Android Q Beta 4 bricks some Pixel phones

Some Pixel owners who have installed the Android Q Beta 4 update that was released today are discovering an issue that Google didn't intend to be included with the latest beta version of the next Android build. According to several Reddit posters (via Android Police), the new update has bricked their Pixel phone by putting it into a bootloop. While many with the problem happen to be sporting a Pixel 2 XL, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are also affected.

No one likes to have their phone stuck in a bootloop. Earlier this year, Google and Huawei came to an agreement with Nexus 6P owners whose devices were also stuck in a continuous bootloop. Under terms of the settlement, the pair paid out $9.75 million that every single Nexus 6P owner in the U.S. was entitled to split. The same problem afflicted owners of the LG made Nexus 5X. Back in 2016, LG offered full refunds to owners of the device who were unable to use the phone because of the bootloop problem.

But there actually is a fix for Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 3 users whose phones are affected by this issue, but it involves two words that smartphone users just can't stand to hear: factory reset. Of course, this means that fixing this issue means losing all of the data saved on the phone. Hopefully, some of those forced to wipe their phone backed up their data before installing Android Q Beta 4. However, another Reddit poster wrote that a factory reset is not necessary. Instead, those with a bootlooping Pixel should "restart and go to recovery mode (and if you get no command, hold the power button and press the volume up key). Reboot the phone from that menu, and it'll boot back into the system perfectly (although the update did fail, you'll have to retry)."

If you own any of the Pixel models and plan on installing the latest beta version of Android Q, it might be worthwhile to back up your data just in case. Also keep in mind that if you currently have your phone in the Android Q Beta Program, you have one of two choices right now. You can stay until the final stable version of Android Q is released later this year, or you can decide to opt out by going to this website and, well, opting out. However, doing this will wipe the data off of your phone. Ouch. Maybe it is just a lesson to be learned for another time.

If you're the adventurous type, you can head to the same website linked in the preceding paragraph (google.com/android/beta) and click on the box marked "View your eligible devices. From there, you will be able to see which of your Android phones can join the Android Q Beta Program from the latter website. Right now, that would be all Pixel handsets from the OG Pixel line to the new Pixel 3a series. But we wouldn't recommend that this be done with your daily driver, Beta versions of Android often have a number of issues and bugs that could prevent you from using certain features that you take for granted. Your best bet is to wait for the stable, final version to be disseminated later this year.

Other Android phones can join the Android Q Beta Program. The list includes:

If you have one of these Android phones, you can join the Android Q Beta Program by clicking on this link.