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How to install Android P beta on the Essential Phone
July 16, 2025
AtGoogle I/O 2018, Google released the first beta version ofAndroid Pfor its Pixel smartphones, along withseven other OEM devices. Those devices include the Sony Xperia XZ2, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Nokia 7 Plus, OPPO R15 Pro, vivo X21, OnePlus 6, and Essential Phone.
If you’re looking for how to install Android P on theEssential Phone, you’ve come to the right place!
Unfortunately it’s not as easy as enrolling in theAndroid Beta Program, though. Essential has the Android P download files on its website, which we’ve linked to below. We’ve also included all the instructions you’ll need to sideload Android P on your Essential Phone.
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Download the Android P preview
To install Android P on your Essential Phone, first visitEssential’s Developer Overview website hereand download the necessary files. you may download the Android P OTA or fastboot file after you input your information and device serial number. In this tutorial, we are going to sideload the OTA file.
Install ADB and fastboot on your computer
Next, you’ll need to install ADB and fastboot on your computer.Here’s a handy guide fromXDA Developersthat will walk you through the process for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Unlock the Essential Phone’s bootloader
If you’re sideloading the OTA on your Essential Phone, you don’t need to have an unlocked bootloader. Feel free to skip down to the next section if you just want to sideload Android P on your phone.
However, installing custom ROMs requires you to have an unlocked bootloader, so we’ll keep these instructions here just in case you want to know how. Note that unlocking your phone’s bootloader will wipe all the device’s data, so be sure to make a backup of your data before following these next steps. To unlock the Essential Phone’s bootloader, follow the steps below:
Next, open a terminal window in the folder where you have ADB and fastboot installed. On Windows, you can right-click and clickopen command window here. On macOS, open a terminal window and drag and drop the folder where your ADB and fastboot files are located.
Next, reboot your phone into fastboot mode. In your command window, typeadb reboot bootloaderand pressenter.
Your phone will boot into fastboot mode. You should see that your Essential Phone’s device state islocked. To ensure your device is still being recognized by your computer, typefastboot devicesin your command window and pressenter. Your phone’s serial number should show up.
Warning:Unlocking your phone’s bootloader will erase all data on the device. If you don’t want to lose your data, do not continue. Be sure to back up all your data before unlocking the phone’s bootloader. If you don’t mind losing all your data, feel free to proceed.
Still here? Good.
In your command window, typefastboot flashing unlock. Pressenter.
On your phone, you will see a prompt asking if you would like to unlock your phone’s bootloader. Use the volume down key to highlightYes, then click the power button to confirm. Your phone will reboot.
Sideload Android P to the Essential Phone
Once ADB and fastboot are installed on your computer and your bootloader is unlocked, you can begin sideloading the update to the Essential Phone. Remember that OTA .zip file we had you download earlier? Move the file to the same folder where your ADB and fastboot files are located.
Consider renaming your file toupdate.zip, otherwise you’ll have to type that confusing file name into your command line.
If all went well, Android P should begin installing on yourEssential Phone. This will take a few minutes. Once it’s done, reboot your phone.
That’s it! Easy, right? If you run into any problems along the way, you’ll want to go back a few steps and ensure you followed the instructions to a T. Will you install Android P on your Essential Phone? Let us know in the comments.
Next:How to use split screen on Android P
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