Google rolled out the final OS update for the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL back in October 2022 with Android 13. A security and bug-fixing update arrived a few months later, but that’s about it. Now, if you are still rocking a Pixel 4, you can experience Android 16 on it, all thanks to the LineageOS team.
An unofficial LineageOS 23 build has been available for Google’s 2019 Pixels. However, over the last weekend of the year, the LineageOS team officially added support for Pixel 4 and its XL sibling to its Android 16-based ROM.
Official support means the team believes their ROM is stable enough for daily use, with all the phone’s key features working reliably.
If you are still using a Pixel 4, whether as a primary or secondary phone, you can further extend its longevity by installing LineageOS 23 — long after Google ended official support.
Obviously, this will involve unlocking the phone’s bootloader and installing a custom ROM, which might seem complicated if you haven’t done this before. But, if you want to give your aging Pixel a new lease on life, there’s no better option than this.
LineageOS 23 went official in mid-October this year. Besides Android 16, the ROM contains several revamped system apps, including the Aperture camera app being rewritten from scratch for better performance. It has also gained support for JPEG Ultra HDR and RAW + JPEG capture on compatible devices.
Not based on Android 16 QPR2
Do note that while LineageOS 23 is based on Android 16, it’s not based on the platform’s latest release. Instead, the ROM is built on the initial Android 16 codebase, with the LineageOS team yet to migrate it to the QPR2 release.
Unfortunately, this means you won’t be able to enjoy many of Android 16’s headlining features on your Pixel 4, such as the new Material 3 Expressive design language, Live Updates, and more.
The team has started work on LineageOS 23.2 based on Android 16 QPR2, but it could take a few weeks or months to arrive.
You can find the relevant installation instructions for the Pixel 4, along with the LineageOS 23 ROM download link, on the project’s website.
