Having released two developer previews of Android 13, Google is now rolling out the first beta of Android 13 for eligible Pixel phones before Google I/O 2022. If you have a supported Pixel phone, you can try the upcoming Android 13 in beta on the channel right now. In this article, we have detailed the steps required to install the first Android 13 beta on your Pixel phone.
How to Install Android 13 Beta (2022)
Android 13 Compatible Pixel Phones
The following Pixel phones will receive the Android 13 update directly from Google. During these times, Google drops support for Pixel 3a and 3a XL. Check out the full list of supported Android 13 Pixel devices below:
- Google Pixel 4
- Google Pixel 4XL
- pixel 4a
- Google Pixel 4a (5G)
- Google Pixel 5
- Pixel 5a (5G)
- Google Pixel 6
- Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a (probably to launch with Android 13)
Install Android 13 Beta Using Android Beta Program
Unlike Android 13 developer preview builds, Google offers an official OTA program for beta versions. this way, you can choose to enroll in the beta program and receive new beta updates they are not released. Follow the steps below to register for the Android 13 Beta OTA program.
1. Visit Google’s Android 13 Beta program Web site and sign in with your Google account. You will now see a list of all your eligible devices under the “Devices” section. Click the “Join” button located under your device name To sign up for the Android 13 beta OTA update. You can also exit the beta program later on this page.
2. After signing up for the beta program, wait a few moments for the OTA to reach your Pixel phone. You can manually check for updates here: Settings -> System -> System Update.
3. When the update is available, download it and wait for the installation process to complete. To start using Android 13 beta on your Pixel phone, restart the phone after the update.
Sideload Android 13 Beta OTA Image
If you prefer to manually upload the OTA image instead of signing up for the official OTA, you can do that too. It is worth noting that Sideloading OTA image won’t wipe your phone. Also, you don’t need to unlock your bootloader to install the OTA image, making this a convenient method to install the Android 13 beta.
As a prerequisite, make sure you have ADB installed on your PC and enabled USB debugging on your phone. Settings -> Developer Options -> Enable USB Debugging. If you don’t see developer options, you can tap . Settings -> About Phone -> Build number Other than that, follow these steps to sideload Android 13 beta OTA:
- Download the Android 13 beta OTA image for your Pixel phone from: Google’s OTA download portal. You should place the downloaded image in the folder where you installed ADB on your PC. Next up, open a Command Prompt window in the ADB folder and use the following command to reboot into recovery mode:
adb reboot recovery
- You will now see the “No commands” screen with the Android logo. Press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons for a while and release the Volume Up button followed by the Power button to fully enter the recovery mode. When the phone reboots into recovery mode, Select “Apply Update from ADB”. You can use the volume buttons to move up and down, and the power button to select in recovery mode.
- Use the following ADB command on your PC to start the installation process. Here
refers to the Android 13 beta OTA image you downloaded earlier. For simplicity’s sake, you can rename the zip file to “update” or “Android 13”, although pasting the filename directly works as well.
adb sideload <filename>.zip
After the installation process is finished, Select “reboot system now” To restart your Pixel Your phone should now boot into Android 13 beta and you can pick up where you left off.
Install Android 13 Beta Using Android Flash Tool
Another method to install Android 13 beta is to use the Android Flash Tool. To get started, check if you have enabled USB Debugging and OEM unlocking on your phone. Settings -> Developer Options. Once this is done, follow these steps:
- Connect your Pixel phone to your PC. If you are using Windows, you may need to Download and install Google USB Drivers. Next, visit the Android Flash Tool Web site and Click on “Get started”.
- Now you will see a popup asking you to allow access to ADB keys. Click on “Allow ADB access” and authorize the USB debugging prompt from your Pixel phone.
- Click “Add new device” to connect your Pixel phone to Flash Tool.
- A prompt will now appear in the upper left corner of your browser. Select your Pixel phone and click “Connect” to connect your device
- Select “Android 13 Beta 1” as the target build from the list of available builds. Even though the screenshot below doesn’t show Android 13 Beta 1 as the device is already in Beta 1, you will eventually see the Beta 1 listing.
- By default, Android Flash Tool will wipe your phone and re-lock your bootloader. Tapping the pencil icon next to the build number will give you the option to change the settings. Finally, Click “Load build” to start the installation process.
- If everything goes right, “Installation Complete. The build has been successfully installed. It is now safe to unplug your device” The message in the Flash Tool. Your phone should now be running Android 13 Beta.
Install Android 13 Beta Factory Image
Installing Android 13 beta using a factory image is also a possibility you can consider. This method is ideal for those using a Pixel device with an unlocked bootloader. After making sure you have USB debugging enabled, use the following steps to install Android 13 from a factory image:
- First you have to download the factory image of your Pixel from: Google’s Factory Images download portal. Extract the downloaded zip file to your ADB installation folder. The installation script deletes data by default, but you can choose to keep the data. To do this, edit the flash-all.sh or flash-all.bat (Windows) file and remove the “-w” using a text editor.
- Open a Command Prompt window in the ADB installation folder and use the command below to reboot into fastboot mode.
adb reboot bootloader
- Double-click ‘flash-all.bat’ if you’re using Windows or run ‘flash-all’ if you’re using macOS or Linux to start installing the Android 13 factory image. After the installation process is complete, your phone will boot into the Android 13 beta.
What Is The Easiest Way To Install Android 13 Beta?
The easiest way to install Android 13 beta is with the Beta OTA program. Sign up for the program and after a while you will get the build. If you’re someone who is comfortable with ADB commands, sideloading the OTA image is the next best practice. While initial setup may take a few minutes, installing the build is as easy as running a simple ADB command.
Then there’s the Flash Tool method, which is ideal for those with a reliable internet connection. By the way, the factory image method is for those who are already used to messing with their device and have an unlocked bootloader. From all these methods, you can choose the one that suits you best.
Install Android 13 Beta on your phone
That brings us to the end of this Android 13 installation guide. If you encounter errors or obstacles during the installation process, feel free to let us know in the comments and we will try to help you. If you don’t have a compatible Pixel phone, don’t hesitate to review our Android 13 coverage to stay up to date with all the best features Google has planned to offer in this Android iteration.