10 Things to Do Before Installing Android Pie

Doing a little prep work before you install the Android Pie update on your Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL will help you avoid problems and headaches.

The beta is finally over and Google’s finally released the final version of Android 9.0, now known as Android Pie. The update isn’t available for the company’s Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, or Pixel C tablet, but it is indeed available for the company’s four Pixel smartphones. It’s also available for the Essential Phone.

Google’s Android Pie roll out is starting out slowly and the update is moving out to those who joined the Developer Preview (beta) ahead of the official launch. The roll out will expand in the coming weeks and Pixel owners around the world will soon get prompted to upgrade from Android 8.1 to Android 9.0.

Android Pie is an exciting upgrade. Google’s packed it with new features, enhancements, tweaks, and fixes and most Pixel users will want to install it today or in the near future. Just be sure to do some prep work before you do.

Google’s new update is already causing problems for some Pixel owners and there’s no way to predict what you might encounter once you decide to transition your device from Oreo to Pie. The unpredictable nature of major Android releases is precisely why we recommend spending some time preparing yourself, and your device(s), for the move.

In this guide we’ll take you through some steps to take before you install Android Pie on your Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL. These are the steps we typically take before installing new software on a device, particularly older smartphones. New software has a tendency to be more problematic on older devices.

These tips are aimed at average Android users, but power users might benefit from them as well.

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