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How to jump the queue and download Android 7.0 Nougat now

Here's how you can get the Android 7.0 Nougat up and running on selected Android devices right now.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer

Waiting for the update to be pushed to your smartphone or tablet is for suckers. Here's how to jump the queue and install Android 7.0 Nougat now.

See also: iOS 10 is a total mess

First, you'll need to one of the following devices:

  • Nexus 6
  • Nexus 9
  • Nexus 5X
  • Nexus 6P
  • Nexus Player
  • Pixel C
  • General Mobile 4G

If you own one of the above, then you're ready to sink your teeth into Nougat. If not, then you're out of luck.

Just in case things go wrong, it's a good idea to have a backup of your data. To do this tap on Settings > Backup and rese and make sure both Back up my data and Automatic restore are enabled.

Also, if you have photos to back up, either connect your device to a PC to do this, or set up some cloud backup service (remember that every Google account comes with 15GB of Google Drive storage).

With your data safe, you're now ready to proceed.

Next you need to head over to Google's Android Beta portal to enroll your device. You will require a Google account (since you own an Android device, you probably have this already), and then you need to wait until you receive an update notification on your device (which could take up to 24 hours, but it usually happens pretty much instantly).

Once you get the update notification, pull down the notification bar and choose Download to begin the upgrade. It's a good idea to wait until you have a speedy Wi-Fi connection and access to your charger before kicking off the download.

And that's it. It's that easy.

Every day carry (EDC) pocket tools and gadgets

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