Android 14: How to install the Developer Preview

Google has just announced its first Developer Preview ofAndroid 14. This version, normally intended for application developers, unveils some of the new features of the next version of Android. However, anyone can install it, simply and free of charge, as long as your device is compatible. In our case, we performed the operations on a Pixel 7

Devices compatible with Android 14 Developer Preview 1

As always, and rightly so, Pixels are the first smartphones to benefit from this preview version of Android 14. The full list of smartphones compatible with Android 14 Developer Preview 1 is as follows:

• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
• Pixel 6a
• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
• Pixel 5 and Pixel 5a
• Pixel 4a (5G)

These will not, of course, be the only smartphones that will eventually be compatible. However, this first test version of Android 14 focuses on a small number of devices, which in some ways represent the majority of the smartphone market.

Preface

Before we start anything, we’d like to remind you that it’srisky to install this beta on your personal, primary device. It’s far from being a stable version, and this is especially true of this very first preview. Android 14 Developer Preview 1 requires you to open your bootloader. If this term doesn’t ring a bell, we advise you not to continue reading this article. Finally, as you may have deduced, installing this version of Android 14 will result in the loss of all data on your smartphone. If there’s anything important on it, it’s time to back up.

Prerequisites

First, you’ll need to put your smartphone in developer mode. You’ll need to go to your smartphone’s settings, then to the about category, scroll down to the bottom and tap repeatedly on the build number

Once your smartphone is in developer mode, you’ll need to enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking. Activating these two options is essential for installing Android 14 Developer Preview 1. You can deactivate them once the installation is complete. If you’re running on Windows, you’ll also need the USB drivers. These can be installed from the Android Studio SDK Manager, or by following the instructions provided by Google. Finally, in order to follow our method, you’ll need the Google Chrome browser. For some time now, Google has been offering a command-line-free method of flashing your Android smartphone, which is still very practical.

Installing Android 14 Developer Preview

Once all the prerequisites have been met, you’ll need to connect your smartphone to your computer using a cable, ideally the one supplied in the smartphone box, and then go to Android Flash Tool. When you connect to the site, the utility will ask you for permissions to access ADB. Remember to check for blocked pop-ups, to the right of the URL bar, if the pop-up doesn’t appear

Next, click on Add new device, then select your device from the menu. In our case, it’s a Pixel 7. Once you’ve selected your device, Android Flash Tool will prompt you to install Android 14 Developer Preview 1. However, it is possible to install other versions of Android using the utility. If you decide to go back to a stable version, you’ll be able to use it To start the installation, simply click on Install build and accept the license agreement. A confirmation window will appear, telling you everything that’s going to happen on your device. In our case, it will be Wipe, meaning that all data will be deleted, Lock, meaning that the bootloader will be unlocked and then relocked and, finally, Force Flash, meaning that installation of this version will be forced. gallery columns=”4″ size=”large” link=”none” ids=”92199,92200,92193,92194″] Once installation has begun, it is imperative that you only interact with your device when expressly requested to do so. This is the case, for example, for unlocking and relocking your bootloader, which will require you to press the Volume – key, then the device’s sleep key. From here, all you have to do is sit back and admire the various installation stages of this first Android 14 Developer Preview. They will scroll through automatically, without you needing to touch anything.