You Need to Update Your Pixel Immediately
The December 2021 security patch is now rolling out to select Pixel phones running Android 12. Monthly security patches may not be as exciting as the Pixel Drop updates that add new features to your phone, but it’s still important to get them installed as soon as possible. because they fix security holes, hackers can take advantage of them.
This month’s patch seems particularly important: over 100 bug fixes and stability improvements, and 87 security fixes for Android 12, including a fix for a flaw that could allow hackers to remotely execute code on your device using managed media files that hide malware. The patch also fixes 49 additional vulnerabilities specific to Pixel devices.
How to install Android Security Patch 12 December 2021
While the patch will eventually hit all Pixel devices running Android 12, the exact timeline for each model varies.
The patch started rolling out to most Pixel phones yesterday, including:
- Pixel 3a and 3a XL
- Pixel 4 and 4 XL
- Pixel 4a and 4a 5G
- Pixel 5
- Pixel 5a
However, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices will receive the patch starting next week, along with the December 2021 update and new Pixel Feature Drop exclusives.
If you’ve already installed the December 2021 Pixel Feature Drop update, chances are you already have Android 12 security patch installed.
To check if this patch is available to you, go to Settings> System> System Update. If you don’t want to wait for the update to come online, these fixes can also be manually applied by downloading an unpublished OTA update file .
Alternatively, you can install the update using the factory image files available on the Google Developers page . This method will overwrite all your current files, so be sure to back up your Pixel data first and then follow our guide to install a ROM image on your Android phone .
[ 9to5Google ]