Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1 is here, and the part worth reading is not the device list. This build carries Android 17 QPR2’s operating-system-level guard against call-forwarding fraud, one of the quieter ways a scammer can hijack a phone number.
The release also finally brings the four Pixel 11 models into the beta program, a week after Beta 6 shipped without them.
How the Call-Forwarding Guard Works
Call-forwarding scams work by getting your phone to redirect incoming calls somewhere else. That can be triggered with a short dialer code, and an app used to be able to fire one off in the background.
Google’s release notes say Android 17 QPR2 now parses those codes and restricts them selectively. An app holding only the CALL_PHONE permission can no longer send call-forwarding codes through the TelephonyManager USSD API. Attempts made in the background are blocked and receive an error callback instead.
Dialing one yourself still works, but with a checkpoint in the way.
To combat social engineering scams, users manually dialing call-forwarding codes in the system dialer will now see a new OS-level confirmation dialog before the command is executed.
That text comes from Google’s own QPR2 release notes. Codes that have nothing to do with call forwarding are explicitly unaffected, so mobile-money transfers and balance checks keep working as before.
One caveat is worth holding onto. This protection lives in the beta channel for now, so most Pixel owners will not have it until QPR2 reaches the stable track.
Which Pixels Get Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1
Beta 6 landed on September 24 for the Pixel 6a through Pixel 10. Beta 6.1, released September 29, is the catch-up build that adds the newest hardware:
- Pixel 11
- Pixel 11 Pro
- Pixel 11 Pro XL
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Build numbers differ by device. The Pixel 11 series gets CP41.260831.011, while other supported Pixels get CP41.260831.007.A3.
- Security patch level: August 5, 2026
- Google Play services: 26.28.33
- Known issue: Pixel 11 Pro Fold owners may have to re-enroll Face Unlock after installing
If you followed our coverage of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6, this is the same release train, simply widened to the newer phones.
The Rest of It, in Brief
- HiLight on messages: on the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL, the always-on ambient highlight now extends to message notifications
- Developer impact: Google describes QPR2 as a minor SDK release with no planned behavior changes
Rollout and How to Get It
Devices already enrolled should pick up Beta 6.1 as an over-the-air update. You can also join through the Android Beta Program or flash the OTA images Google posts at developer.android.com.
As always, a beta build is a poor fit for a phone you depend on daily. The Face Unlock re-enrollment issue on the Pro Fold is a small reminder of why.
Sources: Google, Droid Life, 9to5Google
