You can get Android 11 in any of these ways:
- Get an OTA update or system image for a Google Pixel device
- Set up an Android Emulator to run Android 11
- Get a GSI system image for a qualified Treble-compliant device
For instructions on how to set up Android Studio for testing and development, see Set up the SDK.
Get Android 11 on your Pixel device
If you have a qualified Google Pixel device, you can check and update your Android version to receive Android 11 over the air.
Alternatively, if you'd rather flash your device manually, you can get the Android 11 system image for your device on the Pixel downloads page. Read the general instructions for how to flash a system image to your device. This approach can be useful when you need more control over testing, such as for automated testing or regression testing.
In most cases, you don't need to do a full reset of your data to move to Android 11, but it’s recommended that you back up data before enrolling your device.
Android 11 OTAs and downloads are available for the following Google Pixel devices:
- Pixel 2 and 2 XL
- Pixel 3 and 3 XL
- Pixel 3a and 3a XL
- Pixel 4 and 4 XL
Set up Android Emulator to run Android 11
Configuring the Android Emulator to run Android 11 is a great solution for exploring new features and APIs and testing with Android 11 behavior changes. Setting up the emulator is fast and convenient and allows you to emulate various screen sizes and device characteristics.
You can set up an emulator with Android 11 from inside Android Studio:
- Install the latest Preview build of Android Studio.
- In Android Studio, click Tools > SDK Manager.
- In the SDK Tools tab, select the latest version of Android Emulator, and click OK. This installs the latest version if it's not already installed.
In Android Studio, click Tools > AVD Manager and follow the instructions to create a new AVD.
Be sure to select a Pixel 2, 3, 3a, 4, or 4a device definition and an Android 11 (API level 30) system image. If you don't already have an Android 11 system image installed that matches your device definition, click Download next to the Release Name to get it.
When you return to the list of virtual devices in the AVD Manager, double-click your new virtual device to launch it.
Testing on Android GSI
Android Generic System Image (GSI) binaries are available to developers for app testing and validation purposes on supported Treble-compliant devices. You can use these images to address any compatibility issues with Android 11 as well as discover and report OS and framework issues before Android 11 is officially released.
See the GSI documentation for device requirements, flashing instructions, and information on choosing the right image type for your device. Once you're ready to download a GSI binary, see the Android 11 GSI section on the GSI releases page.