Google has released Beta 3 of Android 16 QPR2 on compatible Pixels

Yesterday evening (Wednesday 15 October), Google released the Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3third (and probably last) act of what will be the second quarterly update of Android 16.

Unlike what happened with previous versions of the operating system, this second intermediate update will bring with it a minor renewal of the SDK and API, in addition to the (usual) new features. Let’s find out the release notes for this Beta 3 and how to install it on a supported Pixel.

Android 16 QPR2: Beta 3 arrives on Pixels

Four weeks after the previous Beta 2, Google returns to deal with second intermediate development cycle of the latest version of the green robot’s operating system, releasing it to registered users Beta Program of Android, the new one Beta 3 Of Android 16 QPR2the third (and potentially final) step of the development cycle.

During this development cycle, which will culminate with the stable release expected in December 2025, users in possession of a compatible Pixel smartphone are experiencing first-hand the new features that will constitute the fourth Pixel Drops of 2025, as well as the second update of the functionality of Android 16, but also many new features related to the nature of this update which brings with it changes to some APIs and (in part) also to the Software Development Kit (SDK).

In any case, the new build distributed by Big G is the BP41.250916.009.A1 (with security patches updated in October 2025, the same ones released last October 8 in the stable channel on all supported Pixels), and has a weight of 535 MB on Google Pixel 8 Pro (coming from the previous Beta 2).

The release notes

Below we report the release notes that accompany the second preview version of the second intermediate development cycle of Android 16. As usual, there may be room for other news which we will talk about in another dedicated article.

Hello Beta users, today we send you Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 (BP41.250916.009 for Pixel 6/Pro/a and BP41.250916.009.A1 for all other devices).

Includes fixes to the following issues:

• Google Play System Updates were not installing for some users. (Issue #420748298, Issue #438257102)
• Home screen shortcuts appeared as empty gray circles. (Issue #440302367)
• The Google Wallet icon on the lock screen could sometimes appear incorrectly colored. (Issue #419061603, Issue #434489536)
• The battery charged up to 100% even when adaptive charging was active. (Issue #445583926)
• The swipe up from bottom gesture occasionally stopped working. (Issue #436632152, Issue #445023211)
• The selected theme may not be applied on the first try. (Issue #440830741)
• 50MP images captured with the ultra-wide or telephoto lens showed rainbow-shaped artifacts. (Issue #422058430, Issue #443250512)
• Insufficient battery life due to excessive CPU usage by the launcher, especially on foldable devices. (Issue #441741448)
• Calls could incorrectly route Bluetooth audio. (Issue #448580013, Issue #448580779)
• Users in New Zealand could not access all 6GHz Wi-Fi networks. (Issue #444050891)
• The Terminal app crashed if you changed the font size of the device’s user interface while it was open. (Issue #412082408)
• Users could not type special characters such as ‘*’,’@’ or $text{‘#’}$ in the GUI terminal. (Issue #444130818)
• Swiping the lock screen widgets and notification shade simultaneously resulted in glitchy animations and a slow, unresponsive UI. (Issue #446133358)
• The screen sometimes became unresponsive or frozen when unlocking the device.
• Display freezes and screen noise.
• Device crashes and unexpected restarts.

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Which Pixels support Android 16 QPR2?

In addition to Google Pixel smartphones and tablets which were already supported previously, the latest addition to the tenth anniversary Pixel range is also added to the list (i.e. the foldable model released a few days ago). Here is the complete list:

• Google Pixel 6 (Oriole)
• Google Pixel 6 Pro (Raven)
• Google Pixel 6a (Bluejay)
• Google Pixel 7 (Panther)
• Google Pixel 7 Pro (Cheetah)
• Google Pixel 7a (Lynx)
• Google Pixel Fold (Felix)
• Google Pixel Tablet (Tangopro)
• Google Pixel 8 (Shiba)
• Google Pixel 8 Pro (Huskies)
• Google Pixel 8a (Akita)
• Google Pixel 9 (Tokay)
• Google Pixel 9 Pro (Caiman)
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Komodo)
• Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Comet)
• Google Pixel 9a (Tegu)
• Google Pixel 10 (Frankel)
• Google Pixel 10 Pro (Blazer)
• Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (Mustang)
• Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold (Rank)

How to install Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3

To register one of the compatible Pixels so you can receive the Beta 3 Of Android 16 QPR2just visit the page dedicated to the program Android Beta (reachable via this link), reach the “Your eligible devices“, click on “Record” and accept the terms and conditions to participate in the program.

In this way, the registered smartphone will receive the Beta 3 Of Android 16 QPR2 as if it were a normal update via OTA, installable via the path “Settings > System > System UpdateThose who already perform the previous one Beta 2 they will receive the new one Beta 3 of Android 16 QPR2 as if it were any system update.

Is it possible to exit the beta program without losing data?

In case you are already running Beta 2 but have had enough of the Beta program and want to breathe air of stabilityyou will meet the loss of all data on your device (as required by the Android Beta program guidelines), because the smartphone will download and install a “downgrade” package via OTA which brings the device back to the latest stable version available (in this case, the stable version of Android 16 QPR1).

The first useful window for abandoning the program, at this point, will fall in November 2025, the moment immediately before the release in stable form of Android 16 QPR2 and at the start of the development cycle that will lead us to the next quarterly version of Android 16 (i.e. Android 16 QPR3, expected in stable form in March 2026).