Get Android O Developer Preview

MARIE BREWIS explains how to get your hands on Google’s OS

On 21 March 2017 Google made available the Android O Developer Preview, and for the second time it did so ahead of its annual Google I/O Developer’s Conference. The final version won’t be with us until late summer, but if you’re curious it is possible to download Android O today on compatible devices.

Should you install Android O?

Unless you are a developer, then the answer is quite simply no. Google doesn’t intend this first build of

Android O to be available to the general public, and for that reason it has not issued the beta through the usual Android Beta over-the-air channel.

Some of you will insist on doing so anyway. So you should know that this will be entirely on you, and if you don’t know what you’re doing you could very easily brick your device. And with that in mind you should take the necessary steps to ensure all your data is backed up.

Compatible devices

The Android O Developer Preview can run on only certain Google devices. Those devices are: Google Pixel Google Pixel XL Google Pixel C Google Nexus 6P Google Nexus 5X Nexus Player

Download and install Android O

In order to download Android O you will need to manually flash the software to your device, but be warned that this will remove all data from the device. You can download the file for your supported device from the Google Developer’s site at tinyurl.com/pj3sovs.

Uninstall Android O

To uninstall Android O following your trials you will need to download and flash to your device a factory image of Android Nougat.