Google has released a new Android 14 beta update for Pixel devices. The company is pushing Beta 4.1, which it calls a “minor update” over Beta 4 rolled out a couple of weeks back. But the changelog reveals it’s a huge bug fixer. The official release notes mention as many as 34 bug fixes.
For starters, Android 14 Beta 4.1 fixes an issue where the device didn’t allow you to re-open an app after exiting it using the system back button. It required a device restart to use that app again. The update also fixes an issue that prevented notification groups from expanding properly in the notification shade. Google has also fixed a bug that caused problems with Ultra HDR images in Google Photos.
The Pixel Fold and Pixel tablet are relatively new to Android 14 beta. The latest release fixes almost a dozen issues with the two big-screen devices. These include missing app icons on the homescreen after unlocking, system UI crash, insufficient color contrast, incorrect wallpaper sync, misaligned navigation buttons, clock issues, wallpaper picker problems, overlapping widgets, and issues with the “Tap to check phone” feature.
Google has also fixed bugs with Wi-Fi calling, fling gestures, apps that use activity embedding, Battery Share, Pixel launcher, and more. Some of the bug fixes mentioned in the Android 14 Beta 4.1 release notes were there in the Beta 4 release notes as well. It appears those issues weren’t completely gone after the last update. The latest release should finally patch those bugs. You can find the full Beta 4.1 release notes on the official website.
Google nears stable Android 14 release as Beta 4.1 fixes dozens of bugs
The official firmware build number for Android 14 Beta 4.1 for enrolled Pixel devices is UPB4.230623.007. Google is also pushing Google Play services version 23.18.18 to the devices. The security patch level remains on July 2023. The update is rolling out to all eligible models — Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet.
If you own any of these devices, you can still enroll in the Android 14 beta here. Once done, you will receive new beta releases like a regular software update. Note that beta builds are often unstable and may contain bugs. That said, the Android 14 Beta 4.1 fixes plenty of bugs, so the latest release should be pretty stable. Android 14 is expected to roll out publicly to all eligible Pixel devices in August.