How to install Android 15 developer preview now

The first developer preview of Android 15 is here. If you want to try out new software, especially new Android versions, let’s take a look at how to install Android 15 Developer Preview 1 on your Pixel right away. There aren’t many changes, but it should pave the way for future feature releases.

Android 15 compatible devices

Developer previews are Pixel-only and can only be installed on supported Pixel devices. You can install Android 15 DP1 if you have one of the following devices:

• pixel 6/6 pro
• pixel 7/7 pro
• pixel fold
• pixel tablet
• pixel 8/8 pro
• pixel 6a
• pixel 7a

Per Google’s update policy, Pixel 5a does not support Android 15. The device has already received three major Android updates since it launched with Android 11.

Prerequisites for installing Android 15 developer preview

If you have a compatible device, here’s everything you need to download and install the Android 15 Developer Preview.

1.USB driver

To enable your device to connect with your PC, you must use a USB driver to establish the proper connection. Android USB drivers are automatically installed as soon as you connect your phone, but in rare cases they may not install correctly.

To install manually, simply navigate to a specific location on your PC and double-click the driver to install it. For more information, see this guide from Google.

2.Enable USB Debugging

Now that your device can connect to your PC, you need to make sure it has permission to access Android’s internals. To do this, enable USB debugging in developer options. In our dedicated guide on how to install ADB on Windows and Mac, we briefly explained how to enable developer options and USB debugging.

3. Chromium-based browser

The easiest way to install Android 15 DP1 is to use Google’s Android Flash tool in your browser. You need to make sure your browser is Chromium-based, such as Google Chrome, Brave, Opera, or Microsoft Edge. Here are some of the best browsers for Windows. Firefox is not supported (come on Google, much to my disappointment).

4. Stable internet connection

Since the device flashes in real time, a faster and more stable internet connection is essential. The entire process may require 2-2.5 GB of data to complete. The faster your internet speed, the faster the installation will complete.

Get a USB Type-C cable and connect it to your Pixel, then connect it to your PC. Once completed, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Android Flash Tool website and click “Allow ADB Access” as soon as the pop-up appears.

2. Once done, scroll down and click Add New Device.

3. If your device is connected with USB debugging enabled, it will appear in the list of devices.

4. Check on your Android device if you see the “Allow USB Debugging” prompt by clicking on the name of your device. Tap “Allow”.

5. Your device is now connected and ready to receive and install the Android 15 DP build.

6. Select Android 15 DP1 from the Popular Builds section and click Verify.

7. Finally, click Confirm, then click Agree. Installation will begin.

8. If you are using the stable version, installing Android 15 DP1 will factory reset your device. Therefore, we recommend that you back up your data before starting.

9. During the flashing process, a web page will ask you to click the Volume Down button on your Pixel to unlock the bootloader. Press the button to continue processing.

10. Wait for a while and it will be ready. Android 15 Developer Preview 1 is now installed on your Pixel.

Install Android 15 DP1 using factory image (requires factory reset)

1. Go to the Android 15 download page and download the Android 15 DP1 build for your device.

2. Consider that you have ADB and USB debugging Once you’re ready, connect your Pixel to your PC via USB.Make sure this is also enabled OEM unlocked.

3. Open a command prompt and type the following command to access the device’s bootloader.

adb reboot bootloader

4. Unlock your Pixel’s bootloader using the following command: Your files and data will be erased, so make sure you have backed them up first.

fastboot flashing unlock

Note

Although this process does not require you to unlock the bootloader first, early installation reports suggest that Android 15 DP1 is a soft brick device. Therefore, we recommend unlocking and wiping your Pixel to avoid bricking and to help you get back to a stable state if something goes wrong.

4. Once done, re-enable USB debugging and restart the bootloader. The next step is to unzip the downloaded build and double-click the “flash-all.bat” file or “flash-all.sh” file if you are using Linux.

5. This will start the flash process. If everything goes well, you should be launching Android 15 DP1 soon.

6. You can also save the data by removing the “-w” option in the script, but this is not recommended.

Although you can manually install Android 15 Developer Preview 1 using ADB and the Platform Tools SDK, we do not recommend doing so unless you know what you are doing. We recommend using the same method as mentioned above as it is the easiest.

What do you think about Android 15? Which features would you like to see the same in the future? Let us know in the comments section below.