Great news! The first Android 14 Beta has been launched, following last year’s trend of releasing the first beta version of the next major Android version a month prior to Google I/O. Pixel phone owners can now access Android 14 Beta 1 after a few Android 14 Developer Preview versions.
If you are using any of the supported Pixel phone models such as Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, or Pixel 7 Pro, you can now download the Android 14 Beta version today. Android 14 Beta 1 (UPB1.230309.014 or UPB1.230309.014.A1 for Pixel 6 series on Verizon) with the April 2023 security patch — March 2023 for Verizon — is available for the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro, as well as the Android Emulator.
Google remains secretive about the fresh features included in Android 14 Beta 1, although we expect knowledgeable individuals like Mishaal Rahman to discover numerous unannounced capabilities within this edition of Android 14. Currently, the firm is only disclosing a limited amount of information that was already known.
It’s worth noting that Android 14 Beta is in its early stages of development, and there may be more features and changes added to the final version. However, based on previous Android releases, we can expect some improvements in performance, security, privacy, and user experience.
Android 14 Beta 1 Release Info
- Release date: April 12, 2023
- Builds:
- Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a devices that use Verizon as their carrier: UPB1.230309.014.A1
- All other devices: UPB1.230309.014
- Emulator support: x86 (64-bit), ARM (v8-A)
- Security patch level:
- Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a devices that use Verizon as their carrier: March 2023
- All other devices: April 2023
- Google Play services 23.09.12
Google has scheduled three more beta launches for Android 14 after the first beta, with the final release expected sometime after July. Android 14 Beta 1 has been released as an over-the-air update for those enrolled in the Android Beta Program.
Google’s highlighting of a “Smarter System UI” in Beta 1 is interesting. It seems that Android 14 will feature a more prominent back arrow, which will be displayed in a pill with a Dynamic Color background, improving back gesture understanding and usefulness. This change could potentially make it easier for users to navigate through their devices.
Another notable feature is the ability for apps to add custom actions to system share sheets, which can be invoked by users. For instance, when opening the share sheet in a photo app, users can quickly create an album or link. This feature could be useful in improving productivity and streamlining the sharing process.
As Android 14 is still in its beta stage, it’s likely that there will be more updates and changes to come. However, it’s exciting to see some of the new features and improvements that are already being introduced in Beta 1.
Android 14 Beta 1 also includes more graphics capabilities with the Path API. This API provides a powerful and flexible mechanism for creating and rendering vector graphics, which could be particularly useful for developers who want to create more complex and visually appealing apps.
Another feature highlighted by Google is Personalization with Per-app language preferences. This allows users to set language preferences for each app individually, which could be helpful for those who use multiple languages or prefer to use a specific language for certain apps.
In terms of privacy, it’s good to see that Google has introduced the accessibilityDataSensitive attribute, which can be used by app developers to limit the visibility of specified views only to accessibility services that claim to help users with disabilities. This attribute can help protect user data such as personal details or plaintext passwords, as well as prevent critical actions from being executed unintentionally, such as transferring money or checking out in a shopping app. This could help improve the overall security and privacy of Android devices.
How to Download Android 14 Beta 1 on Your Pixel Phone
By opening up Android 14 Beta to the beta program, Google is indicating that the software is stable enough for everyday use, with the caveat that some issues may still exist. This suggests that Google has confidence in the current state of the software and believes that users will be able to use it without major problems.
It’s worth noting that the list of supported devices for Android 14 Beta 1 includes a range of Pixel models:
- Pixel 4a (5G)
- Pixel 5 and 5a
- Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
This indicates that Google is committed to providing updates and support for a wide range of devices, which is good news for Pixel users who are eager to try out the latest features and improvements.
To get Android 14 Beta 1 on your device, the easiest way is to sign up for the Android Beta Program. You can do this by visiting the Android Beta Program website and clicking the “Opt In” button.
Once you have enrolled, you can check for the update by going to Settings > System > Advanced > System update. Keep in mind that Google may not push the update immediately, and it could take some time before it becomes available on your device. If you don’t see the update right away, you may need to wait a bit and check again later.
If you prefer to update your device manually or if you want to flash a factory image or OTA file, Google has made those available as well.
You can find the Android 14 Beta 1 factory images and OTA files on Google’s website. If you want to flash a factory image, you can follow the instructions provided by Google. Similarly, if you want to flash an OTA .zip file, Google has provided instructions for that as well.
However, keep in mind that manually flashing a factory image or OTA file requires some technical knowledge and can be risky if you’re not familiar with the process. It’s important to follow the instructions carefully and to make sure you have the necessary tools and files before proceeding. Hit the appropriate link below to grab the update.
- Pixel 7 Pro: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6a: Factory Image — OTA
- Verizon: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6 Pro: Factory Image — OTA
- Verizon: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6: Factory Image — OTA
- Verizon: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 5a: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 5: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 4a (5G): Factory Image — OTA
If you’re already running an Android 14 Developer Preview build, Google will push the Beta 1 update over-the-air to your device. However, as you mentioned, the over-the-air process can take some time to roll out to all devices. If you don’t want to wait, you can manually flash the above factory images or OTA file instead.
It’s also worth noting that installing beta software on your device can come with risks, such as the possibility of encountering bugs or other issues. It’s important to make sure you understand the risks before installing the software, and to back up any important data before proceeding.
Google has affirmed that if your device is currently on Android 13 QPR3 Beta 2.1 and has been enrolled in the Android Beta Program, it will receive an automatic update to Android 14 Beta 1.