Unveiling its code name “Vanilla Ice Cream,” Google introduces the Android 15 developer preview, now ready for your download.
The initial developer preview of Android 15 has just been released, marking the latest major update following Android 14. This release places a strong emphasis on enhancing user privacy, reinforcing security measures, and empowering creators to make the most of camera hardware capabilities. Additionally, developers gain more tools for managing heat and processing power, leading to improved app performance.
Primarily targeted at developers to assist in crafting apps optimized for the upcoming Android OS, this early version of Android 15 also serves as a platform for Google to gather valuable feedback throughout the updates scheduled for 2024.
While designed with developers in mind, the Android 15 preview is open for anyone to explore, provided you acknowledge the potential limitations like bugs, missing features, and app incompatibility. If you’re comfortable dealing with developer previews and understand how to manually flash the OS onto your phone’s storage, you can dive into Android 15 right away.
If you prefer a more stable experience without the hassles of manual installation, consider waiting until April or May for Google to open enrollment for its Android beta program. Alternatively, a more polished version is expected to be available in June or July. The final version, catering to all Android users, is slated for release in the fall.
Curious about Android 15’s new features? The developer preview places a significant focus on enhancing user privacy and file security. It incorporates the latest version of Privacy Sandbox, contributing to Google’s multiyear initiative for improved user privacy in the Android ecosystem. Notably, Android 15 introduces the ability to screen share a specific part of the screen, rather than the entire display.
Moreover, Google grants developers more control over camera hardware, allowing them to leverage premium features such as the Pixel camera, GPUs, and AI processing. This expanded control includes adjustments to the camera preview’s brightness, flash strength, and the capability to connect MIDI 2.0 devices via USB.
The developer preview also introduces tools for heat and processing power management through an enhanced Android Dynamic Performance Framework. This empowers developers to optimize performance for resource-intensive apps and graphic-intensive games.
As Google continues to release more developer previews and beta versions, the features of Android 15 will evolve based on user feedback.
Which phones support the Android 15 developer preview?
Google typically initiates early developer previews on its own devices, and Android 15 follows the same pattern. Currently, you can download Android 15 on the following Google Pixel phones and tablet:
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 8
- Pixel 8 Pro
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
If your device is not on this list, don’t worry. As the year progresses, Android 15 will become available on other phones and tablets. Alternatively, you can use the 64-bit system images with the Android Emulator in Android Studio.
Before you install Android 15, back up your phone
Running pre-release software can make your phone unstable, and data loss may occur. It’s advisable to download and install pre-release software on a device other than your primary Pixel. This precaution is essential as developer previews are in their early stages, often containing bugs and app crashes.
To back up your Pixel device, go to Settings > Google > Backup and tap “Back up now.” Depending on the backup size and available space on Google Drive, a Google One subscription may be necessary.
Next, enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking
To install Android 15 on your Pixel, connect your phone to your computer via USB. This requires your Pixel to be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Unlocking your phone is a straightforward process, but enabling USB debugging involves unlocking Developer options.
(Note: If you’ve flashed a developer preview before, you may be able to update OTA to Android 15. If not, proceed to the next section.)
- Unlock Developer options by going to Settings > About phone > Build number, and tap it seven times. Enter your password when prompted to reveal the Developer options menu.
- Enable USB debugging in Settings > System > Developer options. Toggle on USB debugging, and tap OK in the notification that briefly explains USB debugging’s purpose.
- While still in Developer options, toggle on OEM unlocking. This action unlocks your device’s bootloader, allowing you to choose a different operating system, in this case, Android 15.
Finally, flash Android 15 on your device using Android Flash Tool in Chrome
There are two ways to flash the Android 15 developer preview on your Pixel, but for simplicity, we’ll use the Android Flash Tool, accessible directly from your web browser. This tool works best on Chrome or Edge, and your computer must have 10GB of available storage.
If everything is set up, connect your Pixel to your computer via USB, unlock your device, go to https://flash.android.com/ in Chrome, and follow these steps:
- Allow ADB access in the pop-up (disable ad blockers if needed).
- Click “Add new device,” select your device, and hit “Connect.”
- On your Pixel, check “Always allow from this computer,” then tap “Allow” to grant Android Flash Tool access.
- Back on your computer, click “Developer Preview” under Popular builds.
- Click “Install build” and then hit “Confirm.”