Google has temporarily disabled over-the-air (OTA) update image downloads for the Android 15 Developer Preview after reports surfaced of serious issues caused by sideloading the update. Specifically, some users have found their devices bricked (i.e., rendered unusable) following the sideload process.

This bug has also been added to the official list of known issues with the following remark:

An issue with sideloading the Developer Preview 1 build can sometimes cause the device to show a “Device is corrupted” message after sideloading is completed. Due to the potential disruption that this issue can cause, we’ve temporarily disabled downloads for OTA images until we can further troubleshoot the issue. To work around this issue, we recommend that developers flash a factory image to test devices instead.

To mitigate the risk of encountering this critical issue, Google strongly recommends that developers flash a factory image to their test devices instead of sideloading the Android 15 Developer Preview 1 OTA image. While flashing a factory image requires a full device wipe and restoration of data, it avoids the potential for rendering the device unusable.

Factory images for the Android 15 Developer Preview are available for the following Google Pixel devices:

  • Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
  • Pixel 6a
  • Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
  • Pixel 7a
  • Pixel Fold
  • Pixel Tablet
  • Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

You can head to the official download’s page and download the factory image for your device specifically. After flashing the factory image, you should continue receiving OTA updates as and when Google begins pushing them.

Developers eager to test out the Android 15 Developer Preview should prioritize backing up their device data before proceeding with a factory image flash. It’s essential to protect essential information by creating a backup as flashing a factory image entails a complete device reset.

Google is actively working to resolve the sideloading issue in the Android 15 Developer Preview. We’ll update this article when OTA updates are re-enabled.

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Dwayne Cubbins
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I cover fast-moving stories across apps, online platforms, and everyday tech — phones, wearables, consoles, and whatever else people are fighting with this week. Bugs, rollouts, scams, policy enforcement, and the occasional internet-culture rabbit hole are all fair game. My goal is simple — make confusing tech news readable. When I'm not working, I'm working out or chilling with my dog. Got a tip? You can find me on X @dcubbins.

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