TL;DR The Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL can now run Android 16 through official support in LineageOS 23, years after Google ended updates.
The update is based on Android 16’s initial release, not newer QPR builds, so some later features aren’t included.
Installing LineageOS requires unlocking the phone and manually installing new software, which may not suit everyone.
That relic of a device that’s gathering dust in your drawer might still have a lease of life in it yet. Google officially stopped updating the Pixel 4 back in 2022, but the phone is now getting Android 16 anyway — just not from Google.
What do you like most about Pixel phones? 2636 votes The software experience 56 % The design 6 % The camera system 18 % The streamlined lineup 4 % Exclusive features 9 % I'm actually not a Pixel fan 7 %
As spotted by Android Police, the LineageOS team has officially added support for the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL as part of LineageOS 23. The Pixel 4a, 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a are also now supported. That’s the project’s Android 16-based release, and the “official” status means the maintainers consider it stable enough for everyday use, with core features working as expected.
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This move comes well after Google’s final OS update for the Pixel 4 series, which arrived with Android 13. While the device has technically been able to run unofficial LineageOS 23 builds for a while, official support is a step up, signalling broader testing and ongoing maintenance rather than a one-off build.
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
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