How to install Android 11 on your Pixel phone

The final version of Android 11 is here! Currently, the update is rolling out to all Pixel phones except the original Pixel and Pixel XL.

For most users, the easiest and most practical way to install Android 11 is to just wait for an OTA update that we can confirm that for some users it has already been rolled out. You can check for updates by going to Settings> System> System Update. Your phone will take you to a new window with the “Check for Updates” button. However, some may want to update manually.

For most users, it’s probably better not to update manually, but there are reasons why you might want to wipe everything clean – for example, if your phone has already had software problems or you’ve got it with your phone and just a lot of bloat you want start over. If that sounds like you, read on for a guide on how to install Android 11.

Here is what you need to get started

• A compatible Pixel device (Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, or Pixel 4a) and a USB cable to connect to your computer.
• The Android SDK installed on your computer with ADB and Fastboot command works successfully – read the tutorial here.

Now for the actual steps.

Download the correct files

You need to download the correct file for your device before you begin. We recommend using OTA images over factory images as the process is simpler and you can keep old files if you are interested.

Click here to get the OTA image for your particular Pixel device. It is also possible to use the full factory images (here). However, this requires additional frameworks like unlocking your bootloader and more. If you want to keep things simple we recommend loading the OTA from the side, and we’ve designed our instructions below for this type of installation.

Prepare your phone

Once you’ve installed the file, you’ll need to restart your phone in recovery mode in order to apply the OTA.

1. First turn off your phone.
2. Next, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time.
3. The bootloader menu is now displayed. Use the volume keys to scroll into recovery mode.
4. Select the recovery mode by clicking the power button.
5. You get an android robot with an exclamation mark. Now press the power button and the volume up button for about a second.
6. When you let go of the volume up button, you will be fully restored.
7. Next, press the volume buttons and scroll down to “Apply update from ABD”. Press the power button to select the option.
8. At last, you’ll see a blank screen that tells you how to load an OTA from the page.

Prepare your PC

Now that your phone is ready, it’s time to do the magic.

1. Connect your handset to your PC using a USB cable. Remember, you need to have ADB tools installed on your PC.
2. Enter the command prompt on Windows. On Linux or Mac, you want to use Terminal. For Windows users: Make sure you navigate to the location where you save the folder.
3. Next you need to enter adb sideload for Windows or ./adb sideload for Mac / Linux.
4. Now you want to enter the name of the ZIP folder from before. Hit enter.
5. Once the process is complete, your phone will go back into recovery mode and you can remove the USB cable.
6. Use the volume keys to go to Restart Now and press the power button.

That’s it. If everything was OK, restart the Android 11 beta now.

Next: Android 11 at your fingertips