Having released two developer previews of Android 13, Google is now rolling out the first Android 13 beta for eligible Pixel phones ahead of Google I/O 2022. If you have a supported Pixel phone, you can try out the upcoming Android 13 in the beta channel right now. In this article, we have detailed the steps involved to install the first Android 13 beta on your Pixel phone.

Android 13 Eligible Pixel Phones

The following Pixel phones will receive the Android 13 update directly from Google. This time around, Google is dropping support for Pixel 3a and 3a XL. Check out the complete list of supported Android 13 Pixel devices below:

  • Android 13 Eligible Pixel PhonesInstall Android 13 Beta Using Android Beta ProgramSideload Android 13 Beta OTA ImageInstall Android 13 Beta Using Android Flash ToolInstall Android 13 Beta Factory ImageWhat’s the Easiest Way to Install Android 13 Beta?

Install Android 13 Beta Using Android Beta Program

Unlike Android 13 developer preview builds, Google offers an official OTA program for beta releases. This way, you can opt in to enroll in the beta program and get new beta updates as soon as they are released. Follow the steps below to enroll in Android 13 Beta OTA program.

  1. After enrolling in the beta program, wait for a few minutes for the OTA to reach your Pixel phone. You can manually check for updates from Settings -> System -> System Update.

  2. Once the update arrives, download it and wait for the installation process to complete. Restart the phone after the update to start using Android 13 beta on your Pixel phone.

Sideload Android 13 Beta OTA Image

In case you prefer manually installing the OTA image instead of signing up for the official OTA, you can do that too. It’s worth pointing out that sideloading the OTA image doesn’t wipe your phone. Furthermore, you don’t have to unlock your bootloader to install the OTA image, making this a convenient method to install the Android 13 beta.

adb reboot recovery

  • You will now see the “No command” screen with the Android logo. Press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons for a moment and release the Volume Up button followed by the Power button to completely enter recovery mode. Once the phone reboots to recovery mode, choose the “Apply Update from ADB” option. You can use the volume buttons for moving up and down and the power button to make a selection in recovery mode.

  • To start the installation process, use the following ADB command on your PC. Here, refers to the Android 13 beta OTA image you downloaded earlier. For the sake of simplicity, you could rename the zip file to “update” or “Android 13”, although pasting the file name directly works just fine too.

adb sideload .zip

After the installation process ends, choose “Reboot system now” to restart your Pixel. Your phone should now boot to Android 13 beta and you can pick up right where you left off.

Another method to install the Android 13 beta is using the Android Flash Tool. To get started, check if you have enabled USB Debugging and OEM unlocking on your phone from Settings -> Developer Options. Once that’s done, follow the steps below:

  • Connect your Pixel phone to your PC. If you are on Windows, you might need to download and install Google USB Drivers. Up next, visit Android Flash Tool’s website and click on “Get Started”.

  • You will now see a pop-up that urges you to allow access to ADB keys. Click on “Allow ADB access” and authorize the USB debugging prompt from your Pixel phone.

  • Click on “Add new device” to link your Pixel phone to the Flash Tool.

  • A prompt will now appear in your browser’s top-left corner. Pick your Pixel phone and click on “Connect” to connect your device.

  • Choose “Android 13 Beta 1” as the target build from the list of available builds. While it’s not showing Android 13 Beta 1 in the screenshot below since the device is already on Beta 1, you will see the Beta 1 listing on your end.

  • By default, Android Flash Tool wipes your phone and relocks your bootloader. Tapping the pencil icon next to the build number offers you the option to tweak the settings. Finally, click on “Install build” to start the installation process.

  • If everything goes well, you will see the “Install Complete. The build has been successfully installed. It is now safe to unplug your device” message in the Flash Tool. Your phone should now be running Android 13 Beta.

Install Android 13 Beta Factory Image

Installing Android 13 beta using a factory image is also a possibility you could consider. This method is ideal for those who are using a Pixel device with an unlocked bootloader. After ensuring that you have enabled USB debugging, use the steps below for installing Android 13 from a factory image:

  • Open a Command Prompt window in the ADB installation folder and use the following command to reboot to fastboot mode.

adb reboot bootloader

  • Double-click on ‘flash-all.bat’ if you’re on Windows or run the command ‘flash-all’ if you are on macOS or Linux to start installing the Android 13 factory image. After the installation process is complete, your phone will boot into Android 13 beta.

What’s the Easiest Way to Install Android 13 Beta?

The easiest way to install the Android 13 beta is through the Beta OTA program. Sign up for the program and you will receive the build in a while. If you are someone who’s comfortable with ADB commands, sideloading the OTA image is the next best method. While the initial setup might take a few minutes, installing the build is as easy as running a simple ADB command.