Although a bit earlier than the usual March release, the first developer preview of Android 11 is finally here. For now, only Google Pixel devices, including Pixel 2, 3, 3a, and 4, support the Android 11 DP1.
The latest Android version includes several new features focused on privacy and security, and added support for 5G and foldable smartphones.
Since the Android developer preview came early, it is also too early for users to install the build, especially since most features are developer-focused.
Also Read: Android 11 Release Date Roadmap
On top of that, unlike previous Android versions, the Android 11 DP1 is not available at an OTA update; instead, users will have to flash the Android 11 OS image manually.
That being said, here are the steps for the curious ones —
Install Android 11 on your Google device –
Pre-requisites
– Supported Google Pixel device
– ADB and Fastboot tools installed on the PC (Here is the tutorial)
– USB Debugging turned on (Here is the tutorial)
1. Download the supported OTA file
Users can download the official Over-The-Air (OTA) update from here. Make sure you download the Android 11 build for your specific Google Pixel device.
Sadly, the first Google Pixel is not supported for early Android 11 testing. While its official support has long expired, Google might get generous and send over the final update.
2. Boot into Recovery Mode
Power off the device. Now, hold the Power button and volume down button to get to the Bootloader page. Here, use the volume buttons to choose Recovery mode in the menu and hit the power button.
On the next screen, hold down the Power button and Volume simultaneously for about a second to enter the recovery menu. Here, look out for “Apply update from ADB sideload”, and hit the power button to enter.
Also check out our article on why is the power button on my phone not working in detail here!
3. Sideload Android 11 File
Now, connect the Google Pixel device to the PC via a USB cable. Before moving ahead, ensure that the Android 11 OTA file is located in the ADB tools folder.
Open Command Prompt on your PC, type the command “adb devices”. Now, enter “adb sideload file name.zip” Select Reboot now from the Android recovery menu once the installation is complete.
Again, this is an early build of Android 11; hence, expect a lot of bugs and glitches. Google’s beta program will start shortly, so you can also wait for it to get a more stable Android 11 build. Moreover, the installation process will be much easier.
