Google has officially begun winding down software support for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. As the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 update rolls out to eligible Pixels, the two 2021 flagships have been left off the list as they approach end of life.
Google Drops Pixel 6 Series from Android 17 QPR2 Beta
Google confirmed in a Reddit post that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro won't be receiving the Android 17 QPR2 Beta update. Instead, the Android 17 QPR1 Beta series serves as the final beta release for both phones before their software support officially ends.
For those unaware, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are supported till October 2026, which may lead users to believe Google has abandoned its promise, which is not true. The exclusion of Pixel 6 and 6 Pro from QPR2 comes down to simple calendar logistics.
For starters, the QPR2 stable update is scheduled to release in December 2026, whereas Google's five-year support lifecycle for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro ends in October 2026. Enrolling the Pixel 6 series in the testing pipeline for software that will hit stable two months after its support window expires serves no operational purpose.
Consequently, the Android 17 QPR1 Beta cycle marks the final beta testing phase these devices will ever participate in. Therefore, while Pixel 6 and 6 Pro won't get Android 17 QPR2, they should receive stable Android 17 QPR1 alongside the September Pixel Feature Drop, which will be their final major quarterly feature update.
Then the smartphones will get one last security update in October 2026, which should close out their full five-year maintenance window.
The sunsetting of the Pixel 6 lineup marks an emotional goodbye and a critical moment for Google Pixel phones. The Pixel 6 was the first phone with Google's custom Tensor chip, and while the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro arrived with a promise of three years of updates, Google later bumped it to five years.
The Pixel 6 series now enters its final chapter. Once the stable Android 17 QPR1 update and the September 2026 Pixel Feature Drop arrive, Google's first Tensor-powered flagships will officially reach the end of their software journey. So long, the Coral Queen.
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