How to Install Android N Developer Preview

We have already seen the glimpse of the latest upcoming Android N, as a developer preview. Now if you have one of the supported devices, you can easily install Android N Developer Preview. Either through OTA updates using Android Beta Program or by simply installing the system image. We are here to guide you through the same process here.

The process involves the same steps as you would do while installing the factory images. So, just like it, this will also wipe your device completely. So, make sure that you have taken a backup of everything. If your device is rooted, this will also reset it to stock.

Please note that this guide is kept up-to-date with the latest preview available at the particular time. If you need help with installing a previous version of the preview, kindly contact us or comment below.

Disclaimer

Android N Developer Preview is not for the faint hearted, it may contain bugs or cause app incompatibility, and you might not be able to use many of your favorite apps, as yet. We shall not be held liable for any damage to your device. However, we will definitely help you, to pull you off from the issues.

Before You Begin

• Charge your device to at least 60% battery level. This will help avoid disturbances during the process.
• Install Android SDK or use 15 Seconds ADB Installer. This is required to setup fasboot on your PC.
• Make sure to take a complete backup of everything. The process is going to wipe your device and restore it to stock.
• Enable USB debugging on your Android.
• In order to flash, you must have unlocked bootloader on your device. First, enable OEM unlocking in Developer options. And then, use ‘fastboot flashing unlock‘ command to unlock the bootloader.

Downloads

Grab the Android N Developer Preview system image for your supported device directly from the Android Developer Preview website.

Instructions To Install Android N Developer Preview

1. First off, download the developer preview system image for your device.
2. Extract the downloaded system image to a suitable location. In my case, for the Nexus 6P, it would be ‘angler-npd35k-factory-81c341d5.tgz’. Once the file has been extracted, you will see a image-xxxx-npd35k.img (e.g. image-angler-npd35k.zip), where ‘xxxx’ would be your device’s codename. Extract this file to the very same folder.
3. Once you have extracted, you will have the following files.
   
4. Within this folder, where the files have been extracted, press SHIFT key and right-click on a random space. Select Open command window here from the menu pops-up that appears.
   
5. Boot your device into fastboot/bootloader mode – This could be done through two ways. Either by using an ADB command:

   adb reboot bootloader

   or, Power off your device completely. Press and hold the Volume Down and Power keys simultaneously, until you see the bootloader screen.

6. Your device will now be in the bootloader mode.
   
7. Now, connect the device to the PC, using the USB cable.
8. Open the command-line window that was initiated in step #3.
9. Start by flashing the bootloader:

    fastboot flash bootloader <bootloader-filename>.img

   Example:

    fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-angler-angler-03.51.img

10. Reboot the bootloader (It’s necessary):

     fastboot reboot-bootloader

11. Flash the radio now:

     fastboot flash radio <radio-filename>.img

    Example:

     fastboot flash radio radio-angler-angler-03.62.img

12. Reboot the bootloader, again.

    fastboot reboot-booloader

13. Now, erase the current filesystem.

    fastboot erase recovery
    fastboot erase boot
    fastboot erase system
    fastboot erase cache
    fastboot erase system
    fastboot erase vendor

14. Start by flashing the developer preview partitions:

    fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
    fastboot flash boot boot.img
    fastboot flash system system.img
    fastboot flash cache cache.img
    fastboot flash userdata userdata.img
    fastboot flash vendor vendor.img

15. In case you want to relock the bootloader, enter:

    fastboot flashing lock

16. Once everything is done, reboot your device:

    fastboot reboot

Installation By Sideloading OTA

Another simple method to update to the latest preview is by sideloading the OTA zip through stock recovery. Google has been generous enough to provide us with OTA zips. You can download the OTA zip files from here, and sideload them. If you’re not aware of the process to sideload, refer to the tutorial linked below.

How to sideload OTA updates on Nexus devices

Now that you have installed the preview, let us know how it’s treating you and your device. Are you a developer? How have you planned on updating your apps for Android N? Let us know via the comments below.