Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 squashes crashes and reboots on Pixel phones

Google has released Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 2, a follow-up to the earlier Beta 1 version, addressing numerous issues reported by testers. This new beta brings a plethora of fixes aimed at enhancing the user experience on Pixel phones. While the Beta 1 version was largely functional for daily use, Beta 2 significantly improves upon it by resolving a range of problems that could be quite frustrating for users.

Issues such as intermittent crashes and reboots, screen recording failures when the device was tilted, WhatsApp video call shutdowns, and UI problems have all been successfully patched in this update.

Among the various fixes, Google has notably addressed the issue of unwanted battery drain caused by motion sensors being active when they were not necessary. This was a major inconvenience for many users. Other significant adjustments include the proper display of the Internet Quick Settings tile when mobile data is active without Wi-Fi, and correcting the position of the pin icon next to pinned apps in the share sheet.

The lock screen notifications, which often overlapped with other UI elements causing stuttering animations, have also been rectified.

Additionally, the cellular data, MMS, and hotspot services have been fixed to ensure proper connectivity on Dish Network. Screen recording issues that arose after screen rotation have been resolved, and the system UI, fonts, and apps now render at the correct scale regardless of the configured display size settings. The Wi-Fi Aware feature, which failed to establish subsequent data paths after releasing an accept-any responder network request during connection confirmation, has been fixed as well.

Paired watches were also affected by an issue where they would continue to ring after an incoming call was answered on the phone. This has been resolved in the latest update. The Airbnb app, which previously failed to connect when attempting to send messages, now functions correctly. Quick Settings Bluetooth settings were misaligned to the right, but this issue has been corrected. Paired watches were also experiencing issues where they continued to ring after a call was answered, a problem now resolved.

For those interested in participating in the beta, signing up is simple if you have an eligible Pixel phone. The Android 17 QPR 3 Beta 2 is currently available for the Pixel 6a and newer devices, though Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro models are not eligible. Google is currently running multiple beta versions, including Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7.1, which debuted last week and also focuses on fixing Pixel device freezes.

Interested users can sign up for this beta as well, although only Pixel 6a and newer phones are eligible to participate.