No Google I/O is complete without the release of a new version of Android for Pixel device users to experiment with. As expected, Google has now introduced Android 14 Beta 2 on schedule. Although we’ll be installing this ourselves, we recommend that those already on Beta 1 or Beta 1.1 quickly make the transition to this updated version, as the first beta had a lot of bugs.
After showcasing the lockscreen clock and shortcut highlights at Google I/O 2023, Google has announced the rollout of Android 14 Beta 2 for Pixel smartphones, starting today. This latest release is described as an “incremental Beta-quality” update, building on the initial Android Beta Program version which was launched through over-the-air updates last month.
The new update offers a more comprehensive and stable build for developers and testers to continue experimenting with the latest features and capabilities of the Android 14 operating system.
To give more assurance to users, Google has released Android 14 Beta 2 for Pixel phones, which aims to provide a more stable and complete build for testing and development. Despite the potential for some issues or broken items, Google’s decision to open up the beta program to everyday users suggests that the beta release is now stable enough for regular use. Compared to the initial Beta 1 release, which experienced several issues, Beta 2 should offer a more polished experience.
he 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, can now be updated to Android 14 Beta 2 (build number UPB2.230407.014) featuring the May 2023 security patch. Meanwhile, the build number for Verizon carrier versions of the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a devices is UPB2.230407.014.A1.
You can easily get your hands on Android 14 Beta 2 for your Pixel device by registering for the Android Beta Program through the link provided by Google. After enrolling, you can expect to receive the update over-the-air as soon as it becomes available. To check for the update, navigate to Settings>System>Advanced>System update on your device. It is important to note that the update may not be available to all users immediately and may be rolled out gradually. Therefore, you should continue to check for the update periodically.
If you prefer to have more control over the update process, or want to feel more knowledgeable and competent, you can opt for flashing a factory image or OTA file via adb. It’s still a viable option, though it may require more technical expertise. Personally, I’ll be going for the OTA update, but for those who are interested, you can find the Android 14 Beta 2 factory images and OTA files on the links below.
- Pixel 7 Pro: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6a: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6 Pro: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 5a: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 5: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 4a (5G): Factory Image — OTA
Here’s the full changelog of Android 14 Beta 2
Developer-reported issues
- Fixed a platform stability issue that could cause the UI to lag or freeze, apps to crash, or the device to crash. (Issue #270848913, Issue #274339025, Issue #277039789, Issue #256511926, Issue #279246037, Issue #279301937, Issue #279145050, Issue #279288220, Issue #274827412)
- Fixed an issue with the fingerprint sensor that prevented new fingerprints from being added for Fingerprint Unlock in some cases. (Issue #277950569)
- Fixed issues with UPI and biometrics that could cause some apps to not work properly. (Issue #278003306, Issue #277967514, Issue #278043615)
- Fixed an issue where a device couldn’t be unlocked using a fingerprint after tapping a notification or choosing a notification action on the lock screen. (Issue #278174846)
- Fixed an issue on some devices that caused sound to play through the speakers instead of headphones that were connected. (Issue #278043129)
- Fixed an issue that caused icons on the home screen to appear almost invisible. (Issue #277970542)
- Fixed issues with gesture navigation that occurred when using a custom launcher:
- The Home screen content wouldn’t display and the animation would fail to render when swiping up to go Home. (Issue #277981298)
- The list of recently used apps couldn’t be accessed using the normal gesture. (Issue #277983179)
- Fixed issues that prevented users from interacting with notifications in the notification shade. (Issue #278339342, Issue #276534576)
- Fixed an issue that could cause a device to crash after finishing audio or video calls. (Issue #279539689)
Other resolved issues
- Fixed an issue where, after entering and exiting picture-in-picture mode, the screen flickered when any apps were launched.
- Fixed an issue where user restrictions set by DPC admins were not being enforced in Settings.
- Fixed an issue where, after taking pictures with the Google Camera app, opening the latest picture from the thumbnail in the app briefly displayed a green-colored shade over the image.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the battery percentage to be displayed as 0% after a device reboot regardless of the actual charge level of the device.
- Fixed an issue that could cause a device to crash, and then when the device rebooted any wallpapers that were selected before the reboot were reset.
- Fixed issues that prevented the Better Bug app from uploading bug reports.
- Fixed issues that caused the back-to-home gesture to stop working.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the system Settings app to crash repeatedly.
- Fixed an issue that prevented users from searching within the system Settings app.
- Fixed issues that sometimes caused null pointer exceptions for input method editors (IMEs).
- Fixed an issue that sometimes increased system-wide memory usage unnecessarily.
- Fixed system issues that could sometimes cause deadlocks.
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