Google is rolling out Android Canary release channel for all the supported Pixel devices for users who are eager to try out new features before they reach the public. Canary builds are considered unstable and are primarily intended for developers and enthusiasts who love finding bugs and submitting feedback.
Unlike the Android Beta program, Canary builds offer year-around access to the newest features, which was not the case with Android developer previews, as they only last for a few months. Users can install Android Canary builds via the Android Flash Tool, Google's official utility for flashing Beta builds or rolling back to stable.
According to Google, the move to Canary builds could help keep promising features from earlier previews, even if they aren't ready for Beta releases. Since Canary will offer new features throughout the year, users can give constant feedback to make the feature better before it's released to the public.
The post also mentions that the Canary channel will deliver continuous OTA updates, which may include experimental features that may or may not make it to the stable release. It's worth noting that Canary builds can be unstable and are not for general use. They are not meant to be daily-driven, and users should only go ahead if they have a secondary Pixel smartphone lying around.
Those interested can enrol their devices into Canary using the Android Flash Tool, which is pretty effortless to use. The builds are also available in Android Studio's Canary channel via the SDK manager, so developers can try it out using Android Virtual Devices.
This is great news for those who always wanted to try out new Android features, but couldn't because the features would not make it to Beta builds. With Google switching to a bi-yearly update cycle, Canary releases with consistent feedback should help accelerate development and refine new features.
The latest Canary build is based on Android 16 but with the switch, users can expect Android 17 to arrive to Canary first. It could then be followed by a developer preview and stable release some time in November or December 2025.
