Google has begun testing Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 for compatible Pixel devices, with a release focused on stability rather than headline features. The update addresses more than 20 issues, including a com.android.phone crash loop that could result in a complete loss of cellular signal.
Other prominent fixes target phones freezing during fingerprint unlock, apps becoming unresponsive immediately after launch, and crashes when enabling the Face Unlock setting that requires users’ eyes to be open. Google also says it has fixed eSIM profiles that could turn themselves off, abnormal standby drain when Flip to Shh is enabled, and a Settings crash when opening the Battery page.
- The front camera no longer crashes during screen recording.
- Wi-Fi receives a fix for background automatic reconnection.
- Bluetooth LHDC v5 and NFC issues are addressed.
- Google has fixed problems with the Recents screen and overly spaced app-drawer icons.
- Video calls should no longer show a camera image rotated by 90 degrees when a Pixel is used with an external display in desktop mode.
QPR3 Beta 1 is available as an over-the-air update and a factory image. It carries build DP11.260918.005 on the newest Pixel 11 family, while other eligible models receive DP11.260918.006.
- Pixel 11 — DP11.260918.005
- Pixel 11 Pro — DP11.260918.005
- Pixel 11 Pro XL — DP11.260918.005
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold — DP11.260918.005
Eligibility begins with the Pixel 6a and extends through the Pixel 11 line. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are not included, continuing their absence from the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 2 program.
QPR3 testing begins before QPR2 reaches stable
The rollout arrives while Android 17 QPR2 remains in beta. Its stable release is expected around the December Feature Drop, while QPR3 is the following quarterly branch. Google has not announced a stable release date for QPR3; based on its quarterly cadence, it is expected in the first part of 2027, with additional beta releases likely beforehand.
An unusual detail in Google’s documentation is the security patch level: although QPR3 Beta 1 was released on October 2, the listed patch level is August 5, 2026.
Users can enroll through the Android Beta for Pixel program, but Google warns that beta builds can contain bugs. Leaving the program immediately to return to stable software normally requires a data wipe, although Google may offer no-wipe exit windows around stable releases. The next QPR3 beta releases should clarify whether these early reliability fixes hold across the broader Pixel lineup.
