How to Sideload Android 12 DP1 on the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL, Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL, Google Pixel 4a and 4a 5G, and the Google Pixel 5.
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Requirements:
ADB & Fastboot Tools –
Google Pixel Fastboot Mode Tutorial –
Android 12 Developer Preview Firmware Download –
1. Intro [00:00]
2. Download the firmware and tools (if needed)
3. Boot the Google Pixel smartphone into Fastboot Mode [01:33]
4. Then select the “Recovery Mode” option [02:02]
5. Connect the phone to the PC with a USB cable
6. Select the “Apply Update from ADB” option
7. Open up a Command Prompt, Terminal, or Windows PowerShell in the same folder as your ADB & Fastboot tools [02:49]
8. Copy or move the firmware file to the same folder
9. Then execute the ADB sideload command [03:30]
10. Wait for the Android 12 Developer Preview firmware to be flashed to the Google Pixel [06:59]
11. Then select the “Reboot System Now” option in Recovery Mode [10:16]
12. And wait for the Pixel to boot into the newly installed Android 12 [11:53]
Google has officially released the 1st Android 12 Developer Preview for its more recent Pixel smartphones. This includes the entire Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and Pixel 5 series as well as its “a” and “XL” variants too.
Since these are official OTA updates, we can simply use the official sideload feature that has been built into Android for years. This should not require an unlocked bootloader (let me know in the comments if I’m incorrect) nor does it require root access.
I do want to warn people though. This is an early build meant for developers who want to get their apps and games ready for the next big update. This isn’t even considered an Android beta release. It really is that early in the development cycle.
You will need to have ADB & Fastboot tools installed. Along with the Android 12 firmware that matches your device (links are at the top).
When you’re ready, go ahead and boot your Google Pixel smartphone into Fastboot Mode so that you can boot over into Recovery Mode. This is required for us to get the phone ready to accept the sideload command.
You can then connect the phone to the PC with a USB cable and highlight the “Sideload OTA over USB” option. Press the Power button to select this option.
You also want to have the newly downloaded firmware in the same folder as your ADB & Fastboot tools. Go ahead and open up a Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, or a Terminal in this same folder too.
The command you want to execute is as follows. . .
adb sideload [firmware_name]
in my video example, the full command was. . .
adb sideload sunfish-ota-spp1.210122.020.a3-8d1f270e.zip
because that was the filename for the Google Pixel 4a Android 12 Developer Preview build. This may be different for you. Just be aware that you can rename this file anything you want (ota.zip, for example) to make the adb sideload command easier to type out (entirely optional).
After you run that command just wait for the magic to happen. This can take a few minutes to complete. Make sure you do not disrupt the USB cable connection while we sideload the Android 12 update.
If everything goes smoothly, you shouldn’t see any errors and your phone should switch back over to the Recovery Mode main menu. Make sure the “Reboot System Now” option is highlighted and press the Power button to select it.
It will take a bit of time to boot back into Android. But this will be your first boot into the Android 12 Developer Preview Pixel update. Once you’re done, have fun with the new features.
