Android 17 Is Here — Get It on Your Pixel Right Now
Google has officially begun rolling out Android 17 to Pixel devices, starting with the Pixel 9 series and expanding progressively to older supported models. If you own a compatible Pixel phone, you may already have a pending update notification — but if you want to install it immediately without waiting for the over-the-air rollout to reach your specific device, this guide walks you through every method to get Android 17 installed today, along with what to do if something goes wrong.
Which Pixel Devices Are Getting Android 17?
Google confirmed the following Pixel phones are eligible for the Android 17 update:
- Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a
- Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a
- Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
Older Pixel devices (Pixel 5 series and below) will not receive Android 17 as they have reached the end of their update lifecycle. If your device is on this list, you are good to go.
Method 1: Over-the-Air Update (Recommended)
The simplest way to get Android 17 is through the built-in over-the-air update system. Go to Settings > System > System Update and tap Check for update. If Android 17 is available for your device, you will see a notification to download and install it. The download is typically between 1.5GB and 2.5GB depending on your current Android version, so make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi. After the download completes, tap Install and wait for your phone to restart into Android 17. The entire process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Method 2: Force the Update via ADB (Advanced Users)
If the OTA hasn’t reached your device yet but you want it immediately, you can trigger the system update check manually using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). First, enable Developer Options by going to Settings > About Phone and tapping Build Number seven times. Then enable USB Debugging under Settings > Developer Options. Connect your phone to a PC with ADB installed and run the command: adb shell cmd statusbar click update-ui. This forces the system to re-check the update servers immediately. If the Android 17 update package is available for your device, it will now show in your update settings.
Method 3: Flash the OTA Package via Recovery
For users who want absolute control over the installation, Google publishes full OTA packages for every Pixel device at developers.google.com/android/ota. Download the correct OTA file for your specific Pixel model and build number. Boot your phone into Recovery Mode (hold Power + Volume Down on most Pixel phones until the bootloader screen appears, then navigate to Recovery Mode). Select Apply update from ADB, connect to your PC, and run: adb sideload [OTA_filename].zip. This method is the most reliable for devices stuck on an older build that the OTA is skipping.
What to Do If the Update Gets Stuck
Occasionally, Android updates stall during the “Optimizing apps” phase after the restart. If your phone appears frozen on this screen for more than 20 minutes, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a restart. The phone will re-enter the optimization phase, which should complete normally on the second attempt. If your phone bootloops after the update (restarting repeatedly without reaching the home screen), boot into Safe Mode by holding Volume Down during startup. If Safe Mode works, a third-party app is causing the conflict — uninstall recently installed apps until the issue resolves.
First Things to Do After Installing Android 17
After successfully updating, head immediately to Settings > Security & Privacy to review the new privacy dashboard layout. Enable the new Offline Device Tracking toggle under Find My Device for extra security. Check Settings > Display > Always-On Display for new AOD customization options added in Android 17. Finally, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing to explore the redesigned screen time management tools. For a complete feature breakdown of everything new in Android 17, read our full explainer on Android People.