Google made some changes to stop reinstalling Android 12 in the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and 6a. This prompts a security issue when you try to reinstall Android 12. Google’s new update includes vulnerability to neglect to brick your device if flashed with Android 13.
Android 13 new update for Pixel 6:
- Pixel 6 already kept the security vulnerability and Android 13 also has the due to this vulnerability you cannot downgrade from Android13.
- If you flash an Android 13 with a factory image that is different from OTA sideloading image, then you can successfully update it. Android 12 remains on your phone. It all happens because of system updates which provide redundancy.
A/B system updates use two sets of partitions referred to as slots (normally slot A and slot B). The system runs from the current slot while the partitions in the unused slot are not accessed by the running system during normal operation. This approach makes updates fault resistant by keeping the unused slot as a fallback: If an error occurs during or immediately after an update, the system can rollback to the old slot and continue to have a working system.
As such, the “inactive slot contains an older bootloader whose anti-rollback version has not been incremented.” With this mismatch, you face trouble when flashing your device. With the design of this latest version of Android if it tries to be booting from the inactive slot but faces issues.
What happens if you flashed Android 13:
- Recently the company published new instructions which include the inactive slot in Android from Android 12 to Android 13. The sideloading of the OTA image updates the inactive slot and there is also a factory image provided.
- In the coming day’s company plans to flash the active slot, like a fast boot or Android Flash Tool. It displays an inactive slot with the Android 13 bootloader.
Using Android 13 OTA:
- Those users who sideloaded means without device data will wipe. In Android, 13 OTA images or accept the on-device OTA, and who don’t want to flash their devices are not affected.
The company also says that there is a very low chance to encounter this issue with locked bootloaders. The next OTA maybe update the inactive slot.
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