Google announced on August 15, 2022 that it would begin rolling out the Android 13 update to its portfolio of Pixel devices. However, as usual with Android updates, this doesn’t mean that even if you have a qualifying Pixel device (basically a Pixel 4 or newer), you’ll see the update available right away. Google often takes several weeks to deliver the update on all available devices.
While there’s always the solution to using Android’s developer tools, a Mac or PC, and a USB cable to sideload the update immediately, there’s also an easier, computer-free option. If you have a qualifying Pixel device and are tired of seeing the software update screen saying there’s nothing new, here’s a trick to force the update.
Sign up for the Android Beta Program
The first step is to enroll in Google’s Android Beta program, which has given adventurous Pixel owners (and developers) the opportunity to test the new software all summer. But since the final version of Android 13 is out now, you won’t get a beta if you sign up today. It will be the same version of Android that Google is slowly rolling out to everyone.
- Visit the Android Beta program website on any device with a browser (including your phone) and sign in to the same Google account that your phone uses.
- At the top there is a button to ‘view eligible devices’. Tap that and the page will scroll down where you will hopefully see your Pixel phone.
- You can then click the “Sign Up” button to join the beta. A window will appear and you must agree to the terms and conditions of the program and then press Confirm and Enroll.
Install the update
- Now that your phone is enrolled in the beta program, go to the Settings app on your phone, scroll down to System, tap that, then tap System Update. The Android 13 update should appear right away. Tap the button that appears to install it.
Exit the Android Beta Program
- After installing the update (which may take some time depending on your internet connection and how many apps you have installed on your phone), you can go back to the Android Beta website and click the “Sign Out” button on your pictured device to exit. to write the program.
- Google warns that if you are currently running beta software and exit the beta program, an update will be delivered to your phone that will erase the data and make it stable again. But since the version of Android 13 you just installed is stable construction, that will not happen here.
And that’s it; you skipped any queue that Google put you in and are now running the Android 13 software. Note that this will only work until Google releases a new beta, which is expected to happen in September. At that point, if you exit the beta program after installing that build, your phone will be erased and restored to the stable version of Android 13.
We especially noticed that this process is necessary for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones. It seems that if you have a Pixel 4 or 5, the update is more readily available. Keep in mind that there’s no going back once you’ve updated to Android 13 on a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro – there’s no going back to Android 12 in the future.
