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A little over a week ago, we got Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 1. Now, Google has dropped the follow-up with Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 2, just as curious beta testers were asking when the release was going to come. And as you might expect with an early beta, this new release brings a ton of fixes that testers will surely appreciate.
There's a long list
Now, Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 1 was pretty functional for daily use, but Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 2 makes things even better with a wide range of fixes. You don't want to be on your phone experiencing intermittent crashing and rebooting, along with screen recordings failing when the device was turned sideways, so those have now been fixed.
In addition, Google lists a problem where WhatsApp video calls would cause the device to shut down and noticeable UI issues. Another major fix listed is where there was unwanted battery drain that was caused by motion sensors being active when they didn't need to be.
Again, since this is a beta, there are many fixes in tow. We recommend checking out the Android Developer page in full or just checking out the list below, which we have copied from the website verbatim.
- Devices intermittently crash and reboot during normal use. (Issue #570031572, Issue #570031155, Issue #569529428, Issue #569222433, Issue #570414567, Issue #570725957, Issue #569237164, Issue #572493638)
- Internet Quick Settings tile displays persistent text when mobile data is active without Wi-Fi. (Issue #354469154, Issue #367059437)
- Media output dialog ignores the monochrome system theme when external audio devices are connected. (Issue #476304142)
- Pin icon glitches position next to pinned apps in the share sheet. (Issue #476234992)
- Internal PublishedApi declarations trigger unexpected API lint and source compatibility check errors. (Issue #562178518)
- Device unexpectedly shuts down during WhatsApp video calls. (Issue #554451749, Issue #559966303)
- Lock screen in-progress notifications overlap with other UI elements and cause stuttering panel animations. (Issue #547371609, Issue #548539836, Issue #562186670)
- Cellular data, MMS, and hotspot services fail to connect on Dish Network. (Issue #537736046)
- Screen recording freezes and stops capturing frames after screen rotation. (Issue #541325203)
- System UI, fonts, and apps render at an abnormally small scale regardless of configured display size settings. (Issue #563321433)
- Display turns black and becomes unresponsive after ending a phone call. (Issue #564953545)
- Terminal app fails to launch the Linux development environment virtual machine after installation. (Issue #551657934)
- Wi-Fi Aware fails to establish subsequent data paths with a no interfaces available error after releasing an accept-any responder network request during connection confirmation. (Issue #550726291)
- Paired watch continues to ring after an incoming call is answered on the phone. (Issue #564594780)
- Airbnb app fails to connect when attempting to send messages. (Issue #563024453)
- Quick Settings Bluetooth subtitle is misaligned to the right. (Issue #559417120)
- App drawer unexpectedly closes when switching keyboard language. (Issue #558774933, Issue #540389222, Issue #533125590)
- Bluetooth pairing fails due to a connection timeout when attempting to pair with a device. (Issue #563675080)
- VoLTE, VoNR, and Wi-Fi calling are unavailable on the IT&E network. (Issue #556432987)
- High idle battery drain caused by motion sensors remaining active after using Face Unlock or the camera. (Issue #568078965)
- Wi-Fi Calling unavailable on the OXIO network. (Issue #563089593)
Naturally, if you're interested, you can sign up for the beta if you have an eligible Pixel phone. The Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 2 is available for the Pixel 6a and newer. Unfortunately, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are not eligible.
Are you on the other beta?
Google has a couple of betas running right now, with Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7.1 as the latest if you're on the other track. This release debuted last week and keeps things simple with one fix. However, it's a big one, tackling freezes that affect Pixel devices.
Naturally, you can also sign up for this beta as well if you'd like. Same as with the QPR3 beta, only Pixel 6a and newer phones can participate.