Android QPR3 beta 3 update breaks Pixel Launcher's app search

The next exciting Quarterly Pixel Feature Drop should take place on Monday, June 6. For those who can’t wait, Google offers Android 12 QPR3 beta 3. At the moment, however, it wouldn’t be worth joining the Android 12 QPR beta program, especially since the final version of the update is on the way and Installing the beta has caused the Android Launcher to suffer from a new bug that prevents the user from searching for the apps on their phone.

Android 12 QPR3 beta 3 breaks the app search on the Android Launcher

With this bug, if you swipe up from the home screen to open the Pixel Launcher app drawer and search for any of the apps installed on your Pixel, it won’t show up. This affects both first and third-party apps and some that come pre-installed. The only apps listed are those with app shortcuts that match the title you’re looking for. Also, in-app settings and Pixel Tips searches are not affected by the bug.

Pixel Launcher App Search will end on Android 12 and Android 12 QPR3 beta 3

And while it initially appeared that only those running the unstable Android 12 QPR3 beta 3 on their Pixel 4 or later models were affected, it turns out that some Pixel users running the stable Android 12 version of the OS are also affected by the bug.

Finding bugs in beta software isn’t shocking and we should see Google eradicate this bug on or before the next Quarterly Pixel Feature Drop is released in June.

Now the million dollar question with this release is whether Google is going to drop the most wanted feature on the Pixel 6 Pro and that is face unlock. Last month we explained how Sony used sensors on the Pixel 6 Pro (and not the Pixel 6) could allow the phone to create a depth map of a user’s face even without all the hardware used on the Pixel 4 line and the iPhone.

Whether this will happen on June 6 is unknown, but we can tell you that Face unlock has not yet appeared in the Android 12 QPR3 beta 3 as you might have expected. After the release of the next Quarterly Pixel Feature Drop on June 6, the next update would normally take place on the first Monday in September. However, September 5 is Labor Day, so the update could arrive the next day (Tuesday, September 6) or the following Monday (September 12).

But if you’re in the Android 12 QPR beta program, you can get the September Feature Drop early, albeit in an unstable version. To join this beta program, tap the link here† You will be taken to the Android beta program where you will see a button that says “View my eligible devices”. Tap the button and an image of your compatible Pixel will appear with the words “Opt in” at the bottom. Tap that and within 24 hours you will receive an OTA update that you can install with the most recent QPR beta.

Google lets you revert to a stable release for a limited time without wiping data

Make sure to back up your data before signing up for the program. Also, keep in mind that this release has bugs and features that you may be counting on every day may not work properly in the beta. You may also want to buy a power bank as the battery life will be compromised in the beta version.

While you opt out of the beta and return to public updates, you will usually need to wipe your handset, during the release cycle of a beta program there will be four stable releases. Google says that “when you apply the stable release update for the version you’re beta testing, you can opt-out for a limited time without erasing data until you apply the next beta update.”

Time to pick up the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

For example, let’s say you’re running Android 12 QPR3 beta 3. We expect the stable release for the update to take place on June 6. For a limited time, you can opt out of the beta program without having to wipe your phone’s data. However, once you get back to the next beta update, you should stay in beta or be forced to wipe your phone’s data until the next stable release is available.

To revert to the stable release, return to the Android beta program and tap “View my eligible devices” again. When you see your Pixel’s photo, it now says “Sign Out” below it. Tap that and within 24 hours you will receive an OTA update that will bring you back to the stable version without data wipe, but only if you install the stable release update for the version you are beta testing.