Try Android 12 in advance (if you dare): See how to get the developer beta

Google only this week announced Android 12, and with it, several new features that enhance the software that powers your Android phone. The main mission of Android 12 is to improve the overall performance of the phone, with a focus on application stability and redesigned notifications.

Google has also added some new privacy features, allowing Android users to control how they are crawled on websites.

If you want to get the latest software from Google on your phone now, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is the developer’s first preview. This means that it will be full of bugs, problems and poor battery performance. Google has specifically made it difficult for the average user to install for these reasons.

Read More: 3 things Android 12 can do that Android 11 doesn’t

The good news is that if you have a lot of technology experience and don’t mind living with some bugs, you can install it today, as long as you have a compatible phone.

The developer beta is for, well, developers

I can’t stress this enough: the first beta is for developers to start upgrading their applications to the new software. Google recommends installing the update on a test device and not on your daily phone, as there is no guarantee that the display will be stable enough for daily use.

Instead of offering the first preview via an over-the-air update, you will have to download the system image and install it using the Android Flash tool or sideload an OTA update using ADB commands. If none of this makes sense to you, then you should definitely stay away from installing the beta. The beta version is currently only available for Pixel 3, 3a, 4, 4a and Pixel 5.

In addition to using command line tools to install it, the process will reset your phone to factory defaults, forcing you to set it up as if it were new. So, if you decide you want to switch back to Android 11, guess what? Yes, you will have to reset the original configuration again.

It takes a lot of work just taking a look at the software that is sure to get you into trouble.

With all that said, if you still want to install Android 12, you can find the appropriate files and instructions on Google’s Android 12 website.

Yes, the public beta version of Android 12 is coming

Google typically releases a public beta version of the next Android update in May, or when it hosts the Google I / O developer conference. But we can go a step further and reduce the time that Google plans to release a more refined version of Android 12 for the public. Here is the launch schedule that Google plans to use:

Based on that, we know that the first public beta is due for release in May.

With the launch of Android 11 last year, Google extended the public beta to more than just its own line of Pixel smartphones. It seemed to be a hit for Google and its hardware partners, so we expect a similar release this year. Samsung phone owners, however, cannot make any promises. The smartphone manufacturer never participated in Google’s initial beta program.

In addition to more devices being supported, the public beta traditionally has fewer bugs and problems. It’s not entirely free of them, but it’s better than the developer’s first betas.

The final launch of Android 12 will not happen until the end of this year

Google typically releases the completed version of a major Android update in the late third quarter, around August or September. This gives the company and developers plenty of time to prepare for launch.

If you want to participate in the Android 12 beta, I suggest you wait as long as possible to install it. The later you enter the development cycle, the more polished the update will be and the less problems you are likely to face.

We will have a lot more coverage of Android 12 in the coming days, weeks and months. Until then, be sure to read about everything that is included in Android 12.