Android 12 beta is available: How to download it now

Android 12 beta update on a Pixel 4a 5G
(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Android 12 beta was officially announced at the Google I/O 2021 keynote and shortly thereafter the first public beta was made available. 

Currently, support for the Android 12 beta is available for Pixel Phones (Pixel 3 or later) along with select phones from Asus, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Tecno, TCL, Vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE.

Simply visit the Android 12 Beta Devices website and you'll see the full list of supported manufacturers with links to get the beta for each one. 

To get the Android 12 beta on your Pixel device, you simply need to go to the Android beta website while signed in to your Google Account and enroll in the Android beta program. At that point, it will display your eligible devices and you just need to click on the "Opt in" button.

Android 12 beta sign-up page

(Image credit: Google)

On your Pixel, you will need to navigate to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update. 

Navigating to Android 12 beta update screen on Pixel 4a 5G

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

If you successfully enrolled in the Android 12 beta program, it will show an available system update. You just need to tap the "Download and Install" button at the bottom-right corner. After the update is done downloading and installing, you need to click the "Reboot Now" button and that that's it, you're running the Android 12 beta.

As this is the first public beta it would be advisable not to put this on your primary phone unless you are comfortable with some instability and risk with that device. 

Sean Riley

Sean Riley has been covering tech professionally for over a decade now. Most of that time was as a freelancer covering varied topics including phones, wearables, tablets, smart home devices, laptops, AR, VR, mobile payments, fintech, and more.  Sean is the resident mobile expert at Laptop Mag, specializing in phones and wearables, you'll find plenty of news, reviews, how-to, and opinion pieces on these subjects from him here. But Laptop Mag has also proven a perfect fit for that broad range of interests with reviews and news on the latest laptops, VR games, and computer accessories along with coverage on everything from NFTs to cybersecurity and more.