixel 3a XL, then you can have the opportunity to try out the latest iteration of Android right now. During the beta phase, Generic System Images (GSI) are also available, which means the early builds can be booted on non-Google Project Treble compatible devices as well.
Google Pixel 6 can use more USB devices on Android 12L QPR3
The latest Android preview build for the Pixel 6 series includes Direct USB Access support, for compatibility with more audio devices.
Google started public beta testing for Android's Quarterly Platform Releases, or QPRs for short, earlier this month with the release of Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1. There wasn't a detailed changelog for the beta, which was updated a few days ago to fix bugs on the Pixel 6, but one helpful change has been discovered: Direct USB Access support on the Pixel 6.
Google releases Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1.1 for the Pixel 6 series to patch some issues
Google is rolling out Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1.1 to address a few bugs that were present in the initial release. Check out the changelog!
Google published the first beta build of Android 12 Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) just over two weeks ago, giving us our first big glimpse at the upcoming Pixel Feature Drop. However, it introduced a handful of issues on the Pixel 6 series, such as abnormal battery drain and degraded call quality. Fortunately, the bugs have now been addressed. Earlier today, Google published a minor update in the form of Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1.1 to fix the glitches that were present in the initial beta build.
Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro finally receive March Feature Drop and Android 12L
Verizon has started rolling out the March Pixel update to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which also includes Android 12L/Android 12.1.
Most Pixel phones received the Android 12L update (also known as Android 12.1) near the start of March, which was combined with the March security patches and a Pixel Feature Drop. However, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro had to wait a bit longer, and now it looks like the update is finally reaching the Pixel 6 series.
Google starts beta testing Pixel Feature Drops with Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1
Google is updating Pixel devices with the Android 12 beta to a new Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 release, instead of the stable Android 12 release.
Google has defied the usual release cycle for new Android updates over the past few months, with the release of Android 12L earlier this month while the first Developer Previews for Android 13 are also available. Now the company is throwing us through another loop: Google is starting to beta test its Pixel Feature Drops.
Android 12L will arrive in the first half of 2022
Android 12L is now expected to be released in the first half of 2022, with a Beta 1 later this month and Beta 2 in December.
Google first announced Android 12L in October, which promises optimizations and new features for devices with large screens. The first Developer Preview build already included a new two-column layout for areas of the system, a taskbar for large-screen devices, and much more. Google hasn't been clear on a full timeline for Android 12L, but now we have more details about when you can expect the update on your device.
Here's when your Google Pixel will get Android 12L
Google plans to bring Android 12L to the Pixel phones starting with the Android 12L beta 1. Check out which models are getting it.
At the Android Dev Summit yesterday, Google officially unveiled the first developer preview of Android 12L, a feature drop for Android 12 designed specifically for foldables, tablets, and large-screen devices.
Android 12L is Google's latest attempt to optimize Android for tablets, foldables, and Chrome OS devices
Google announces Android 12L -- a feature drop for Android 12 purpose-built for large screen devices like foldables, tablets, and Chromebooks.
A month before Google officially announced Android 12, we spotted some evidence within the AOSP Gerrit suggesting that Google would release an incremental update after Android 12. Soon after that, we got our first look at this interim update and learned that it would pack a couple of new features optimized for foldable devices. Previously, we referred to this update as Android 12.1, but Google has now confirmed that it will be called Android 12L.
Google's data wipe warning to Android 12 Beta users hints at another beta in December
Google's data wipe warning to Android 12 beta users hints that there may be another beta later this year, possibly in December.
Android 12 for Google Pixels has just been released, alongside the much-anticipated Google Pixel 6 series of smartphones. Android 12 brings a ton of new features, and the Pixel 6 series itself has a lot of improvements over previous devices in the series, too. These are the most exciting Pixel devices in a long time, and part of that is the software. We also know from our exclusive hands-on with Android 12.1 that the company is already working on an update (likely geared towards foldables), even though it hasn't been officially unveiled. Now it seems that Google may have accidentally hinted at it, as a post on the Android Beta subreddit tells users to unenroll from the Android 12 beta program before December 1st.
Hands-on with Android 12.1: First look at the update for foldable phones!
You've heard of Android 12.1, but have you seen it? We go hands-on with the update, offering a first look at the new features for foldables!
Google is expected to release the next major update to Android, Android 12, next week, but ahead of its release, we're already hearing about Google's plans for a follow-up update. Earlier this month, XDA first reported that Google is planning to release an interim update before 2022's Android 13, which we're tentatively calling Android 12.1 in line with Google's naming convention for past point releases. Now, a source has provided XDA with an Android 12.1 build, allowing us to do a hands-on of the update to provide your first look at some of the new features.
Android 12's beautiful wallpaper theming system will go open source in a future release
With the release of Android 12, Google's wallpaper-based theming system won't be fully open source. That will change in a future release.
We're only a couple of weeks away from the release of Android 12, but it's important to remember that the rumored October 4th launch date is only for Google's own Pixel phones. It'll take weeks, or more likely months, for the update to reach other devices, and when it does, it won't include every new feature. The most notable feature that'll be missing from the open-source release of Android 12 — and thus won't appear in many OEM forks of the OS — is Google's wallpaper-based theming engine, code-named "monet." However, it appears its exclusion from open-source Android is only temporary, as evidence has emerged that "monet" will be fully open-sourced with the release of Android 12.1.
Android 12.1 will improve the foldable phone experience likely in preparation for the Pixel Fold
Android 12.1 will bring enhancements to the foldable phone experience, likely in preparation for the upcoming Google Pixel Fold.
The next big update to Android is launching on October 4th according to a document reviewed by XDA. Android 12 will be the biggest Android OS update in years, bringing a complete redesign, a new theme engine, a one-handed mode, and much more. Because of how extensive the update is, it's possible that Google ran out of time to add one or more planned features, pushing those features to the next release. We recently learned that Android's next release could be a point update, but we weren't sure why at the time. Now, we've learned a bit more about the features planned for the presumed Android 12.1 update, and they involve several enhancements to the foldable phone experience.