Android 16 QPR1 Source Code Released to Developers
The source code for Android 16 QPR1 is now available on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), following a delay of several weeks after the initial update to Pixel devices.
The release, which went live today with the “android16-qpr1-release” branch across multiple repositories, provides developers and enthusiasts with access to the code underpinning new features including Material 3 Expressive and Desktop Mode. This is crucial for custom ROM projects like LineageOS, allowing them to integrate the latest Android enhancements into their builds.
Google traditionally releases Android source code shortly after a new version’s launch, making the recent delay unusual. The timing of this release, immediately following the November 2025 Pixel Drop, has led to speculation that the QPR1 code may have contained information about upcoming features, such as developments in the Android PC project, which Google recently teased at the Snapdragon Summit. For more information on the Android Open Source Project, visit the official AOSP website.
Google has stated they would release the code “in the coming weeks,” and have now followed through on that promise. Officials have not yet commented on the reason for the initial delay, but developers are now actively examining the code for further insights into Google’s ongoing Android development.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The source code for Android 16 QPR1 is now available on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) after a weeks-long delay.
- This release gives developers access to the code for new features like Material 3 Expressive and Desktop Mode.
- Custom ROM projects such as LineageOS can now rebase their work on the new code to incorporate these QPR1 features.
When Google released the Android 16 QPR1 update for Pixel devices in early September, its source code was conspicuously absent. This was unusual, as Google traditionally publishes the source code for new Android versions within a day or two of their release. After telling Android Authority it would release the code “in the coming weeks,” the company has now made good on that promise.
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The source code for Android 16 QPR1 is now available on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), with the “android16-qpr1-release” branch going live in multiple repositories. This release gives developers and enthusiasts access to the code behind new QPR1 features like Material 3 Expressive and Desktop Mode. Custom ROM developers can now use this source code in their projects, and we expect major players like LineageOS to begin rebasing their work on it shortly.
It’s not immediately clear why Google delayed the source code, but the timing of its release — right after the November 2025 Pixel Drop — is notable. Perhaps the QPR1 code contained clues about the new Pixel Drop features or the company’s Android PC project, which it wanted to keep under wraps until the recent Snapdragon Summit tease. Whatever the case, we’ll be scouring the Android 16 QPR1 source code to learn more about all the changes Google made since the initial Android 16 release.
If you spot something new or interesting in the Android 16 QPR1 source code, send me a message — I’d love to hear from you!
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