Google releases second beta of Android 17 QPR1 for Pixel devices

Google is apparently stepping on the gas with Android development. The update to Android 17 seems to be ready, so developers can already concentrate on the first update for Android 17 – QPR1 (Quarterly Platform Release), which is expected in September as a “Pixel Drop.” The first beta version of the QPR1 update was released on April 22nd; now Google is already presenting Beta 2 with build number CP31.260423.012.A1.

Small update so far

According to the changelog, Beta 2 primarily provides bug fixes and no new features. However, the first QPR1 beta already contained no user-facing changes; these might only be included in a later version. In contrast to “Developer Previews” (nowadays Canaries) and betas for unreleased main versions of Android, Google considers these QPR beta builds suitable for general use.

“Building on the first release of Android 17, we continue to update the platform with bug fixes and improvements that will be rolled out to supported devices,” Google describes the upcoming QPR version. The update is to be delivered to both AOSP and Google Pixel devices as part of feature drops. It should be noted restrictively that Google reduced the release cycle in AOSP from four to two per year at the beginning of 2026.

Bug fixes

As Google writes on the Android Developer website, QPR1 Beta 2 fixes, among other things, a problem “where the Terminal app fails to launch, resulting in an unresolvable error pop-up and infinite loading.”

Likewise, Google has fixed a display issue with Beta 2 “where date and weather information overlapped the fingerprint sensor area on the lock screen.”

Furthermore, Google has fixed a display issue with the mobile signal strength. This was “incorrectly displayed as empty or grayed out” “despite an active connection.” Users could therefore not correctly assess the signal strength.

The QPR1 Beta 2 also resolves a problem with the user interface that “caused visual instability or glitches when moving apps in the recent items screen.”

Likewise, it should now be possible again to switch between recently used apps by swiping on the navigation bar. Furthermore, the update fixes “a bug in the F2FS file system that could result in data corruption or unexpected system instability.” According to the Google changelog, Beta 2 also eliminates a bug where the Bluetooth tethering button was reset to “Off” after a device restart, as well as a problem that mistakenly disconnected a participant from a running conference call when ending a call via an infotainment system.

The update is available for all models from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Pixel foldables, the Pixel Tablet, and for the Android emulator. Curious users can install the QPR beta on their devices via OTA update after registering for it in the Android Beta Program. Those who prefer to wait for the stable Android 17 version, which should be released within the next four weeks, should stay away from the beta.

(afl)