Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 update has gone MIA

Yesterday, Google released the third and final beta of Android 16 QPR2 for eligible Pixel devices. This update fixes several issues, such as Home screen shortcuts appearing as gray circles, selected themes not applied on first attempt, and Google Play system updates failing to install. If you’ve been waiting for Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 to install, it looks like you’ll have to keep waiting. Google may have removed the update.

Pixel owners are flocking to Reddit to report that Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 is no longer available. A user mentions that when they checked this morning, the third beta was waiting to be installed. However, they decided to update later today because they were using mobile data and didn’t have time. When the user checked 10 hours later, the update was gone. There are several other reports of similar experiences.

As our editor Mishaal Rahman points out, QPR2 Beta 3 currently has a bug. This issue causes SystemUI to crash when desktop mode is enabled. Therefore, you should disable “enable desktop experience features” before updating. This can be done by going to Settings > System > Developer Options.

Bootlooping issues caused by desktop mode appear to be a big enough problem that Google has temporarily halted the rollout. Now, if you try to update your phone, you will receive a message that your phone is up to date. It is unclear when QPR2 Beta 3 will be available again. We have contacted Google for comment.