Key Takeaways
- Android 16 Developer Preview 1 is now out there to the general public.
- In the meanwhile, this primary preview construct is barely appropriate with choose Pixel gadgets.
- When you can manually flash the preview onto your machine, utilizing Google’s Android Flash Device streamlines the method.
Google has already began work on Android 16, with the primary Developer Preview (DP1) construct of the brand new OS model now available to the public. In recent times, the corporate has adopted a launch cadence of launching DP1’s in the February timeframe, making this an exception to the development.
According to Google, this shift in scheduling is supposed to realign Android software program improvement to run parallel with the annual {hardware} launch cycles of its companion OEMs.
Android 16 Developer Preview 1 brings with it a number of platform tweaks and enhancements, but it surely must be famous that this launch is primarily meant for builders in search of an atmosphere to check their apps in. Google says the secure model of Android 16 is deliberate to hit the market within the second quarter of 2025.
It is not beneficial that you just set up this software program launch in your important, on a regular basis handset — there’s an inherent threat of instability in early Developer Preview builds similar to this one.
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Forget Android 15: Google’s Android 16 in now officially in preview
With many Android handsets nonetheless ready on their Android 15 replace, Google is trekking ahead with Android 16 Developer Preview 1.
Which gadgets presently help Android 15 Developer Preview 1?
Naturally, Pixel gadgets obtain preferential remedy
The following devices are appropriate with the primary Developer Preview construct of Android 16:
- Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, Pixel 9 Professional Fold
- Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Professional
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Professional
- Pixel 8a, Pixel 7a, Pixel 6a
- Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Professional
- Pixel Pill
In the meanwhile, your entire listing includes solely of Google’s personal Pixel line of {hardware}. Over time, I count on extra handsets and tablets from third-party OEMs to be added into the combo.
It is fascinating to see Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional handsets make the reduce this yr.
It is fascinating to see Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional handsets make the reduce this yr — technically, the company has only guaranteed Android model updates for the handsets till October 2024. It is refreshing to see that although the search large is within the clear, it is making good with house owners of older Pixel {hardware}.

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Google is reportedly planning emigrate ChromeOS over to Android to create one unified working system.
How do I obtain and set up Android 15 Developer Preview 1 on my machine?
Android Flash Device makes the method a comparatively accessible one
Sadly, there is not a easy over-the-air (OTA) replace course of in place for getting Android 16 Developer Preview 1 up and operating. As an alternative, you will wish to make use of Google’s Android Flash Device to get your self arrange.
Along with a supported handset, you will want entry to both a Mac or a PC, in addition to a USB cable able to information switch.
After you have the whole lot you want, observe these steps:
- Allow developer choices in your cellphone by navigating to Settings > About cellphone > and tapping on the construct quantity seven occasions in a row.
- From right here, you will be prompted to enter your cellphone’s PIN or password to proceed.
- Subsequent, backtrack to the primary Settings web page, after which faucet on System > Developer choices.
- Toggle on USB debugging from the listing of settings that seem on-screen.
- Toggle on OEM unlocking from this similar listing of on-screen settings.
- Plug your cellphone into your Mac or PC utilizing your USB cable.
- In your Mac or PC, navigate to Google’s Android Flash Tool net portal through your net browser.
- Faucet or click on on the blue Get Began button, and observe the prompts that seem on-screen.
To provoke the method, you will want no less than 10GB of accessible storage in your laptop. You may be requested to not work together together with your cellphone until particularly prompted to by the Android Flash Device, and to not unplug your cellphone out of your laptop through the course of.
It is essential to notice that following together with this course of will wipe all information off your cellphone, and the machine will probably be restored again to default manufacturing facility settings.

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Google doesn’t care about tablets again: the Pixel Tablet 2 is reportedly dead
The Pixel Pill 2 has reportedly been canceled, creating uncertainty about the way forward for the Pixel pill collection.
There’s a secondary methodology for getting Android 16 Developer Preview 1 up and operating in your cellphone, but it surely’s a extra concerned course of. Doing so requires manually unlocking your bootloader, getting into Fastboot mode, extracting manufacturing facility picture recordsdata, and getting into terminal instructions on a PC or a Mac.
If you would like to observe the steps for manually flashing manufacturing facility pictures of this primary preview construct, our sister website Android Police has published a step-by-step guide on the right way to do exactly that. Simply be forewarned that this second methodology is not for the faint of coronary heart.
As soon as your cellphone has efficiently rebooted, you will end up plopped onto the out-of-box expertise (OOBE) display.
No matter which methodology you go for, the tip consequence must be an up-and-running construct of Android 16 in its earliest rendition. As soon as your cellphone has efficiently rebooted, you will end up plopped onto the out-of-box expertise (OOBE) display, and from right here you may go about organising your machine. Throughout the setup, you will be requested to enter your earlier PIN or password for safety functions.
Subsequent developer preview and beta builds will arrive onto your Pixel over-the-air. Finally, as soon as the secure model of Android 16 reaches common availability subsequent yr, it’s going to be mechanically pushed out to your machine as properly.

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A brand new function in Google’s newest Android replace provides you a discrete place to maintain personal apps, untouchable by the remainder of your cellphone.
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