The existence of the Pixel 4 is Google’s worst-kept secret, as far as Google products go. Previous Pixel phones were leaked early, but the Pixel 4 might as well have already had its official announcement considering how much has been outed about Google’s next flagship smartphone. And now, you can get an early look at some of the Pixel 4’s visual design on your own Android phone by downloading and installing a collection of Live Wallpapers that will be available on the still-unannounced device.
The wallpapers have been compiled into an app from developer Pranav Pandey over at the XDA Developers forums. However, these unofficial versions have some limitations, including strict hardware and software requirements.
You’ll need a device with Android 7.0 or higher installed, and the wallpapers require Snapdragon processors with ARM 64 in order to display properly. They’ll work on other chipsets, for the most part, but some devices may experience lag even if they’re relatively newer. For those who don’t know their smartphone’s hardware specs, the easiest way to check is by looking up the device on a site like GSMArena. That said, recently released Android devices — especially Pixel 3 models — should be up to the task.
But even with the right hardware, the live wallpapers are finicky. Android Police notes that a few won’t convert to their dark theme version when Android’s dark mode is enabled, and all of them lack the Ambient Display support on Android 10.
I think it’s safe to assume that these compatibility issues won’t be present on the Pixel 4, so it’s best to think of these wallpapers as more of an early look than a 1-to-1 recreation of what the the Pixel 4 is getting. Still, they’re fun to play with.
How to sideload the Pixel 4 Live Wallpapers to your own Android device
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Download the Wallpapers 19 APK file from APK Mirror onto your smartphone.
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Once the download is finished, open the file to begin the sideload installation. You will need to allow installation from unknown sources. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
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(Optional) Some Android devices (like Samsung devices) may need to install the Google Wallpapers app from Google Play in order to enable Live Wallpaper display.
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Find your device’s wallpaper menu in Settings. This will differ between devices, though most include a search bar you can use to find specific settings. Select “Live Wallpaper,” then pick one you like from the available options.
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Further troubleshooting and alternative installation tips can also be found on the app’s official XDA Forums thread if you run into any issues.
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