Much like the Windows or MacOS operating system on your laptop or desktop computer, your Google Pixel 4A smartphone has an operating system.
The Pixel 4A uses Android, which is a very popular operating system found on a very high number of mobile devices around the world.
As is the case with those desktop operating systems that we mentioned earlier, Android occasionally needs to update itself.
You can install an Android update on a Google Pixel 4A by going to Settings > System > Advanced > System update > then tapping the Download and install button.
While your phone can be pretty persistent about letting you know that an update is available, it’s generally a good idea to install the update when you can.
Android updates usually fix problems that arose with the previous version of the operating system, plus they add new features that can improve your experience with the device.
You can continue reading below for more information on Android updates and how to install them on your Pixel 4A phone.
How to Update from Android 11 to Android 12 on a Google Pixel 4A
- Swipe up on the Home screen.
- Select Settings.
- Choose System.
- Tap Advanced.
- Select System update.
- Tap Download and install.
Our guide continues below with additional information on installing an Android update on your Pixel phone, including pictures of these steps.
How to Install Android 12 on a Pixel 4A (Guide with Pictures)
The steps in this article were performed on a Google Pixel 4A that is running the Android 11 operating system.
Step 1: Swipe up on your Home screen.
Step 2: Choose the Settings app at the bottom of the menu.
Step 3: Select the System option.
Step 4: Touch the Advanced button.
Step 5: Select the System update option.
Note that you should see a message below it to indicate that there is an update available for the device.
Step 6: Tap the Download and install button to proceed.
As you can see in the picture below, this particular update is 1.72 GB in size. If I were to download that over a cellular connection it would use a lot of my data, and it might take a while depending on my connection strength.
If possible, try and do this when you are connected to Wi-Fi, and when you are able to connect it to a charger.
Our tutorial continues below with additional discussion about updating Android on a Google Pixel 4A.
More Information on How to Check for and Install an Android Update on a Google Pixel Phone
The steps above focused specifically on how to install Android 12 if you are already running Android 11. For most recent versions of Android, this process has been pretty similar, but it can vary slightly depending on potential future updates to the Settings menu on the device.
Installing an Android update can take some time, so it’s best to do it when you know you won’t need your phone for an hour or so.
It also requires a fair amount of storage space, and the update file gets downloaded from the Internet, so you will probably want to do it while you are connected to Wi-Fi.
Just in case something goes wrong during the Android installation, be sure that you have a recent phone backup that you can use. You can check for a backup by going to Settings > System > Backup. If you don’t see a recent backup then you can tap the Back Up Now button to create one.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing technology how-to articles and tutorials for over a decade. He has extensive experience in information technology both in small business and as a consultant.
His articles have appeared on dozens of websites and been read millions of times.
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