Android 15, Google’s follow-up to Android 14, is now accessible to obtain for all you early testers.
The most recent main OS replace, with a concentrate on beefing up privateness and safety, additionally permits creators to take higher benefit of digital camera {hardware} and offers builders extra methods to handle warmth and processing energy for extra environment friendly app efficiency.
This early model of Android 15 is meant largely for builders, to assist them construct apps tuned for the following launch of the Android OS and for Google to get worthwhile suggestions because it rolls out updates all through 2024.
Learn extra: Greatest Android Telephone of 2024
However simply because the preview is supposed for builders doesn’t suggest you’ll be able to’t or should not obtain Android 15 proper now. So long as you perceive the restrictions of a developer preview (which might embody bugs, lacking options and app incompatibility) and how one can set up it with guide flash (including the OS to your cellphone’s flash reminiscence storage), you’ll be able to take a look at Android 15 proper now.
Should you do not wish to cope with software program points or set up, wait till April and Might for Google to open enrollment for its Android beta program, or you possibly can even wait till June and July for a extra steady model to drop. The ultimate model of Android 15, supposed for all Android customers, is predicted to launch someday within the fall.
Uncertain about what to do subsequent? Nicely here is all the things you want to find out about Android 15. For extra, here is how Google constructed its Immersive View for Maps and how one can clear your browser’s cache in Android.
What’s new within the first Android 15 developer preview?
With this primary developer preview, Google stated the main focus is on enhancing consumer privateness and file safety. It is also targeted on giving creators larger entry to instruments and {hardware} — together with in-app digital camera controls — in addition to on warmth and energy administration for improved app and recreation efficiency. The most recent launch makes use of the confectionery-theming code title Vanilla Ice Cream.
For privateness and safety, Android 15 is utilizing the most recent model of Privateness Sandbox, which is a multiyear initiative to boost consumer privateness on Android. Privateness Sandbox improves privateness round cell promoting, by limiting what information third events can entry. Android 15 additionally permits customers to display screen share simply a part of their display screen, quite than the complete display screen.
Google will give builders and creators extra exact management of digital camera {hardware} to assist them benefit from premium {hardware} options, together with the Pixel digital camera, GPUs and AI processing. These expanded controls can increase the brightness of the digital camera preview, alter flash energy, join MIDI 2.0 units through USB and extra.
This primary developer preview of Android 15 additionally contains warmth and processing energy administration instruments through an improved Android Dynamic Efficiency Framework to assist builders optimize performance-heavy and graphic-intensive apps and video games.
As extra developer previews and beta releases drop, Google will proceed so as to add and refine options based mostly on the suggestions from everybody utilizing Android 15.
Which telephones assist the Android 15 developer preview?
Google usually releases early developer previews simply by itself units, and it is the identical with Android 15. Proper now, you’ll be able to obtain Android 15 on the next Google Pixel telephones and pill:
In case your machine is not on the checklist, do not fret simply but. Because the yr progresses, Android 15 will turn out to be accessible on different telephones and tablets. You even have the choice to use the 64-bit system photos with the Android Emulator in Android Studio.
The Pixel Fold helps the primary developer preview of Android 15.
Prior to installing Android 15, again up your cellphone
Notice that operating prerelease software program in your cellphone could make it unstable, and it’s possible you’ll lose information. We suggest downloading and putting in prerelease software program on one thing apart from your major Pixel machine, simply in case Google’s new software program causes points.
The very first thing it is best to do earlier than you obtain the primary Android 15 developer preview is to again up your supported machine. Why? Developer previews are software program in its early days, and so you’ll be able to count on bugs, app crashes and different points that may make it tough to make use of your cellphone or pill each day.
By default, your Pixel ought to again up routinely everytime you’re related to Wi-Fi and your cellphone has been idle and charging for two hours, however you can even do it manually. Relying on the scale of your cellphone backup and the way a lot accessible area you’ve got on Google Drive, it’s possible you’ll want a Google One subscription for this to work.
To again up your Pixel cellphone, go to Settings > Google > Backup and faucet Again up now. Relying on the final backup and what number of apps and recordsdata should be backed up, this course of may be instantaneous or take as much as a number of minutes. When you’re backed up, you are prepared to start the method of downloading and putting in Android 15.
Again up your cellphone prior to installing Android 15 Developer Preview.
Subsequent, allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking
To put in Android 15 in your Pixel, join the cellphone to your pc through USB. That requires that your Pixel be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Though unlocking your cellphone is straightforward sufficient, to allow USB debugging you will must first unlock Developer choices.
Notice: Should you’ve flashed a developer preview earlier than, you could possibly merely replace OTA to Android 15. If not, skip to the following part.
1. Unlock Developer choices. Within the Settings utility, go to About cellphone after which faucet Construct quantity seven instances. Enter your password when prompted, and a brand new Developer choices menu will seem in your settings.
2. Subsequent, you will must allow USB debugging so your cellphone and your pc can switch information between one another. Go to Settings > System > Developer choices and toggle on USB debugging. Within the notification that seems, which briefly describes what USB debugging is supposed for, faucet OK.
3. And eventually, when you’re nonetheless in Developer choices, toggle on OEM unlocking. This unlocks your machine’s bootloader, which is what masses the working system. As soon as unlocked, you’ll select a unique working system as well up in your Pixel — on this case, Android 15.
You will need to first allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking earlier than you’ll be able to join your cellphone to your pc to put in the Android 15 developer preview.
Lastly, flash Android 15 in your machine utilizing Android Flash Instrument in Chrome
You’ve two methods to flash the Android 15 developer preview in your Pixel, however for the sake of simplicity, we’ll use the Android Flash Instrument, which you should use straight out of your internet browser. It really works finest on Chrome or Edge. Additionally, your pc will need to have 10GB of obtainable storage for this to work.
If all the things is sweet to go, join your Pixel to your pc through USB, unlock your machine, go to https://flash.android.com/ in Chrome and do the next:
1. First, click on Get Began after which hit Permit ADB entry within the pop-up that seems (if there are any advert blockers, flip them off).
2. Subsequent, click on Add new machine, select your machine from the checklist and hit Join.
3. In your Pixel, verify the field subsequent to All the time permit from this pc after which faucet Permit to offer Android Flash Instrument entry to your cellphone.
4. Again in your pc, click on DP 1 below Android 15 Preview Releases.
5. Click on Set up construct after which hit Affirm.
To proceed, settle for any notifications that seem in your pc or cellphone.
Now, you will must work together with each your pc and cellphone to flash Android 15, which begins with unlocking your cellphone’s bootloader.
- Click on Begin in your pc to start the unlocking bootloader course of.
- Over in your cellphone, hit any quantity button to decide on “Unlock the bootloader” after which hit the energy button to unlock the bootloader.
The Android 15 software program will then start to obtain out of your pc to your cellphone. It is almost 2.5GB, so it might take a couple of minutes, relying in your web speeds. As soon as the obtain is completed, you will must lock your cellphone’s bootloader.
- Click on Begin in your pc.
- Return to your cellphone, use the quantity keys to decide on “Lock the bootloader” after which hit the energy button.
Your cellphone will then restart and the Android 15 Developer Preview ought to now be put in. You may safely disconnect your Pixel from the pc.
Now you can use Android 15 in your Pixel
As soon as your Pixel boots again up, you will see a notification that claims you are now operating the Android 15 developer preview. Hit OK after which arrange your cellphone simply as you’ll a brand-new cellphone. Which means connecting to Wi-Fi, copying over apps and information out of your newest backup through Google, agreeing to phrases and circumstances, establishing a password and so forth.
You may routinely get future updates over-the-air for all developer previews and betas, so you do not manually should flash Android 15 each time.
How one can take away Android 15 out of your machine
Developer previews aren’t meant in your major cellphone, the one that you just use day by day. Bugs and different points will intervene along with your each day routine, and so that you may get bored with having an early model of Android 15. In that case, there’s a straightforward method to roll again to a steady model of Android 14.
Similar to you put in Android 15, you’ll be able to revert again to an older Android model. Join your machine to your pc and observe the primary 4 steps within the flashing Android 15 part. Chances are you’ll must unlock developer choices and allow USB debugging as soon as once more.
Now, as a substitute of selecting DP 1 within the Android Flash Instrument, select the Again to Public choice and set up it identical to you probably did the developer preview. When your cellphone boots again up, you need to be operating a steady model of Android 14.
What is the launch schedule for Android 15?
Google stated it expects to launch a number of developer previews — this one in February and one other date in March — to shake out new options and verify compatibility.
Deliberate beta releases for early adopters in April and Might must be extra steady and can concentrate on high quality and compatibility enhancements. Lastly, Platform Stability releases slated for June, July and August will heart on Android 15 ultimate testing earlier than the primary public launch within the fall.
Google’s deliberate testing and launch schedule for Android 15.
Have an older Android? Take a look at 5 tricks to make your Android cellphone really feel like new once more.