[Google Pixel Update📱] Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 now available!

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should i?

 

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should i?

Better stay on stable first, even though it still has its issues

 

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Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 has arrived for Pixel phones. Google says that this build has reached Platform Stability, meaning that the, “API surface is locked, and the app-facing behaviors are final, so you can incorporate them into your apps and take advantage of our latest platform innovations.”

As for changes, one of the big ones we’re seeing is support for custom app icon shapes. As described, “Android 16 QPR2 allows users to select from a list of icon shapes that apply to all app icons and folder previews.” That’s cool. Also, Health Connect now automatically tracks steps using the device’s sensors, which is also neat. The full list of what’s new is below.

Supported Devices: Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and Pixel Tablet can get in on the Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 action. As you might notice, the Pixel 10 lineup is now supported.

Release date: September 17, 2025
Builds: BP41.250822.010
Emulator support: TBA
Security patch level: 2025-09-05
Google Play services: 25.29.32

What’s new in QPR2 Beta 2​

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This late stage in the development cycle focuses largely on readying the platform for release, but there are still a few new things to cover.

Testing developer verification​

Android developer verification is a new requirement designed to link real-world entities (individuals and organizations) with their Android applications to make it harder for bad actors to spread harm.
Starting in September 2026 and in specific regions, Android will require apps to be registered by verified developers to be installed on certified Android devices, with an exception made for installs made through the Android Debug Bridge (ADB).
As a developer, you are free to install apps without verification with ADB. This is designed to support your need to develop and test apps that are not intended or not yet ready to distribute to the wider consumer population.
For apps that enable user-initiated installation of app packages, Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 contains new APIs that support developer verification during installation, along with a new adb command to let you force a verification outcome for testing purposes.

SMS OTP Protection​

The delivery of messages containing an SMS retriever hash will be delayed for most apps for three hours to help prevent OTP hijacking. Apps can continue to use the SMS retriever API to access messages intended for them in a timely manner.

Custom app icon shapes​

Android 16 QPR2 allows users to select from a list of icon shapes that apply to all app icons and folder previews.

More efficient garbage collection​

The Android Runtime (ART) now includes a Generational Concurrent Mark-Compact (CMC) Garbage Collector in Android 16 QPR2 that focuses collection efforts on newly allocated objects, which are more likely to be garbage. You can expect reduced CPU usage from garbage collection, a smoother user experience with less jank, and improved battery efficiency.

Automatic step tracking and expanded exercise data in Health Connect​

Health Connect now automatically tracks steps using the device’s sensors, and the ExerciseSegment and ExerciseSession data types have been updated.

The OTA for Beta 2 appears to already be live. You can enroll your device for the Android Beta here. Of course, you can go the manual route with OTA files here and factory images here.

// Google

 

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TL;DR

• Google recently released Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 for eligible Pixel devices.
• Now, it appears the tech giant may have pulled the update.
• The reason could be related to bootlooping issues caused by desktop mode.

Yesterday, Google released the third and final beta of Android 16 QPR2 for eligible Pixel devices. This update resolves several issues, such as home screen shortcuts appearing as gray circles, selected themes not being applied on the first attempt, and Google Play System updates failing to install. If you waited on installing Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3, it looks like you’ll have to continue waiting. Google may have pulled the update.

Pixel owners are flocking to Reddit to report that Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 is no longer available. One user mentions that when they checked this morning, the third beta was waiting to be installed. However, they decided to update later in the day because they were on mobile data and didn’t have time. When the user checked 10 hours later, the update was gone. There are several more reports of similar experiences.

As our Editor-at-large, Mishaal Rahman, points out, QPR2 Beta 3 currently has a bug. This issue causes SystemUI to crash when desktop mode is enabled. As a result, you have to turn off “enable desktop experience features” before updating. This can be done by going to Settings > System > Developer options.

The bootlooping issues caused by desktop mode seem to be a big enough problem that Google may have temporarily halted the rollout. Now, if you try to update your phone, you’ll get a message that your phone is up-to-date. It’s unclear when QPR2 Beta 3 will be available again. We have reached out to Google for comment.

 

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TL;DR

• Google recently halted the roll out of Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.
• The update had a bug that caused system UI to crash when desktop mode was enabled.
• Google has confirmed that the rollout will resume this week.

Last week, Google released Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 for eligible Pixel devices. While some users were able to install the update, others were not. That’s because shortly after the company released the update, it appeared the beta was pulled. If you were looking forward to this update, you won’t have to wait that much longer to jump on board.

As a refresher, the third beta of Android 16 QPR2 offers a long list of fixes for issues like Google Play System updates failing to install and poor battery life due to excessive CPU usage by the launcher. You can take a look at the changelog for the other fixes in our article about the release. However, this update also featured a bug that led to bootlooping issues caused by desktop mode.

Not long after the update was released, users discovered that they were no longer able to download and install QPR2 Beta 3. When attempting to search for available updates, users would get a message that their device was up-to-date. Although an announcement was never made, it was clear that the company likely halted the rollout.

After this situation occured, Android Authority reached out to Google for comment. A Google spokesperson has now confirmed to us that Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 will be available again sometime this week.

Unfortunately, the spokesperson did not offer an exact date. So it’s unclear when the update will reappear this week. At least it looks like we won’t have to wait all that long.

 

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Late last week we learned that Google pulled the Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 update for Pixel phones, following the discovery of a bug that would cause a bootloop issue when users had Desktop Mode enabled. Google has now confirmed when it intends to make the update available again.

Confirmed in a statement to Android Authority, Google intends to re-release the update sometime this week, though, an exact date was not given. If we were betting people, we’d say tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday around 10-11am. That’s only a guess.

This update is a good one. It includes many bug fixes that we’ve talked about previously. In total, there are 16 bug fixes inside, so it’s unfortunate that the update itself had a major bug inside. Oh well, it happens.

Once it’s available for download again, we will update you.

Update: The update is now live. Our bet of tomorrow or Wednesday did not pay off. The build is listed as version BP41.250916.010. It should contain all of the aforementioned bug fixes, minus the new bug it introduced. Happy flashing, Pixel owners.

Factory Images | OTA Files​

// Android Authority

 

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