Back in November, Google began the rollout of Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1. These builds are meant for those who want to get a sneak peek of the Android improvements and new features under development. Now, a little later than expected, the OTA that brings devices running Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 to the stable branch is now available.
How does the jump between Android beta and stable work on Pixel phones?
Users of eligible Pixel devices can choose to enroll in the beta program. While that means they’ll get new features sooner, they might also face unexpected bugs or issues that ruin their experience. Google also offers an option to opt out of the beta, which should send you a new OTA that will bring your device to Android’s stable branch.
That said, Google rolled out the Android 15 QPR1 stable update last week, but those users who opted out of the beta still weren’t receiving the OTA. This left them “stuck” on a version they didn’t want to be on. It’s worth noting that there are other ways to move to Android’s stable branch, but they require more knowledge and the potential deletion of all data on your device. Meanwhile, jumping from Android beta to Android stable with the official “opt out” OTA keeps all your data intact.
The OTA that brings Pixels running Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 to the stable branch is available
For those Pixel users running Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1, the wait is finally over. The OTA to safely jump to stable Android is now rolling out. Google hasn’t revealed the reason for the OTA delay, but the important thing is that it’s here.
The update is quite small, as it’s essentially Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 but with in-development features removed and potential bugs fixed. 9to5Google reported a weight of about 10.48 MB on a Google Pixel Fold. Of course, the stable update integrates the December security patch.
The potential reason for the delay
While the reason for the OTA delay remains unknown, a curious theory has emerged. As spotted by redditwallah on Reddit, Google might have messed things up a bit with the Android 15 beta and stable build dates. Apparently, Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 has “2024-11-14 18:34:13” as the build date. On the other hand, Android 15 QPR1 stable has an older build date: “2024-11-11 06:22:07.”
When you try to install software that is older than the current version, it counts as a “downgrade.” Downgrading a system version requires completely wiping the current data. So, the rollout delay could be due to Google working on trying to fix things so that users could upgrade safely.
