Recently, Android 12 launch. Google has dropped for the fourth Android 12 beta, moving into the final phase of software testing. Beta 4 is now available with the new features and changes to try. Beta 4 also marks the Platform Stability milestone, that’s means Android 12 has reached for the final internal and external APIs, final app-facing behaviors or final non-SDK API in lists. 

Android 12 Beta 4 system images are available such as Pixel 3 (XL), Pixel 3a (XL), Pixel 4 (XL), Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5, as well as the Android Emulator. Those for the Beta 4 will see an OTA update over for the next few hours.

For the previous versions, Android 12 such as the behavior changes to help improve performance, security, battery life, and privacy. For many cases, these changes can affect for the apps until they are updated to support Android 12, so they might see impacts ranging from minor issues or very significant limitations. In general, most apps will work as expected, as will most APIs and features. The Android 12 Preview program such as everything you need to test your existing apps for the variety of screen sizes, network technologies, CPU and GPU chipsets or hardware architectures.

In recent, Beta release has everything you need to try for the Android 12 features, test your apps, and give us feedback. For just enroll any supported Pixel device to get the update over-the-air. To get started developing, set up the Android 12 SDK.

Android 12 Beta 4 on devices from many of our partners such as OnePlus, ASUS, Oppo, Sharp, Realme, and ZTE. For even broader testing, you can try for the Android 12 Beta 4 on Android GSI images, and if you do not have a device, you can test on the Android Emulator. Beta 4 is also available for Android TV, so you can check out the new TV features and test your apps on the all-new Google TV experience. Try it out with the ADT-3 developer kit. 

Previous Phases

For developers, the focus on the Developer Preview phase is on API feedback or app compatibility. App compatibility means making sure the latest version for your app looks right and runs well on the new platform.

The Developer Preview provide an early test and development for the environment you can use to try latest APIs, identify compatibility issues in your app, and plan migration and feature work needed to target the new platform. It’s especially important to give us your feedback. You should also expect some API changes with each of these updates.

Beta 1 provide you a more complete or stable environment for building or testing on Android 12, and it’s the first build that deliver to early adopters who are enrolled in the Android Beta program. During the Beta releases period, in early adopters by using your app on Pixel devices, so they can recommend watching for feedback from those customer and releasing compatible updates to address for any issues, without changing the app’s targeting. It’s also better time to begin preparing for changing your app’s targeting later.

For both Beta 2 or Beta 3 you’ll get increasingly complete and stable builds for continuing your testing or development. Beta 3 includes the final APIs or official API 31 SDK.

Starting for the Beta 4, Android 12 will reach Platform Stability, that means the system behaviors and APIs are finalized. This is the time to begin final testing or development to ensure the compatible version for your app will be ready for users at the final release to the ecosystem. Android 12 will provide a standard API level at present.

Stability is focus on the final compatibility testing or releases your updated apps to the users and downstream developers. You can also build with the final APIs or refine for the latest code by using the latest APIs and features. You can plan your work with confidence that the platform and APIs won’t to be change. Stability is also being able to publish apps to devices running Android 12 for the official API level. After Platform Stability, they recommend publishing into the Google Play alpha and beta tracks.

How to get Beta 4

You can install for release of any Pixel such as 3, 3a, 4, 4a, and 5 series device.

If, you are already running for the Developer Preview and Beta build, you will automatically receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to Beta 4. Remember to update your Android 12 SDK and the Android Emulator as well before you continue trying the latest features and changes. The best way to do this is using the SDK Manager in the new preview version for the Android Studio.

What’s new in Beta 4

Google Play services Ad ID

In previously, Google Play services will introduce many changes to Ad ID functionality. When customers opt out of interest-based advertising and ads personalization, their advertising-ID will be removed or replaced with the string of zeros. Also, apps that update their target API level to 31 must declare for the new Google Play services permission in the manifest in order to use advertising ID. The roll out of these changes in Google Play services version 21.30.13 and higher will begin with Android 12 Beta 4 on Pixel and will expand to all apps running on devices that support Google Play in early 2022.

Android 12 Beta 4.1 in 2021 August

If you are already for running the Developer Preview and Beta build, you will automatically receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to Beta 4.1.

This minor update for Android 12 Beta 4 such as:

• Fixed an issue that caused many devices to get stuck in a boot loop after restarting for the device.
• Fixed an issue where, after connecting the phone to the VPN, the phone couldn’t connect for the internet.
• Fixed an issue where heads-up notifications were sometimes not shown, requiring for the customer to swipe into the notification drawer to view them.
• Fixed an issue that prevented for the customers users from granting the Nearby Devices permission to the Phone apps in settings. Customer who are experiencing for the crash loop with the Phone apps when trying to make a call over Bluetooth can now grant the required permission.
• Fixed an issue where the device volume controls sometimes didn’t work when casting.
• Fixed an issue where Face Unlock didn’t work for many devices.