Android 14’s first beta is now available!
Google has published the first Android 14 Beta 1 update for all of the supported Pixel phones following the release of a few Android 14 Developer Preview releases. Today is the day to do it if you want to install Android 14 Beta on your Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, or Pixel 7 Pro.
In the near future, we’ll have a lot more to say about what’s new in Android 14 Beta 1, but for now, Google has listed a few things to watch out for.
Google emphasized support for gadgets of various sizes and shapes, including foldables and tablets, once more.
A “Smarter System UI” is being introduced with improvements that “you might notice in Beta 1.” Wonderful to hear that. They called attention to the beautiful new back arrow in the system’s navigation (which we were already familiar with from DP builds), a brand-new sharesheet where apps may add unique actions, and new graphics features for programmers to use (including morphing effects and interpolation).
Once more, a comprehensive “What’s New” piece will be ready for you soon. UPDATE: Not much has changed with DP2 recently. DangWith Google opening up Android 14 to the beta program, they are essentially saying that this should be stable enough for everyday users, assuming those users are willing to accept that some items may be broken. If anything, this should be confirmation that this is more stable than a developer preview and that Google thinks you’ll be OK running it.
As mentioned above, the first Android 14 Beta is available to:
Pixel 4a (5G)
Pixel 5 and 5a
Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
Pixel 6a
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
Easiest way: If you own one of those devices, the easiest way to get Android 14 Beta 1 on device is to sign-up for the Android Beta Program (here). You’ll simply click the “Opt In” button on that page to join and then sit back and wait for Google to push an update as Android 14 over-the-air.
Once you have enrolled, you’ll head into Settings>System>Advanced>System update to check for it. Google may not push it immediately and could instead roll it out slowly throughout the day. Either way, feel free to check through there to tell Google you want it after enrolling in the program.
Manual way: Want to get updated faster or would rather flash a factory image or OTA file through adb to feel more techie and important and smart? That’s still an option! I’ll be going the OTA route, but factory images are available too. You’ll find Android 14 Beta 1 factory images here and the OTA files here. For instructions on how to flash a factory image, here you go. For instructions on how to flash an OTA .zip file, here you go.
