The Android 12 beta is here, but if you download it your phone probably won’t work as it should.
The Android 12 beta is now available to download on a range of smartphones – here’s how. But before you rush to download the early-days build of the next Google-developed operating system, it’s worth weighing up the risks. Betas of all kinds can be risky, as they’re unstable with many features missing. It’s always worth backing up your data and learning how to revert to the old, stable operating system, before you enrol in such programs. But while there’s always a risk of disaster with betas, with Android 12 you’re not just flirting with danger, but walking straight into the firing line. While the beta is available on loads of Android phones, not just Google-built ones, most phones are running a developer preview of the OS – that is, a version designed for app designers, not normal users – which is pretty unstable. In fact, most phone makers have published long lists of problems with the developer previews – these aren’t just risks, but confirmed problems that’ll plague your smartphone. While Google phones are fine, as they’re running the proper consumer beta, if you download the developer preview beta on another Android phone, you’ll find features are missing or broken.
