Android 15 Developer Preview Is Now Accessible. What to Know In regards to the First Launch

Google’s follow-up to Android 14 — Android 15 — is now accessible to obtain for early testers.

The most recent main OS replace, with a concentrate on beefing up privateness and safety, additionally permits creators to take higher benefit of digicam {hardware} and provides builders extra methods to handle warmth and processing energy for extra environment friendly app efficiency.

This early model of Android 15 is meant largely for builders, to assist them construct apps tuned for the subsequent launch of the Android OS and for Google to get precious suggestions because it rolls out updates all through 2024.

Learn extra: Greatest Android Cellphone of 2024

However simply because the preview is supposed for builders doesn’t suggest you possibly can’t or should not obtain Android 15 proper now. So long as you perceive the restrictions of a developer preview (which may embrace bugs, lacking options and app incompatibility) and the way to set up it with handbook flash (including the OS to your cellphone’s flash reminiscence storage), you possibly can take a look at Android 15 proper now.

Should you do not need to cope with software program points or set up, wait till April and Might for Google to open enrollment for its Android beta program, or you possibly can even wait till June and July for a extra steady model to drop. The ultimate model of Android 15, supposed for all Android customers, is anticipated to launch someday within the fall.

Uncertain about what to do subsequent? Nicely this is all the things you must find out about Android 15. For extra, this is how Google constructed its Immersive View for Maps and the way to clear your browser’s cache in Android.

What’s new within the first Android 15 developer preview?

With this primary developer preview, Google mentioned the main focus is on enhancing consumer privateness and file safety. It is also centered on giving creators larger entry to instruments and {hardware} — together with in-app digicam controls — in addition to on warmth and energy administration for improved app and recreation efficiency. The most recent launch makes use of the confectionery-theming code identify Vanilla Ice Cream.

For privateness and safety, Android 15 is utilizing the newest model of Privateness Sandbox, which is a multiyear initiative to reinforce consumer privateness on Android. Privateness Sandbox improves privateness round cellular promoting, by limiting what knowledge third events can entry. Android 15 additionally permits customers to display screen share simply a part of their display screen, reasonably than your complete display screen.

Google will give builders and creators extra exact management of digicam {hardware} to assist them make the most of premium {hardware} options, together with the Pixel digicam, GPUs and AI processing. These expanded controls can increase the brightness of the digicam preview, regulate flash power, join MIDI 2.0 units by way of USB and extra.

This primary developer preview of Android 15 additionally contains warmth and processing energy administration instruments by way of an improved Android Dynamic Efficiency Framework to assist builders optimize performance-heavy and graphic-intensive apps and video games.

As extra developer previews and beta releases drop, Google will proceed so as to add and refine options primarily based on the suggestions from everybody utilizing Android 15.

Which telephones help the Android 15 developer preview?

Google sometimes releases early developer previews simply by itself units, and it is the identical with Android 15. Proper now, you possibly can obtain Android 15 on the next Google Pixel telephones and pill:

In case your gadget is not on the checklist, do not fret simply but. Because the 12 months progresses, Android 15 will develop into accessible on different telephones and tablets. You even have the choice to use the 64-bit system photos with the Android Emulator in Android Studio.

Prior to installing Android 15, again up your cellphone

Notice that operating prerelease software program in your cellphone could make it unstable, and chances are you’ll lose knowledge. We suggest downloading and putting in prerelease software program on one thing apart from your main Pixel gadget, simply in case Google’s new software program causes points.

The very first thing it’s best to do earlier than you obtain the primary Android 15 developer preview is to again up your supported gadget. Why? Developer previews are software program in its early days, and so you possibly can anticipate bugs, app crashes and different points that may make it tough to make use of your cellphone or pill each day.

By default, your Pixel ought to again up mechanically everytime you’re related to Wi-Fi and your cellphone has been idle and charging for two hours, however you may as well do it manually. Relying on the scale of your cellphone backup and the way a lot accessible house you have got on Google Drive, chances are you’ll want a Google One subscription for this to work.

To again up your Pixel cellphone, go to Settings > Google > Backup and faucet Again up now. Relying on the final backup and what number of apps and recordsdata have to be backed up, this course of could be instantaneous or take as much as a number of minutes. When you’re backed up, you are prepared to start the method of downloading and putting in Android 15.

Subsequent, allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking

To put in Android 15 in your Pixel, join the cellphone to your pc by way of USB. That requires that your Pixel be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Though unlocking your cellphone is straightforward sufficient, to allow USB debugging you may have to first unlock Developer choices.

Notice: Should you’ve flashed a developer preview earlier than, you might be able to merely replace OTA to Android 15. If not, skip to the subsequent part.

1. Unlock Developer choices. Within the Settings software, go to About cellphone after which faucet Construct quantity seven instances. Enter your password when prompted, and a brand new Developer choices menu will seem in your settings. 
2. Subsequent, you may have to allow USB debugging so your cellphone and your pc can switch knowledge between one another. Go to Settings > System > Developer choices and toggle on USB debugging. Within the notification that seems, which briefly describes what USB debugging is supposed for, faucet OK.
3. And at last, whilst you’re nonetheless in Developer choices, toggle on OEM unlocking. This unlocks your gadget’s bootloader, which is what hundreds the working system. As soon as unlocked, you’ll select a special working system as well up in your Pixel — on this case, Android 15.

Lastly, flash Android 15 in your gadget utilizing Android Flash Instrument in Chrome 

You could have two methods to flash the Android 15 developer preview in your Pixel, however for the sake of simplicity, we’ll use the Android Flash Instrument, which you need to use immediately out of your net browser. It really works greatest on Chrome or Edge. Additionally, your pc should have 10GB of obtainable storage for this to work. 

If all the things is sweet to go, join your Pixel to your pc by way of USB, unlock your gadget, go to https://flash.android.com/ in Chrome and do the next: 

1. First, click on Get Began after which hit Enable ADB entry within the pop-up that seems (if there are any advert blockers, flip them off). 
2. Subsequent, click on Add new gadget, select your gadget from the checklist and hit Join.
3. In your Pixel, examine the field subsequent to At all times enable from this pc after which faucet Enable to provide Android Flash Instrument entry to your cellphone.
4. Again in your pc, click on DP 1 beneath Android 15 Preview Releases. 
5. Click on Set up construct after which hit Affirm. 

Now, you may have to work together with each your pc and cellphone to flash Android 15, which begins with unlocking your cellphone’s bootloader.

1. Click on Begin in your pc to start the unlocking bootloader course of.
2. Over in your cellphone, hit any quantity button to decide on “Unlock the bootloader” after which hit the energy button to unlock the bootloader.

The Android 15 software program will then start to obtain out of your pc to your cellphone. It is practically 2.5GB, so it might take a couple of minutes, relying in your web speeds. As soon as the obtain is completed, you may have to lock your cellphone’s bootloader. 

1. Click on Begin in your pc.
2. Return to your cellphone, use the quantity keys to decide on “Lock the bootloader” after which hit the energy button.

Your cellphone will then restart and the Android 15 Developer Preview ought to now be put in. You may safely disconnect your Pixel from the pc. 

Now you can use Android 15 in your Pixel 

As soon as your Pixel boots again up, you may see a notification that claims you are now operating the Android 15 developer preview. Hit OK after which arrange your cellphone simply as you’ll a brand-new cellphone. Which means connecting to Wi-Fi, copying over apps and knowledge out of your newest backup by way of Google, agreeing to phrases and circumstances, establishing a password and so forth.

If you wish to take away Android 15 out of your gadget, you may want to make use of the Android Flash software to return to a steady model of Android 14.

What is the launch schedule for Android 15?

Google mentioned it expects to launch a number of developer previews — this one in February and one other date in March — to shake out new options and examine compatibility. 

Deliberate beta releases for early adopters in April and Might needs to be extra steady and can concentrate on high quality and compatibility enhancements. Lastly, Platform Stability releases slated for June, July and August will middle on Android 15 ultimate testing earlier than the primary public launch within the fall.

Have an older Android? Try 5 tricks to make your Android cellphone really feel like new once more.