Google has started rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 for Pixel devices. The build number is CP41.260701.005, and it serves as an early look at the quarterly update scheduled for December 2026. The switch comes as the QPR1 preview winds down, and the supported lineup starts at the Pixel 6a. A minor SDK release is included for developers.
A build meant to preview what lands in December
Android ships several quarterly platform releases (QPRs) each year that bundle feature work alongside fixes. The QPR2 cycle that just opened targets the fourth quarter of 2026, meaning general availability in December. For Pixel owners, it is the earliest chance to see the groundwork for what becomes the year-end Feature Drop.
The developer-facing SDK also moves up a minor version. No large API expansion has been announced, though, and this first beta reads far more as a stability pass than a showcase of new capabilities.
Eight fixes, including a Gemini-triggered reboot
Eight issues are listed as resolved in Beta 1, and most of them touch everyday use. Bluetooth re-pairing that failed silently after a remote bond loss is one example. Another is notifications randomly disappearing from the shade and staying gone until the system was restarted.
A system crash that caused Pixel devices to reboot unexpectedly when Gemini was invoked has also been addressed. Now that the assistant sits in the foreground of so many interactions, a bug of that kind stands out sharply, so the fix should carry real weight.
The remaining items are smaller in scope. Media player controls briefly flashed on the lock screen even when the app's notifications were disabled, and starting a drag-and-drop gesture with multiple fingers stopped the source app from receiving further touch events. On the developer side, ML-DSA key generation threw an exception when the "NONE" string digest was used instead of the class constant, AccessibilityNodeInfo.toString() logged screen bounds in place of window bounds, and window-level blur effects failed to render while the developer toggle for them reset after a reboot.
Supported on Pixel 6a and later, but not the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro
System images are available for the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold and 10a, along with the Android Emulator.
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will not receive this OTA. Both reach the end of their five-year update window, so the Android 17 QPR1 beta series is the last one they get. For anyone who has kept an original Pixel 6 in service, beta testing effectively ends here.
Check the exit conditions before you opt in
Joining is straightforward through the Android Beta Program, which delivers the update over the air. Leaving is the part worth thinking about. Once QPR2 Beta 1 is installed, opting out of the program wipes all user data on the device, because the exit arrives as a downgrade OTA. That is standard practice for the program rather than anything new here.
If the plan is to wait for the stable QPR1 release landing in the coming weeks, the answer is simply not to install this update. As long as Beta 1 has not been applied, it is possible to leave the program without wiping the device. The choice comes down to whether chasing beta features matters more than a stable phone through the end of the year.
Bug reports go through the Android Beta Feedback app on Pixel devices, reachable from the app drawer or Quick Settings, which files issues into Google's issue tracker. An Android Beta community on Reddit is available as well.
Summary
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 is now rolling out to the Pixel 6a and newer as an early build of the quarterly update planned for December 2026. It carries build CP41.260701.005 and centers on eight fixes, including Bluetooth re-pairing failures and Gemini-related reboots. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are excluded, with the QPR1 beta standing as their final release. The one detail to settle before joining is that leaving the program after installing wipes the device.
