Google started updating supported Pixels to Android 13 yesterday, but that’s not what some users are seeing – several users from the r/GooglePixel subreddit are reporting that they got an Android 12 based update instead.
It’s not a small update either but a fairly hefty 2GB download. It appears to be a recent update (early July, going by the version) that includes the July security patch and a fix for a GPS issue.
Some Pixel owners are getting an Android 12 update instead of 13 (image credit: IcerC • Next_trees)
But it’s not the Android 13 update that people are expecting. So far there have been reports from Germany and the UK, mostly from Pixel 6 and 6 Pro owners, but it is not limited to just those two. That said, it appears that the issue doesn’t occur all too often, but it is something to be aware of if you use a Pixel.
Some users have found a workaround – opt into the Beta channel, which will download the stable Android 13 release, then opt out. Still, if you’re seeing a notification for Android 12 instead of 13, it would be best to pause the update and wait a day or two until Google resolves the issue.