If you are one of those, who cannot wait to see the news that Google brings to its operating system each year, right now, you could have the beta version of Android 12. It is still with errors and not polished, but as the first contact, it could be perfect for you. We tell you how you can have it on your smartphone.
The truth is that, if you own any of the Google Pixel 3, the Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, or the Pixel 5 models, you will be among the first to see all the news of the new operating system, since, as you well know, these are the models that Android 12 will reach first.
Anyway, if you want to enjoy Android 12 in its test version (beta) in advance, you will have to install it manually since there is no type of OTA (not even for Pixels) with which you can install it. You only have the option to do it through a PC with ADB and Fasboot installed.
You can install everything you need (ADB and Fastboot) for your Windows or Mac system from the following link.
Something that we must make clear is that the version that exists right now of Android 12 is designed for developers, so it contains errors and instability in its operation since it is still in the testing phase. So if you’re going to test it, you should make a backup of what you have to be safe.
In addition to the Pixels that we have mentioned before, there are also other phones where you can install Android 12 Beta by flashing in the form of GSI. They include:
- ASUS ZenFone 8
- OnePlus 9
- OnePlus 9 Pro
- Oppo Find X3 Pro
- realme GT
- TCL 20 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi Mi 11. Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11 Pro, Mi 11i
- ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G
Android 12 with Recovery and ADB
You can install an OTA package from Recovery through ADB in your terminal, being the first way to have Android 12 Beta on your smartphone.
Google Pixel owners can use this option even with the Bootloader blocked.
- Download the .zip file to our computer from this link. It is best to place the file in the directory where ADB is located on your computer.
- Enable the USB debugging of the phone, for which we are going to go to Settings, then to About the phone, and click on the Build number 7 times.
- Go back to Settings and see how Developer Options has appeared, where you must enter and enable USB Debugging.
- Connect the phone to the computer and authorize the connection between both devices when the message appears on the smartphone.
- Execute the following command on the computer: adb reboot recovery
- The phone should be in Recovery mode to select the Apply ADB update option.
- Return to the computer to execute: adb devices
- This should make the smartphone go into charging mode, something that is indicated on the screen.
- Write and execute the following command on the computer: adb sideload “filename” .zip
- Where it says filename, you must write the name of the zip file that you downloaded previously.
- Once the installation is finished, choose to Restart the system now on the smartphone so that when it reboots and does it with Android 12.
Android 12 with FastBoot
If you have the Bootloader unlocked on your mobile, you can update the factory image of Android 12 Beta with Fastboot.
This means that the new operating system will be loaded, but the information you have on your smartphone will be lost unless you remove the delete attribute -w from the command within the script.
- Download the .zip file of the factory image on our computer from this link.
- Extract the zip and copy the resulting files into the ADB and Fastboot folder on your computer.
- If you want to keep the information you have on the smartphone when entering Android 12, you must see that you have two files called flash-all.sh or flash-all.bat. With a text editor, open flash-all.sh if you are on macOS or flash-all.bat if you are on Windows. Find and remove the -w flag in the fastboot update command.
- Enable USB debugging on the phone, as we saw in the previous case.
- Connect the phone to the computer and authorize the connection.
- Execute the adb reboot bootloader command on the computer
- This will restart your smartphone in Fastboot mode.
- If you are on Windows, you just have to click on flash-all.bat (if you have a Mac, you must run flash all).
- Once it is finished, you will have Android 12 on the device.
Android 12 Beta GSI
To use this method, you need the Bootloader unlocked, and your device must be compatible with Project Treble.
This system to have Android 12 on the smartphone makes the device return to the factory, so if you want to keep your data, you should make a backup since after installing the new Google, everything will have been erased.
- To download the official GSIs for Android 12 Beta, you must go to this link.
- You must download the appropriate file according to the architecture of your device. If you want to see what it is, you just have to run this command: adb shell getprop ro.product.cpu.abi
- Once you have everything clear and downloaded, extract the zip file and copy the system.img and vbmeta.img files in the ADB and Fastboot folder on the computer.
- Enable USB debugging as we have already indicated previously.
- Connect the phone to the computer, granting permission.
- Then on the computer, execute: adb reboot bootloader
- Your phone will reboot in Fastboot mode.
- Next, disable AVB (Android Verified Boot). Do it by executing this instruction: fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
- Although this step is not mandatory, it is advisable to run the following command to erase the terminal partition:Â fastboot erase system
- Now, you must execute the command: fastboot flash system system.img
- After completion, do the following: fastboot -w
- And now reboot the device using this command:Â fastboot reboot
- Once restarted, you should have Android 12 Beta on your device.
With all these methods, you can have the beta version of the expected Android 12 on your smartphone and thus start working with it to experience all its novelties.
