If you updated your Pixel or Nexus to Android 8.0 Oreo and the experience has not been smooth, you can roll it back to Nougat 7.1.2. New Android releases are rarely perfect at launch, and a newer version sometimes breaks apps that have not caught up with changed or removed APIs yet. If that is what you are running into, going back to Nougat is a reasonable fix until things settle down.
The way to downgrade is to flash the Android 7.1.2 Nougat factory image for your device. This works only on Google’s own Pixel and Nexus devices, because those are the ones Google publishes factory images for. Phones from other brands do not have public factory images like this, so the method here does not apply to them.
Read this before you start
Flashing a factory image wipes everything on the phone, so back up your photos, messages, and any other important files first. You also need an
unlocked bootloader to flash the image. Flashing the wrong device’s image can leave the phone unbootable, so download only the file that matches your exact model and, for Pixel phones, your carrier variant.
Download the Android 7.1.2 Nougat factory image
Grab the Nougat factory image for your device from the links below. These point to Google’s own servers. Google does rotate older builds over time, so if a link no longer works, you can find the current Nougat factory image for your device on the official Google factory images page.
Nexus and Pixel C
Google Pixel
Google Pixel XL
For a Pixel or Pixel XL, pick the build that matches your carrier variant. If you are not sure which one you have, the International image is the safe choice for an unlocked, carrier-free phone.
Steps to downgrade from Oreo to Nougat
- Download the Android 7.1.2 Nougat factory image for your device to your PC, then unzip it into its own folder.
- Install ADB and Fastboot on your PC.
- On the phone, turn on USB debugging in Developer options.
- Connect the phone to the PC with a USB cable. If you see a Allow USB debugging prompt on the phone, tap OK.
- Open a command window on your PC and boot the phone into the bootloader:
adb reboot bootloader
- Make sure the bootloader is unlocked. If it is not, unlock it now (this also wipes the phone). The phone needs to stay in this bootloader/fastboot screen for the next step.
- Open the folder you unzipped in Step 1 and run the flash-all.bat script (on Windows). On macOS or Linux, run flash-all.sh instead.
- Let the script flash every partition and reboot the phone on its own. The first boot after flashing can take several minutes, so do not unplug the phone or interrupt it.
Once it boots into Android 7.1.2, you are back on Nougat. Set the phone up again and restore your backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which devices does this work on?
The Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus Player, and Pixel C. These are the devices with an official Android 7.1.2 Nougat factory image. The method does not work on phones from other brands.
Will downgrading erase my data?
Yes. Flashing the factory image wipes the phone completely, so back up anything you want to keep before you start.
Do I need an unlocked bootloader?
Yes. You cannot flash a factory image with a locked bootloader. If you unlock it as part of this process, that wipes the phone on its own too.
Are the download links official?
Yes, they point to Google’s factory image servers. Google removes or replaces older builds from time to time, so if a link is dead, use the official Google factory images page linked above to find the current Nougat image for your device.
Can I downgrade any Android phone this way?
No. This only works on Google’s Pixel and Nexus devices. Other brands use their own stock firmware and flashing tools, which are different from one maker to the next.
Conclusion
Downgrading a Pixel or Nexus from Oreo back to Nougat comes down to flashing the right 7.1.2 factory image with ADB and Fastboot. As long as the bootloader is unlocked, you have a backup, and you pick the image that matches your device and carrier, the flash-all script handles the rest. If you hit a problem along the way, let us know in the comments and tell us which device you are on.
sailfish = pixel
marlin = pixel xl
guess u got to fix that