Android 13 is almost here. To fine-tune the OS, Google releases a beta version for those who want to try it out before anyone else and report any issues they experience. Many people roll into the beta program because of the excitement that comes with trying out a brand new OS update. What they don’t realize is that the beta version still has a lot of issues and may not be an ideal daily driver. This article is for those who updated to Android 13 beta and want to go back to the stable Android 12. Here’s how to downgrade to Android 12 from Android 13 Beta.
Downgrade to Android 12 From Android 13 Beta
The process of downgrading is pretty simple. There are two ways you can do it. One might be easier than the other but nothing too complicated. So, let’s get right to it.
Method 1: Unenroll from Beta program
This is the easiest and the best option to downgrade to Android 12 from Android 13 beta. All you need is a couple of clicks and a couple of minutes. Follow the steps.
Step 1: Go to the Android Open Beta webpage. This page consists of some disclaimers and explanations about the beta program. It also shows all the eligible devices that can get the beta update.
Step 2: You will find your device under “Your eligible devices”. Below the image of your device, you will see a button labeled “Opt out”. Click on it.
Step 3: Clicking the button will open up a warning. Click on the “Leave beta” button.
Step 4: Now, you will get an OTA update shortly on your device. This will remove the Android 13 beta from your device and roll it back to Android 12. It is important to note that this will remove all your data.
Method 2: Flashing Android 12 image
This is still a fairly easy method that takes a little more time than the first method. If you have installed Android 13 beta on an incompatible phone then this is the only way you can roll back to Android 12. Follow the steps.
Step 1: Download and set up Android SDK and Platform tools.
Step 2: Make sure you have the correct image for your device. If you use Pixel, you can get the image here. If you do not have the factory image for your device, a simple Google search will help.
Step 3: On your device, enable developer options and USB debugging. You can do this by going to Settings > About Phone > Taping Build Number 7 times. Then, you have to go back to the main settings page and find Developer Options. You will find USB Debugging inside.
Step 4: Plug in your device to your computer.
Step 5: Open the command prompt and type in “adb devices” without the quotes. This is to check if your device is connected properly. If the see “unauthorized” you need to unlock the bootloader first. The process of unlocking the bootloader is different depending on the device. You will have to do a bit of research on that. It is fairly easy to do though.
For most of the Android devices, all you have to do to unlock the bootloader is:
- Shut down your device.
- Hold the Power button and Volume down button to get into the bootloader menu.
- You will be asked to confirm.
- After the bootloader is unlocked, the device will reboot.
Step 6: Once the device reboots, open cmd and follow Step 5 to make sure the device is properly connected.
Step 6: Type “adb reboot bootloader”.
Step 7: Type “flash-all” to install Android 12 on your device.
