Google has announced the latest Android operating system, the Android N (the name still unknown), in a surprise last week. Generally, the latest version of Android comes out during or just before the Google I/O, which is held in May. Along with this version of Android, Google has also launched a new program called the Android Beta Program, which allows you to test out the latest Android release right on your smartphone without any hassle.
Android Beta program is an initiative by Google to let a lot more people try out their latest Android N, because using the Android Beta program is easy, and hassle free. Using this method, if you update your Nexus device, you’ll keep getting OTA Updates as and when the new version of the developer preview hits Google’s server. Moreover, you will not lose any of your data when upgrading this way.
How To Register for Android Beta Program
In order to register for the Android Beta Program, you’ll obviously need a Nexus device from the supported devices list for the Android N. Next, you’ll have to follow these steps in order to get it working on your smartphone.
- Head over to the Google’ Android Beta Program page by clicking here.
- Sign in with your Google email address that is linked to your Nexus device.
- Scroll down until you see your device, and click where it says “Enroll Device”.
- After you enroll, you will get a confirmation at that page itself stating that your device has been enrolled.
- Now, just wait for a some time, generally a few minutes, but it can sometimes be ever a few hours. After this time, you’ll get a system update on your Nexus device that will upgrade your device to the latest developer preview.
The best part about upgrading your Nexus device using the Developer program is that every time a new developer preview for Android N comes out, you’ll be provided with an OTA update, and you would not have to download the entire system image every time. Also, you will not lose your data when you upgrade via this method.
However, if you want to update your phone manually, by flashing the latest version of the Android on your device, follow the guide that I wrote on how to update to Android N using a Windows PC. If you are using a Mac, only a few things will change in that guide, but the most of them will remain same.
