How to Downgrade Android 15 to Android 14 [2 Methods]

Google has commenced developer testing for the upcoming Android 15 OS, which is set to be released to the general public later this year. As this is an early version of a significant update, several users are eager to test it before its official launch. If you have already installed Android 15 on your Pixel phone but now wish to revert back to Android 14, you have come to the correct place. Here, you will discover the steps to downgrade from Android 15 to Android 14.

This guide will primarily address Pixel phones, as they are the first devices to receive the latest Android OS updates. Other manufacturers may have their own unique methods for installing and downgrading, making Pixel users the first to experience major Android upgrades.

Typically, initial versions may contain various bugs, including significant ones, as their purpose is to be tested. Therefore, it is possible that these builds may not function smoothly on your primary phone. This is a primary factor that leads users to downgrade their devices, although there may be other contributing factors as well.

Previously, we have provided instructions for installing Android 15. Therefore, if you are interested in trying out the initial versions of Android 15, you can refer to our guide. Now, let us move on to the steps for downgrading.

Reverting Back to Android 14 from Android 15

Reverting to a previous Android version is not as simple as upgrading. There are several crucial factors that a user must consider when downgrading. Here are the necessary steps to complete the process.

Requirements:

• Install Google USB Drivers on your PC
• Pixel Phone and USB Cable
• Android Flash Tool (for 1st method)
• Android Platform Tools
• Make sure Bootloader is unlocked
• Back up your data (Both methods will erase your data)

Method 1: Flash Android using Fastboot

To easily revert your Pixel phone from Android 15 beta back to stable Android 14, we will utilize the Android Flash Tool, an official tool developed by Google. This tool can be accessed directly through your web browser.

1. Go to Settings > About Phone and tap on the build number 7 times. This will enable Developer Options. From there, make sure that USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking are both enabled. If you have previously unlocked the bootloader, these options may already be enabled.
2. Connect your PC and Google Pixel phone using a USB cable.
3. To access the Android Flash Tool, go to flash.android.com on your browser.
4. On the welcome screen, select the blue Get Started button.
5. Allow the ADB connection between your PC and Pixel. If the screen does not appear, it is possible that pop-ups are blocked and must be unblocked beforehand.
6. After that, simply select Add New Device and your phone will be automatically detected. If it is not recognized, manually select your Pixel device from the available options.
7. Grant permission to your Pixel device by selecting Always allow on your phone for the Computer to access it.
8. Afterwards, on your computer, select the option labeled Return to Public version.
9. Lastly, select the Install Build button from the available options.
10. Once the build starts downloading, it will proceed with the installation. Once the installation is complete, you will be given the option to relock the bootloader. Click on Start to proceed.
11. Use the volume buttons on your phone to select Lock the Bootloader. Then, press the Power button to continue.
12. Once the bootloader is locked, your phone will automatically restart.

You can now experience the stable Android 14 on your phone.

Method 2: Downgrading Using the Fastboot Method

Another way to revert from Android 15 beta to Android 14 is to manually install the most recent stable version of Android 14 on a Google Pixel device.

1. First, ensure that your phone’s bootloader is unlocked. Then, proceed to download the latest Android SDK Platform tools on your PC.
2. Extract the tool to a convenient location for easy access.
3. Be sure to download the correct build for your phone from this link, which offers the latest stable version of Android 14.
4. To enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging on your phone, access Developer Options and follow the first step of method 1.
5. Unzip the factory image files in the platform tools folder. In case you unzipped it in a different location, transfer the contents to the Platform tools folder.
6. Use the USB data cable to establish a connection between your PC and Google Pixel.
7. To access the command prompt, navigate to the Platform Tools folder on your PC and type cmd in the folder address bar. Then hit the enter key to open the command prompt.
8. Reboot your Pixel device to bootloader by typing in:
   • adb reboot bootloader
9. If you have Windows PC, double click the flash-all.bat file. But if you have Mac/Linux, go back to the command prompt window and enter:
   • flash-all
10. The installation of Android 14 on your Pixel is now in progress. Please wait for the process to finish.
11. Once the process is complete, you may relock the bootloader if desired. However, please note that if the bootloader is left unlocked, you will not be able to receive OTA updates.

To activate the bootloader lock, first enable USB Debugging in Developer options. Next, enter bootloader mode on your phone and execute the following command:

fastboot flashing lock

The downgrade methods provide the chance to try out the latest Android beta builds without any concerns. If you ever need to revert your Pixel phone back to Android 14 from Android 15, you can use one of these methods. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section.