Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 arrives for Pixel testers — with a notable omission

For Android super-fans interested in testing Google’s latest features ahead of anyone else, Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) betas offer an early look at what’s coming next. We’re used to a roughly two-week cadence on these, and following the late-August release of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4, we saw Beta 5 arrive just last week. Now Google’s already got a new version for us to check out, with the earlier-than-expected release of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.

According to Google, the big fixes in this new version include:

• A visual regression causing letterboxed content to leak through the status bar during activity transitions. (Issue #493438057)
• The screensaver displays a blank screen while charging. (Issue #516262713, Issue #526560397)
• Unexpected device reboots on Pixel 9 Pro Fold when initializing the camera viewfinder in third-party applications. (Issue #555960820, Issue #558564487, Issue #554763027, Issue #559421409)
• Locked applications could not be dismissed using swipe gestures in Recents. (Issue #555579953)
• A system kernel crash causing devices to unexpectedly reboot when third-party applications requested simultaneous camera and microphone access during biometric identity verification. (Issue #557712189)
• An issue that caused device crashes, reboots, or hangs when scrolling. (Issue #559054323)

Curiously, while Beta 5 first was the first QPR2 release supporting Pixel 11 models, today’s build stops at the Pixel 10 series. Over on the Reddit thread where Google shares the news, the company’s Mishaal Rahman assures us that this won’t be the case for long:

Builds for the Pixel 11 are coming, stay tuned!

For now, though, everyone else can go ahead and install build CP41.260831.007 on their Pixel device.

If you haven’t started testing Android 17 QPR2 yet and would like to get involved, make sure you back up all your data first (don’t say we didn’t warn you!) and then register your device for Google’s Android Beta for Pixel program.

We’ll start cracking into this release presently, and update you with any new features we’re able to spot.