Android 16 Beta 4 is ready for your Pixel
Android 16 Beta 4 is here for all supported Pixels, packed with fixes and tweaks.
Beta 4 brings the April 2025 security patch, squashing bugs and critical CVEs.
Key fixes include battery drain, wonky haptics, and radar issues in Pixel Weather.
Factory images are available for manual installs, and OTA updates are rolling out (BP22.250325.007).
Google has rolled out Android 16 Beta 4 to all supported Pixels, and it's the last beta before the big launch next month, loaded with fixes, polish, and broader device support.
The latest update drop didn't really spill much about what's new under the hood. And since we're this close to the stable release—likely lining up with Google I/O in May—it's safe to say we're not expecting any big surprises. This build is probably just about tightening screws, squashing bugs, and making sure everything runs smooth for launch day.
Beta 4 packs the April 2025 security patch, locking down two stealthy bugs and a bunch of other critical CVEs. Google has also dropped the factory images for those who like the manual route, and the OTA rollout is already underway (look for build BP22.250325.007).
Android 16 Beta 4's official notes reveal fixes for some pretty key bugs, such as weird battery drain, glitchy haptics, and radar not working in the Pixel Weather app. It also squashes system stability issues and random launcher crashes some folks were dealing with.
Additionally, a few Pixel users have taken to Reddit to report that the "Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock" option has gone missing after installing the latest Android 16 beta (via Android Police).
If you've got a Pixel, from the 6 series all the way up to the new 9 lineup (including Fold, Tablet, and A models), you're good to go with the Android 16 Beta 4 update.
A big highlight in this release is the first-ever beta build for the freshly launched Pixel 9a, which is now part of the Android Beta Program's device lineup.
Google is sticking to its Q2 2025 launch plan and letting beta testers know they'll get automatic OTA update notifications once it's ready to roll.
Following in the footsteps of OnePlus and Xiaomi, Google is opening up the Android 16 beta to even more brands. Now, iQoo, Lenovo, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Vivo, and Honor devices are also getting in on the pre-release action.
To check if Android 16 Beta 4 is ready for your Pixel, head to Settings > System > Software updates, then tap "System update." From there, hit "Check for updates" to see if it's available.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Amazon's App Store Decision—48 Hours To Delete Your Apps
You have been warned. Amazon has confirmed that 'starting August 20, 2025, you will no longer have access to the Amazon Appstore on your Android device.' That's just 48 hours from now. The retail giant says it will now focus its efforts on its own devices. For anyone who has installed an app from the store, this is a potential security threat and you need to act before the deadline. All apps must be deleted. Per Android Police, 'once no longer supported, apps downloaded via the Amazon Appstore "will not be guaranteed to operate on Android devices." That means no support, which not only risks apps becoming 'highly unstable' but also means any security vulnerabilities will not be patched. While Amazon's advice is to install replacement or replica apps from Google's Play Store, you actually need to do more than that. Any apps you may have installed from Amazon's store need to be deleted. If they remain on your phone in an unsupported state, then it outs your device and your data at risk. Amazon also confirms that 'we will also be discontinuing the Amazon Coins program on August 20, 2025.' Those who have used the store and still have Amazon Coins will see those refunded, albeit details on how and when that will be done seem scarce. Android users should focus on Play Store only for apps, it remains your best bet when it comes to security safeguards and works in tandem with Android's core OS and the Play ecosystem that underpins it. That includes Play Protect, which protects your phone from dangerous apps from any source. It's also worth noting that Google is pushing a wider clampdown in third-party stores with its new Advanced Protection Mode, albeit Amazon would no doubt have been seen as an official store for all phones had it continued longer term.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Australian regulator sues Google over anti-competitive Search deals
(Reuters) -Australia's competition regulator said on Monday it has begun proceedings against Alphabet's Google over its past deals with telecom operators Telstra and Optus for the pre-installation of Google Search on Android mobile phones. Google has cooperated with the regulator, admitted liability and agreed to jointly submit to the Federal Court that it should pay a total penalty of A$55 million ($35.8 million), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said. ($1 = A$1.5349)
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
The H-1B has given me so many opportunities. But even after 12 years, my life in the US feels unstable and temporary because of it.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Surbhi Madan, 30, a senior software engineer at Google. She lives in New York. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her employment and visa details. I came to the US in 2013 to pursue a bachelor's at Brown University. I was inspired by my older brother, who went to the US for his master's and liked the teaching approach. College was a big cultural adjustment, and I wasn't prepared for how cold the East Coast got. Still, I loved building an independent life, finding new hobbies, and meeting people from all over the world. During my four years of college, I didn't think seriously about my long-term future in the US. I interned at Google's New York office one summer and landed a full time offer with the company a semester before I graduated. I kicked off the process for my Optional Practical Training and received my H-1B visa in the lottery on my first try. While the one-third probability of getting picked in the lottery remains the same since I applied in 2017, the job market when I graduated felt better. Companies were hiring and willing to sponsor H-1B applications. I feel like I got really lucky when I compare it to the situation for recent graduates now. Long-term stability I've been with Google for eight years and have grown to become a senior software engineer. I'm in a phase of my life where I'm thinking about long-term stability. I'm looking for leadership roles and have considered a career change. In college, I was a teaching assistant, and I still volunteer for teaching opportunities, especially for women in tech causes. I've thought about pivoting into a teacher career or pursuing teaching opportunities along with a full-time job, but a work visa like the H-1B doesn't allow for either of those options. I enjoy my work, but there is an internal expectation to do well because my performance is the only thing in my hands. I cannot control the economy or the layoffs that have been sweeping tech. I'm not putting down roots I've been living in the US for 12 years. My challenges feel very different from my friends who are US citizens. I have friends involved in activities like bike lane advocacy in New York. I refrain from volunteering because it means contacting my immigration lawyer to make sure it's safe to get involved. I'm anxious about making mistakes when I drive or file taxes because I don't want anything to threaten my stay in the country. Because of the visa, my life in the US feels temporary. I have friends who are buying apartments. I find it hard to put down permanent roots. I have an option to renew my apartment lease for one or two years, and I always choose one year because I never know how long I'll be allowed to live in the US. One time, I was returning to the US after traveling abroad. At immigration, a US border officer asked me about the purpose of my visit, to which I replied, "I live here." I remember him saying, "You don't live here; you work here," which left a mark on me. I remember thinking: "It's true." My visa has become a consideration in my family planning, too. I'm 30, and I have been looking into egg freezing as an option. While researching the process, I thought about what would happen if I no longer had working rights in the US and wanted to retrieve the eggs. I had this vision of rolling into the US on a tourist visa with a suitcase to pick up my eggs, and I thought: "It's not worth it." I also can't imagine having a person depend on me while I'm on a temporary status tied to having a job. Once a year, I sit down and have a check-in with myself. I take into account the last few years, and the anxiety I feel about the future, and ask myself if this is still worth it. The answer has been yes — so far. On the days I feel anxious, I try to refocus on the things in my control. I also have a decent financial cushion by now, which is another benefit of working in tech in the US for eight years. here.
