Android 17 QPR1 Beta 8 finally tackles Pixel's most annoying bugs, from audio static to authentication failures

Published Jul 31, 2026, 6:25 PM EDT Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel. Sign in to your Android Police account It's been a couple of weeks since Android 17 QPR1 Beta 7 launched, and now, Google is releasing Beta 8 for Pixel phones, offering more bug fixes ahead of its public release. While we don't know the exact date, the public launch of this update is slated for September. One step closer with more bug fixes This latest update isn't a major one, but it does fix some major bugs that have been causing some trouble. The most important one out of the bunch fixes an authentication issue that "is not triggered when attempting to unlock the device." The update also fixes an audio issue that would cause "unexpected, loud audio corruption and static during media playback and notification interactions." Users should now have no issues interacting with NFC tags, and those using a Pixel Tablet Speaker Dock should see improvements in behavior after this update. Previously, users reported that the dock "would frequently go offline or fail to connect when attached." That's not something you want to have happen, since it's one of the main features of the tablet. If you want, you can head to the Developers website for all the notes, otherwise, we have pasted the top issues fixed in Beta 8 below. An audio framework buffer management issue that caused unexpected, loud audio corruption and static during media playback and notification interactions. (Issue #509007703, Issue #508456570, Issue #512158576, Issue #514265107, Issue #520904833, Issue #519636478, Issue #517242741, Issue #519578674, Issue #519191172, Issue #507873728, Issue #519418933, Issue #517194839, Issue #516440003, Issue #514606256, Issue #514047990, Issue #513681197, Issue #512813456, Issue #512212036, Issue #500342049, Issue #498147587, Issue #505780177, Issue #523640480, Issue #524719397, Issue #523304213, Issue #531669961, Issue #534620345, Issue #536625907, Issue #536292570, Issue #538400224, Issue #541204384, Issue #541243460, Issue #541257484) An issue where the Pixel Tablet Speaker Dock would frequently go offline or fail to connect when attached. (Issue #530716719) An NFC service regression that causes affected NFC tags to fail to read data or open URLs. (Issue #523935317) An issue where fingerprint authentication is not triggered when attempting to unlock the device. (Issue #523276531, Issue #526923270) You can give this beta a try if your Pixel device is enrolled in the Android Beta Program. This beta update will be available for all Pixel 6 and newer devices. It will also be available for the Pixel Tablet. However, if you choose to enter the beta, we recommend providing feedback in order to make future experiences better.