The right way to downgrade from Android 13 to twelve at the Google Pixel 6 collection

The right way to downgrade from Android 13 to twelve at the Google Pixel 6 collection

Android 13 has been out for some time now. As a big model improve, it’s tempting to leap at the bandwagon — particularly for Google Pixel customers. However what for those who simply up to date to Android 13 however don’t adore it very a lot? The large query is, are you able to downgrade your Pixel smartphone, together with the newest Pixel 6 lineup, from Android 13 to twelve?

In contrast to many Android OEMs, Google maintains a devoted firmware obtain portal for its smartphones. You probably have a non-carrier (additionally known as “unlocked”) variant of any Pixel telephone, you will have to have the ability to unencumber its bootloader and manually flash an older Android 12 instrument to revert again. On the other hand, the location is a little bit bit other for the Google Tensor-powered Pixel 6 circle of relatives of units.

The strong Android 13 replace for the Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Professional, and the Pixel 6a introduced alongside new bootloader updates. As soon as upgraded, you’ll’t flash an older bootloader because of anti-rollback coverage. Because of this, the common means of downgrading to Android 12 received’t paintings on those units. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless conceivable in addition Android 12 at the upgraded bootloader. In case you’re taking a look to downgrade Android 13 again to Android 12 for your Pixel 6/6 Professional/6a, we’re right here to lend a hand.

  • The Google Pixel 6 lineup picked up new bootloader updates with the strong Android 13 OTA.
  • Whenever you improve, you’ll’t flash an older bootloader.
  • You’ll be able to, then again, nonetheless boot Android 12 at the new bootloader.

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The right way to downgrade from Android 13 to twelve at the Google Pixel 6 collection

What’s within the Android 13’s bootloader replace for the Google Pixel 6/6 Professional/6a?

The bootloader of an Android software is an overly complicated piece of instrument. It’s liable for kickstarting the boot chain after each and every recent boot from powered off state. There are lots of low-level elements in a bootloader symbol, which might be tightly built-in with the SoC of the objective software. In a nutshell, tinkering with the bootloader on a contemporary client software is a particularly tricky process.

For those who’re , right here’s what you’ll in finding within the bootloader symbol of the Google Pixel 6a:

Google Pixel 6 series bootloader contents

Despite the fact that you set up to decipher the code and patch the anti-rollback coverage routines within the new bootloader replace for the Google Pixel 6, 6 Professional, or 6a, there is not any identified solution to flash it with out bricking your telephone. It’s because we don’t have get entry to to the OEM-signed programmers and cryptographic keys vital to accomplish such operations.


How can I downgrade to Android 12 from Android 13 at the Google Pixel 6/6 Professional/6a?

We should emphasize that you just shouldn’t do that except you really dislike Android 13 or it isn’t enjoying neatly with some specific apps. Android 13 has some superior new options — particularly associated with privateness and safety — that make it awesome to earlier Android variations in some ways. It additionally would be the most recent relating to safety patches.

If you already know all this and nonetheless wish to revert again to Android 12, the stairs are moderately easy. However first, you’re going to wish to do is backup your apps, pictures, movies, and many others., as a result of downgrading will utterly wipe your telephone. Additionally, just remember to have the newest ADB and Fastboot binaries put in for your PC.

By means of skipping the bootloader flashing

  1. After you have your backup all taken care of, you’re going to wish to test the bootloader model of Google Pixel 6/6 Professional/6a. To steer clear of a hard-brick situation, ensure that each slots of the objective software have the similar Android 13 bootloader model. If you wish to have lend a hand, then check out our instructional to resolve the bootloader model of the Google Pixel 6 collection units for anti-rollback coverage.
  2. In your PC/Mac/Chromebook, obtain the manufacturing facility symbol similar to the Android 12 unencumber of your selection for the objective software.
  3. Extract the contents of the manufacturing facility symbol ZIP report and find the bootloader symbol within the extracted information. It will have to be named as “bootloader-[device codename]-[platform codename]-[major version]-[minor version].img.”
    • For the Pixel 6 and six Professional, the platform codename is “slider,” while for the Pixel 6a, it’s “bluejay.”
      Google Pixel 6 series factory firmware bootloader image
  4. Delete the bootloader symbol from the extracted folder.
  5. Alter the flashing script like the next:
  6. Now that we’ve got changed the script, we will be able to proceed the flashing process. Particularly, you wish to have an unlocked bootloader to flash by way of Fastboot, so carry out the bootloader unlocking if no longer finished already.
  7. Reboot the Pixel 6/6 Professional/6a to bootloader mode and hook up with the PC/Mac/Chromebook the usage of a USB cable.
  8. Open a terminal window for your pc, navigate to the site the place you extracted the Android 12 manufacturing facility symbol, and run the flashing script.
    • For Home windows:
      .flash-all.bat
    • For macOS and Linux:
      ./flash-all.sh
  9. Watch for the flash to occur, the software to reboot, and for Android 12 in addition. The primary boot can take a long time, so be affected person.

Google Pixel 6a running Android 12 on Android 13 bootloader

Google Pixel 6a working Android 12 on Android 13 bootloader

Understand that this isn’t a real downgrade, as we will be able to’t overwrite the brand new bootloader with an outdated one. On the other hand, we will be able to boot Android 12 at the Google Pixel 6/6 Professional/6a on most sensible of the upgraded bootloader, because it doesn’t impose any restriction at the Android model. To place it merely, the brand new bootloader is suitable with each Android 13 and Android 12, which makes it conceivable run an older Android 12 unencumber on those units even after incrementing the rollback index rely.

By means of the usage of respectable Developer Enhance Photographs

For builders, Google gives changed Android 12 gadget pictures for the Pixel 6 circle of relatives which can be according to public and strong builds of Android 12 and Android 12L. Those “Developer Enhance Photographs” function an up to date model of the bootloader that comes with new safety fixes and an incremented anti-rollback counter.

Obtain Android 12/12L Developer Enhance Photographs for the Google Pixel 6 collection

In terms of set up, the Developer Enhance Photographs should be flashed by way of Fastboot. To grasp extra, check out our information.

For reference, the Developer Enhance Photographs are shipped with the next bootloader builds:

Understand that this developer-centric builds aren’t appropriate for basic use. They received’t obtain OTA safety updates like their client opposite numbers. Additionally, the builds aren’t Compatibility Take a look at Suite (CTS)‑accredited, so builders that require CTS-approved builds or use SafetyNet APIs would possibly run into problems.


Is there any problem of staying at Android 12?

No matter approach you select, the outcome will necessarily be a hybrid mixture of the bootloader and firmware for the 6th technology Google Pixel. It’s going to paintings for now, however there is not any respectable reinforce for this amalgamation — excluding for the Developer Enhance Photographs, however they don’t seem to be precisely supposed for normal customers. There’s no extra per 30 days safety updates on Android 12, which means that it’s a must to improve to Android 13 anyway to proceed receiving the fixes.

Moreover, the bootloader accommodates a lot of low-level firmware pictures for quite a lot of {hardware} elements. By means of staying at Android 12, you’ll motive a number of under-the-hood incompatibility problems which might have an effect on the real-world efficiency of your Pixel 6, 6 Professional, or 6a. Imagine this as an explanation of idea, however you do extra hurt than excellent by way of reverting again to Android 12. If you select to downgrade from one Android model to some other, then you definately achieve this at your individual chance.

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