For those of us who couldn't wait to get our hands on the promised features of Android 16, jumping onto the QPR1 beta seemed like the perfect move. I, for one, was eager to experience Material 3 Expressive and Live Updates as soon as possible. However, Google's staggered release of features meant that we beta users were left in a bit of a limbo after the stable version finally arrived.

The good news is that Google is now rolling out a No-Data-Wipe OTA update for Pixel users stuck on the Android 16 QPR1 beta. This means you can finally jump back to the stable Android 16 QPR1 (build version BP3A.250905.014) without the headache of losing all your data. For those who held out, this is a welcome relief.

It's been a bit of a wait, especially considering we enthusiasts were just eager to try out the new features. To make matters worse, some impatient users already embraced the Android 16 QPR2 betas, while others begrudgingly accepted wiping their data to get back to stable.

If you're still on the QPR1 beta, keep an eye out for the update. Some users have reported that a simple reboot can trigger the OTA. However, be aware that if you've already ventured into the Android 16 QPR2 beta, exiting the beta program now will unfortunately require a data wipe.

For example, think of it like this: imagine you're on a train heading to a cool destination. You decide to hop on an express train (the beta) to get there faster, but then the regular train (stable) arrives first. Now, you can finally switch back to the regular train without having to leave your luggage behind.

Keep in mind that if you are already running the Android 16 QPR2 Beta, exiting the beta program will wipe your device. You will have to wait for the stable release, scheduled for December 2, 2025.