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This is a historical firmware guide to the July 2018 Android 8.1 Oreo release for selected Google Pixel and Nexus devices—not a current Android update. The release carried the 2018-07-05 security patch level. Match the build to your exact device, then choose Google’s full OTA package for a compatible stock phone or its factory image for a clean stock restoration.
Google’s official full OTA repository and factory-image repository are the download sources. The page this guide updates was originally published December 5, 2017, and updated July 3, 2018; its older URL does not mean this is a December 2017 build.
What the July 2018 release includes
Android 8.1 Oreo is the operating-system release, also identified as API level 27. The July 2018 security update is a maintenance release for supported Pixel and Nexus devices; its patch level is 2018-07-05. The device-specific build number identifies the firmware package to match. Those terms are related, but they are not interchangeable. Google’s Android 8.1 documentation describes the OS release, while the July 2018 Pixel/Nexus security bulletin covers the patch.
The bulletin was published July 2, 2018, and revised July 3 to include AOSP links. It says the 2018-07-05 patch level or later addresses the issues listed in both the Pixel/Nexus bulletin and the July Android Security Bulletin. Alongside security fixes, Google listed device-specific functional fixes, including improved Wi-Fi consistency on certain routers for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, as well as connectivity, performance, display, interface, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi fixes for Pixel devices. This release does not imply ongoing support or current security protection.
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July 2018 Android 8.1 builds by device
Use this mapping to identify the target build before opening Google’s repositories. These are Android 8.1.0 builds with the 2018-07-05 patch level, not one universal Pixel/Nexus build.
| Device | July 2018 build | AOSP release tag |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel | OPM4.171019.021.P1 |
android-8.1.0_r38 |
| Pixel XL | OPM4.171019.021.P1 |
android-8.1.0_r38 |
| Pixel 2 | OPM4.171019.021.Q1 |
android-8.1.0_r39 |
| Pixel 2 XL | OPM4.171019.021.R1 |
android-8.1.0_r40 |
| Pixel C | OPM4.171019.021.N1 |
android-8.1.0_r37 |
| Nexus 5X | OPM6.171019.030.E1 |
android-8.1.0_r41 |
| Nexus 6P | OPM6.171019.030.E1 |
android-8.1.0_r41 |
Google’s build-number reference is the source for these identifiers. Older Nexus devices are not included in this July 2018 Android 8.1 build list; do not infer eligibility from the Nexus name alone.
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Find the right package before downloading
- Confirm the exact model. Check Settings → System → About phone (on Pixel C, About tablet). Do not select a file based only on a broad label such as “Pixel.”
- Record the current build. The same About screen shows Build number. If using command-line tools, verify the device identity and current firmware before proceeding.
- Check variant details. Where Google’s repository lists carrier or regional variants, select the entry matching the device. Do not assume packages are interchangeable.
- Choose the package type. The full OTA is generally the preferred route for compatible stock firmware; use a factory image when you need to restore stock firmware and accept the wipe.
- Match the target. Confirm the package is for the exact device and the intended Android 8.1 build. Download only from Google’s OTA repository or factory-image repository; check the repository’s checksum when one is provided.
Full OTA or factory image?
| Your situation | Better fit | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Stock phone, locked bootloader | Full OTA | Designed to update stock firmware without the usual factory-image unlock and wipe. |
| Normal OTA failed or has not arrived | Full OTA | Can be sideloaded through recovery, provided the device’s current firmware is compatible. |
| Rooted or modified system, custom recovery, or damaged partitions | Factory image | Can restore stock firmware, but installation erases user data and generally requires bootloader unlocking. |
| Need a clean stock installation and have a complete backup | Factory image | Destructive clean-flash route; follow the instructions included with the exact archive. |
| Want to preserve data | Full OTA, if compatible | Data preservation is not a guarantee if the package is incompatible or the device must be reset to recover. |
Google describes full OTA sideloading as typically easier and safer than factory-image flashing. A full OTA is not a factory image, and it is not simply the ordinary background OTA download: it is a complete update package applied through the device’s recovery process. Details are in Google’s full OTA instructions.
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Back up before starting. Factory-image installation erases user data, including apps and associated data. Even when using a full OTA, keep a backup in case compatibility or installation problems require recovery. Google’s factory-image documentation warns of the wipe.
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Charge the device and use a reliable USB cable and port.
- Install Google’s Android SDK Platform-Tools; confirm
adbandfastbootwork from a terminal. - Download from the official Google repository and verify the device, build, and any published checksum.
- If the device is rooted, running custom firmware, or on a preview release, establish a compatible route before flashing. A stable July 2018 package is not automatically a safe downgrade from Android P; downgrade checks may block installation, and a transition may require a wipe.
Install the full OTA with ADB sideload
This route is for a compatible stock device. Keep the OTA ZIP intact; do not extract it before sideloading.
- Connect the phone and confirm that Android Debug Bridge sees it:
adb devices. - Reboot to recovery:
adb reboot recovery. - In recovery, select Apply update from ADB. Wording can vary slightly by device and recovery version; follow the on-screen prompt.
- From the computer, send the exact downloaded package:
adb sideload <exact-full-ota-package>.zip. - Wait for recovery to report success or an error. A terminal percentage that pauses or behaves unusually is not by itself a reliable success indicator; use recovery’s final result.
- Choose the recovery option to reboot, or run
adb rebootafter the update completes.
If recovery reports a verification failure, stop rather than bypassing signature checks. Recheck the exact model and variant, package integrity, current firmware compatibility, and whether system or boot partitions were modified.
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Install a factory image
Use this for stock restoration or a clean installation only if you accept data loss. Google warns that factory-image installation erases the device; unlocking the bootloader also reduces security until it is relocked. Follow Google’s factory-image instructions for the selected device and archive.
- Back up data, then download the exact device’s factory archive from Google and extract it on the computer.
- Boot the device into its bootloader with
adb reboot bootloader, or use the device’s hardware-key method. - Confirm fastboot can see the phone:
fastboot devices. Do not continue unless the expected serial number appears. - Unlock the bootloader only if required, following the device-specific official instructions. Unlocking erases data.
- Run the flashing script included in that exact archive—typically
./flash-all.shon macOS/Linux orflash-all.baton Windows. Do not substitute a script or copied command sequence for another model. - Allow flashing to finish without disconnecting the device. Follow Google’s instructions to relock the bootloader after successful installation where appropriate; relocking an improperly flashed device can prevent it from booting.
Verify the installed update
After Android starts, open Settings → System → About phone → Android version (About tablet on Pixel C). Check the Android version, Android security patch level, and Build number. The expected values are Android 8.1.0, patch level 2018-07-05 (sometimes displayed as July 5, 2018), and the device-specific build listed above. Google’s security bulletin points to Android’s instructions for checking the patch level.
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Troubleshoot installation problems
Recovery shows “No command”
Return to the recovery menu using the device’s on-screen or hardware-key instructions, then choose the ADB sideload option. Confirm Platform-Tools is installed and the cable remains connected.
ADB sideload connection fails
- Run
adb devicesbefore entering recovery and again after selecting sideload mode. - Check that recovery is actually waiting for an ADB sideload package.
- On Windows, install the appropriate USB driver; otherwise try another cable or USB port.
Signature or package verification fails
Likely causes include a package for another device or variant, a damaged download, incompatible current firmware, or modified system partitions. Re-download from Google and verify the checksum if provided. Do not disable signature verification as a workaround.
Fastboot does not detect the device
Make sure the phone is in bootloader mode, not recovery; check the fastboot driver, cable, and USB port; then retry fastboot devices. Stop until the expected device serial is listed.
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Return to recovery or bootloader and confirm the package matched the exact device. If using a factory image, use the official complete archive and its supplied procedure; a modified device may require restoring all relevant partitions. Consider a data wipe only after confirming the backup and the correct package.
Historical firmware is not current security support
These builds remain useful when a Pixel or Nexus owner needs this specific historical Android 8.1 firmware, but they do not bring a device up to current Android or security levels. The Google repository pages are current interfaces that retain older firmware entries; their availability is not evidence of a new 2026 release.
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