Google has released the third beta of Android 17 QPR3 for Pixel phones, a maintenance-focused build that fixes 26 listed issues. The update appeared on October 29, 2026, according to Google's developer release notes and 9to5Google.
Builds and supported devices
The beta uses build DP11.261016.003 on most devices and DP11.261016.004 on the Pixel 11 series. Google's notes give the security patch level as 2026-10-05 and the Google Play services version as 26.36.33.
System images cover devices from the Pixel 6a up to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, plus the Android emulator, 9to5Google reports. Anyone with a supported Pixel can join through the Android Beta Program. Beta software can be unstable, so it is a poor fit for a main phone.
What Google says it fixed
The release notes list 26 fixed issues. Examples include a black inner display after unfolding a foldable, random display on and off behaviour, poor webcam video quality, the Force Stop command not ending apps, crashes on the lock screen or at startup, and Wi-Fi failures with WPA-Enterprise PEAP networks.
For foldable owners the black inner display fix is the most visible. The Wi-Fi fix matters mainly for office and campus networks.
Reported features that Google has not confirmed
Android Central reported on October 30 that the beta brings back app lock, lets bubbles be launched from Recents, adds a Quick Settings camera shortcut, fixes the AM and PM display on lock screen alarms and restores some lock screen blur.
Android Central says that information comes from a Reddit user's note on Google's release notes. The release notes we read do not mention app lock, so treat these features as reports and not as confirmed changes. Google tends to update notes after publication, and features also sometimes appear and vanish between betas.
No Pixel Drop yet
9to5Google's Pixel Drop guide shows no new Pixel Drop between October 28 and 31. The last one landed on September 15. QPR releases like this one feed into the quarterly feature updates that follow, so the contents of this beta point to what may arrive in a later stable release.
India angle
Google has given no India-specific date or details for the beta, and nothing in the release notes is region-specific. Pixel owners in India can join the beta program like anyone else, but a stable QPR3 release would be a better moment to update for most users.
Why betas like this matter
The QPR cycle is how Google ships fixes and small features without waiting for a new Android version. A third beta with 26 fixes and no big new feature usually signals that the release is near stability. The remaining steps are normally a final beta and then the stable rollout to supported phones.
That cadence also tells you something about Pixel 11 support. The newest phones receive their own build, which suggests Google is still tuning hardware-specific behaviour on the latest models.
What to watch next
Watch for Google to update its notes on app lock and the other reported features, for a further beta or release candidate, and for the stable rollout date. The Android developer release notes page is the primary place to follow changes.
Published October 31, 2026. Gadgets365 will update this article as more information becomes available.
