Android 14 Beta 1 Released with New Features and Privacy Enhancements

Google today released Android 14 Beta 1 for ordinary users, and Pixel devices can already upgrade to the new version. However, some users experienced errors that required a full re‑flash, so backing up all data before upgrading is strongly recommended.

The update continues to make modest functional improvements while further strengthening privacy and security. The following new features and changes have been observed:

Enhanced PIN privacy: When enabled, the lock‑screen PIN entry no longer shows animated digits, preventing onlookers from seeing the password.

Transparent navigation bar: A new developer option forces the system navigation bar to become transparent without any app‑side integration, though some apps may still not display it correctly.

Restored volume controls: The separation of ringtone and notification volumes, merged in earlier releases, is expected to return in this beta.

BLE audio allowlist for developers: A toggle in developer options lets developers manually control which low‑energy Bluetooth devices are permitted to use audio, primarily for testing purposes.

Permission changes for photos and videos: The permission dialog now lets users choose whether to grant access to photos, videos, or both, with options for full allow, full deny, or selective selection.

Note that the list above only covers part of the new functionality; additional changes are likely to be discovered as Google has not published a detailed changelog.