What you need to know
- Google has released Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 today, but users have encountered problems sideloading the update.
- Like the first Android 15 Developer Preview, attempting to sideload the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update results in bricked devices, according to multiple reports.
- Currently sideloading Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 to the flipped device seems to fix the issue.
Google released the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update today, saying in a Reddit post that it “includes the latest bug fixes and performance and stability optimizations.” But users who tried to sideload the update on their Pixel smartphones find their devices bricked after completion. Sideloading goes through normally, but phones get stuck on the Google logo after trying to reboot.
At least one Reddit user said their Pixel phone was bricked after sideloading the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update. 9to5Google reported that three phones, two of which are the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel Fold, were bricked by sideloading Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2. The site adds that it was only able to install Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 on one device, the Pixel 8, sideloading the update.
One Reddit user, u/DaveBurbank, says that Android phones that don’t have the latest version of Platform Tools may be more susceptible to being blocked from updating. However, Google still hasn’t publicly acknowledged the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 sideloading issues.
While there are a few confirmed reports of devices being bricked, some sideloading attempts have been successful. Some Reddit users said they were able to install Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 without any issues. Still, we wouldn’t recommend you try to sideload the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update right now, and it’s a good reminder why you shouldn’t install beta updates on your primary devices.
Notably, over-the-air software updates go through without any reports of blocked devices. Android Central’s Derrek Lee was able to update his Pixel 7 without any issues. You can access them by navigating to Settings > System > Software Updates > System Update on your smartphone. Then follow the on-screen instructions to install Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.
In the meantime, for those of you who managed to run the new software, Google’s release notes say that Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 includes the following bug fixes:
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the device to crash or restart unexpectedly.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the device to crash or reboot unexpectedly while updating apps after the device was flashed.
- Fixed issues that caused the device to show a blank, black screen after booting from flash.
- Fixed an issue that caused the device to crash and display a blank, black screen after switching to a secondary user.
- Fixed issues when Always On mode was enabled that interfered with the “Double tap to wake” gesture and prevented the device from being unlocked if the user tried to use their fingerprint to unlock the device.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused battery information to display incorrectly in system settings, status bar, and on the lock screen.
- Fixed issues that prevented device-to-device transfers and backup and restore from working.
- Various issues affecting system stability, performance and camera have been fixed.
For anyone who tried to sideload the update, the early fix for bricked devices appears to install the previous Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 OTA image via sideloading. Put your device into recovery mode by first holding down the power button to turn off the phone completely. Then press the volume down button and then the power button to open the bootloader. Finally, go to recovery mode, click the power and then volume up buttons and sideload the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 OTA.