TL;DR Some Pixel users are finding themselves unable to update to Android 17 Beta 4 even after enrolling in the program . The root cause may be due to Android 16 stable existing at a higher patch level than the Android 17 Beta. It’s still possible to flash a full factory image to force the Beta, but at the loss of data saved to your phone.

Android 17 is quickly approaching its final form, and after months of Betas, that stable build is starting to finally come into sight. Ahead of its arrival, last week Google delivered Android 17 Beta 4. If you were interested in getting in on the testing now that the code is reaching a nice, mature state, you might have signed up for the Beta only to find yourself waiting and waiting for an OTA update that never seems to come.

As it turns out, there’s a good reason why you might be having problems — and it’s not the first time this has happened, either. Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?