How to Install Android 14

Just after the release, Google released the Pixel Feature Drop. When it comes to installing Android 14, there are three primary ways through which users can install it: manually, assisted, and OTA. For advanced users, sideloading Android 14 is advised.

First, let’s consider the advanced method. We do recommend waiting for the OTA update for your device, which doesn’t require a factory reset and makes the whole process much easier to upgrade from Android 13 to Android 14. In case you want to roll back, you will need to factory reset. This is also the easiest method of all.

The sideload method of installation includes manual and assisted, but for these, you need to unlock your device’s bootloader. Also, with this method, you will need to factory reset to receive future updates. In the future, you will also receive updates automatically as an OTA update.

Click here to download Android 13 QPR1. This page contains OTA downloads for sideloading different updates associated with your device. Please note that you won’t be able to install it on the original Google Pixel 2/XL, Pixel 3/XL, Pixel 3a/XL, Pixel 4/XL, Pixel 4a, or Pixel 4a 5G.

Pre-Requirements for Installing Android 14

Before expecting the OTA update, you need to fulfil these requirements to get started with installing Android 14.

Users need to run the latest version of a Chrome-based browser.
You should have active internet connectivity. This should be reliable.
USB cable for connecting your Android device to a computer Prefer to use an original USB cable.

After ensuring you have fulfilled these requirements, you can start proceeding with Android 14. You can also download the full factory image listed below and install it via the New Android Flash Tool portal, then sign in with the Google account associated with your Pixel phone.

Installation Method for Android 14

As we have already mentioned, users are required to unlock the bootloader, and this will also erase the device’s data.

Start by ensuring that you have the right driver. For Google Pixel devices, check the company’s page. You can’t skip the driver because if there isn’t a Pixel driver, then flashing will not work.
Connect your device to your computer via a USB cable, and then enable developer mode.
To enable Developer Mode: First, you need to enable Developer Mode by navigating to Device Settings > About Phone > Tap x7 Build Number, and then navigate to Device Settings > System > Developer Options to get access.

Next, you need to enable unlocking and USB debugging from Developer Options.
Now, download the Android Flash Tool to install Android 14, and then choose Android 14. However, please check whether your device supports x64 or x32 accordingly, and then it should say “Signed”.
After that, you have to follow the instructions, and then follow the on-screen instructions to start flashing your device to Android 14.

Ways to Sideload Android 14 Using the Manual Method

There are two primary ways to sideload Android 14 with the following instructions:

Sideloading the Android 14 OTA package via ADB and Recovery: This is one of the most recommended ways to sideload devices without the bootloader being unlocked. It also doesn’t require users to delete the data when they move from Android 13 to Android 14, but this isn’t advised for Android 13 to Android 14.
Sideloading Android 14 via Fastboot: For this, your device requires unlocking the bootloader, and this is recommended when you are upgrading your device from Android 13 to Android 14. Do note that it will wipe your entire data, but there is an option through which you can prevent the data wipe while upgrading.

Pre-Requirements for Sideloading Android 14 on Your Device

After that, follow the on-screen instructions. Then, you need to enable USB debugging (ADB access) and OEM unlocking before flashing on Android stable. Flashing a factory image or flashing an OTA from Android 13 is another way to upgrade.

Download ADB on the computer, which goes through the process of installing Fastboot, which is a part of Android SDK Platform Tools alongside ADB.
Next, enable USB debugging. To do this, open Device Settings, then go to About Phone and tap “Build Number” seven times to become a developer. From the developer options, enable USB debugging.
After that, make sure you have the latest driver page and also connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable.

How to sideload Android 14 via ADB

Download the Android 14 OTA for your device, and then you need to rename it to ad.zip.
Optionally, you can verify the SHA-256 checksum to ensure you have downloaded the file correctly.
After that, you have to move the OTA to where ADB has been installed on your computer.
Now, connect your device to your computer and then open the command prompt as an administrator, which will reboot your device into recovery. If your device doesn’t reboot itself, you need to manually reboot into recovery by shutting down your device.
Navigate to the “Apply update from ADB” option in the Recovery menu. Use the Power Button to select it, and from the command prompt, type “adb devices” to proceed. This will show your device’s serial number with “sideload” next to it, indicating that your device is connected.
Next, type “adb sideload abc.zip” at your command prompt, replacing “abc.zip” with your chosen filename.
Then, ADB will install the updated zip file on your phone, and once the installation finishes, you can choose to reboot your system, which will reboot with a fresh installation of Android 14 Build.

How to sideload Android 14 via Facebook

This method will wipe your entire data, so proceed after getting a complete backup of your device.

Download your device’s official factory image.
Optionally, you can verify the SHA-256 checksum to ensure you have downloaded the entire file.
Unzip the package to the location, and then move the package to the directory where ADB and Fastboot are located on your computer.
Next, connect your device to the computer, then open CMD as admin and execute the adb reboot bootloader, which takes you to Fastboot mode.
After that, unlock your bootloader by running the Fastboot command for fast boot flash unlock, which also erases all data on the device. For this, your device will next reboot into the OS after the data wipe, and you will also need to skip all setup steps to enable USB debugging and reboot back into Fastboot mode.
On a Windows PC, double-click on the Flash-all.bat file and then run the batch installation file to execute all the necessary commands. If you are not on a Mac or Linux PC, you should execute run-flash-all. To skip factory reset while upgrading to Android 14, you need to open the flash-all script in a text editor program, delete the -w attribute from the command, as it refers to wipe, and remove it if you don’t want a wipe.
Once finished, your device will reboot, and if you want to relock the bootloader, reboot your phone into fastboot mode and run the command fastboot flash lock.

That’s it. Now you have upgraded your device to the latest Android 14. However, Android on non-pixel devices is yet to announce its rollout to devices in the coming months. Google announced Android 14 on October 4th and rolled out the OTA update, which should be available to everyone.

Alternatively, you can also use manual or assisted methods, which do not require a factory reset (erase) of your phone. Your device will automatically get the OTA Android 14 Update, and to expand Android 14 to Samsung and other smartphones, you can currently join the beta before the stable launch without joining a beta programme.

How to Install Android 14 on My Device