Your Google Pixel smartphone can be updated to the most recent OS or patch available in various ways. In this, you know how to sideload an OTA update on your Google Pixel to avoid the wait if you’re willing to take matters into your own hands.
Although many ardent Android enthusiasts will be aware of exactly what to do, not everyone is as skilled at updating their phone. Fortunately, the entire procedure is fairly straightforward. First, the types of updates that can be installed on an Android phone differ slightly.
What distinguishes Android updates?
Regular or monthly updates are incremental, with major releases receiving full updates only. An OTA update, also known as an “over-the-air” update, can be applied with relative ease in this case, but it will not restore any app or system settings. A “factory” image is needed to go back to an earlier Android version. This procedure is explained in detail in our downgrading your Pixel guide.
To summarize, there are a few options for updating your Pixel to the most recent official Google OTA update. You can wait for a notification on your phone, which will prompt you to download any pending updates. Usually, this is the slowest method.
Steps to sideload OTA updates on Google Pixel
- By going to Settings > System > System update > Check for updates, you can also make your smartphone “pull” any pending updates. This procedure can be completed as soon as an announcement confirms that an update is available and is slightly faster. However, unlike the OTA notification method, files may not be available immediately.
- Sideloading the official OTA file is the quickest way to obtain the most recent version of the Google Pixel update. There are a few different ways to do this with Google, but both of them require a PC or laptop.
- It is also important to note that this method works for almost all Android devices; however, before attempting to sideload using this method, you will need to obtain the official OTA files for the manufacturer of your particular device.
