Android 12L Beta 3 arrives, finally bringing support for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

It’s been almost a month since the last release, but Google is right on cue with its release of Android 12L Beta 3. Until now, the beta program has been limited to most Pixel devices, along with Lenovo’s Tab P12 Pro. However, two devices were suspiciously left off the list, as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were not able to be used with the Android 12L beta.

With the launch of Beta 3, that’s all changing as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are now listed as being compatible with the beta, and you can enroll your devices today! The update itself brings minor changes to Android 12L, but it’s clear that Google is nearing the final release as the company suggests that developers should “start final compatibility testing for apps, SDKs, and libraries.”

According to the release notes, here’s the full changelog for Android 12L Beta 3:

• Fixed an issue that prevented weather information from showing in the system’s At a glance widget. (Issue #210113641).
• Fixed an issue where the screen off animation was not displayed consistently when turning off the device’s screen. (Issue #210465289)
• Fixed issues that caused the system launcher to crash when attempting to enter split-screen mode using the Pin to Top option. (Issue #209896931,Issue #211298556)

There are still a few other bugs that Google is working out, and primarily affect developers:

• The Settings app does not display using a List Detail layout on large screens. To work around this issue, navigate toSettings > System > Developer options > Feature flagsand enable settings_support_large_screen.
• When using the Android Emulator with a resizable device definition and a display mode other than a foldable, a long-press does not show or hide the taskbar. Normally, users can show or hide the 12L taskbar by long pressing it, regardless of screen size.

Here is the rest of the information for Android 12L, as provided by the Release Notes:

Release date: February 9, 2022
Build: S2B3.220205.007.A1
Emulator support: x86 (64-bit), ARM (v8-A)
Security patch level: February 2022
Google Play services: 21.24.23
API diff:

• API 31 → API 32
• Sv2 DP1 → API 32

Keep in mind that while 12L provides a few improvements for “standard” smartphones, the real focus of this release is surrounded around devices with larger screens. These include phones and tablets, including the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which has already been confirmed to be receiving the update after its final release.

If you want to venture forward anyways with Android 12L Beta 3, here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Navigate to the Android Beta for Pixel landing page.
2. Click the View Eligible Devices button at the top.
3. Under your device, click the Opt-in button.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to join the program.

Once your device has been enrolled, you’ll then need to hop over to your Pixel device and check for a software update. Once the update is available, you can download and install it right on your device, without needing to jump through any hoops in order to test out the latest features coming to Android.