The Canary Channel for Android Lets You Try New Features Before Anyone Else
Most of us use our devices the way companies and developers intended, waiting for the latest version of the operating system to be released before upgrading. There’s nothing wrong with that: the features built into an OS like Android are generally thoroughly vetted and tested, so they’ll (hopefully) work as intended.
But not all users view their tech this way. Some of us prefer to run betas—unfinished versions of software. Betas allow developers (or just the curious) to test new features and changes on a small group of users to iron out any bugs and glitches before they go live. They’re not necessarily the safest software to use on your devices—since they’re unfinished, you risk instability and data loss—but they can be a good way to add some flair (and functionality) to your otherwise standard tech.
But betas aren’t the only way to try out new features early. Depending on the company that made your device, betas may actually be a staging area between testing and releasing the software. You may hear pre-betas referred to as “alpha” or “canary”: essentially, this means that the software has just left the development stage and is in the earliest stages of testing. In short, being on the cutting edge of software development means taking on the greatest risks of instability.
The Android Canary release channel gives you the earliest access
If you have an Android device, this early stage of testing is known as the Canary release channel. It’s a fairly new option, at least at the time of writing, as Android only announced it on July 10 . It’s intended for developers who want to test their apps on future versions of Android early.
Technically, the Canary release channel replaces another early access model: Developer Preview . Like the Canary release channel, Developer Previews were designed for developers (though anyone with the know-how could install them) to access the earliest versions of new Android features. However, there were some significant changes. Developer Previews didn’t have a release channel, which meant that you had to manually “flash” the software every time a new Android release cycle began. Additionally, once a beta version of Android was released for a given version of the software, Developer Previews were no longer available.
The Canary release channel changes that. Once you install the Canary version of Android, you’ll be able to install updates like any other software, via over-the-air (OTA) updates. But even though Android makes it easy, that doesn’t mean you should try it.
Is it safe to use the Canary release channel?
There’s a reason Android only offers the Canary channel to developers: it’s early software that hasn’t gone through the rigorous testing you might be accustomed to as an end user. It hasn’t even gone through the initial debugging that beta testers are accustomed to. It’s practically new software, with only a short period of testing with internal users, and it may contain issues that are not only annoying but also make it difficult or impossible to use Android. Android specifically warns that this software isn’t meant for your primary device.
If you’re willing to take these risks, you’ll have more options. The benefit of the Canary channel is not only the ability to try out new features, but also the ability to make changes that may not even make it into the official Android build. But that comes with significant risks. If you want to test features early while minimizing some (but not all) of these risks, the beta version may be a better fit for you.
Whether you decide to use the Canary channel or sign up for the beta program, make sure your data is stored in a safe place. If something goes wrong with your unfinished program, you’ll need to make sure your photos, messages, and other important data are secure.
How to Launch the Canary Channel on Your Pixel
First, make sure you have Developer Options enabled on your Pixel. To enable it, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number seven times. Then go to System > Developer Options and enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging .
Now connect your Pixel to your computer and open the Android Flash Tool . Click Get Started and select Allow ADB access when prompted. Then click Add New Device , select your Pixel from the list and click Connect . On the Pixel, select Always allow from this computer and click OK . Select your device in the browser and find the latest Canary version in the Flash Tool. Once flashed, click Install . Wait for the Flash Complete message – after that, you can safely disconnect your device.