Latest news with #Pixel6a
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
You can now check to see whether your Pixel 6a has a defective battery
The Pixel 9 series birthed some of the best Android phones that you can buy right now. But this type of success doesn't come overnight, with Google delivering plenty of misses with its previous phone releases. With that said, they weren't all bad, but they definitely didn't have the polish that current models have. And while most will have transitioned from those older models to something new, we're now starting to see just how durable these previous-generation phones really are. The Pixel 4a saw a surprise update that reduced battery life, and the Pixel 7a had issues with its battery, prompting the brand to replace it. And just last month, we got word that the Pixel 6a would also get a battery update as well. With that said, it was reported earlier by Droid Life that Google had removed firmware for the Pixel 6a, and now, Google has made things official, announcing its Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program, which is set to officially launch on July 8 (via Droid Life). As far as the details go, Google has determined that some Pixel 6a devices will require an update in order to "reduce the risk of potential battery overheating." Now, similar to previous actions taken by Google, this update will reduce battery capacity and charging performance, but will only affect devices that have exceeded 400 charging cycles. Again, this update will only occur if you have a device that is affected. Not all Pixel 6a phones will need this update. Of course, this is something that is quite inconvenient, and it appears that Google is offering some compensation for the matter in the form of "a repair at no cost to you, a cash payment, or a Google Store hardware discount credit." You'll need to enter your IMEI in order on the support page to see whether you qualify. If you want to get your battery replaced, and your device qualifies, you'll be able to head to a support center in these countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and India. Those in the US and India will also have the option to mail in their device to get support. As a Pixel owner, it's going to be disappointing to experience something like this, but at least Google is taking some steps in order to ensure that its past devices aren't exposing customers to any kind of serious issues. Furthermore, it also has a variety of solutions available that will allow affected users to get proper support. Of course, if you're someone that owns a different phone or tablet, and wants to be proactive in maintaining battery health, we have some tips to offer that will help you preserve the battery inside your device.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
July's Google Pixel update is here with more bad news than good
Google has just published an update for its Pixel phones, and it's in the process of rolling out now. This isn't a beta update, either — it brings the July 2025 security patches to everyone on the stable channel. While some might find relief in a couple of fixes it brings, others could find themselves shopping for a replacement phone after installing this update. Google updated its factory images page today, adding the July 2025 firmware upgrades for all Pixel devices dating back to the 6a. This update has a build number of BP2A.250705.008 and contains the latest Android security patches, but there's some bad news if you have one of Google's sixth-generation Pixel models. Today's update marks the beginning of the Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program. Like the Pixel 4a "update of death" in January 2025, this firmware version will reduce battery life on certain Pixel 6a models in order to "address a potential battery overheating risk." Google says this is a "mandatory software update" that will be automatically applied, and the company has already removed older firmware downloads for the Pixel 6a, so there's no going back. Not all Pixel 6a devices will see reduced battery life with this change — only what Google is calling "Impacted Devices," and even then, just those that have been put through 400 charging cycles. You can check to see if yours is one of the affected models with Google's eligibility page, and if it is, you can apply for a free battery replacement, a cash payment, or a credit to use towards a new Pixel. Notably, the Pixel 6 has been left off the supported devices list with today's update. After unexpectedly receiving extended support beyond the initial three-year OS upgrades promise, 2021's Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were just updated to Android 16 last month. However, when Google announced the extended support, it said these models would continue to receive OS upgrades until October 2026, so we're not entirely sure if this is the end of software support or if Google is just skipping this month's update on these devices. When Android 16 first rolled out to the stable channel last month, many users noticed a bug that made the back gesture unresponsive at times. Others noticed 3-button navigation randomly becoming broken, and both sets of users reported that restarting was the only apparent fix. Google acknowledged the issue several weeks ago, saying a fix would roll out in the next update. So we were expecting that fix today, but Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii contacted Google to verify that was the case, and the company said this fix didn't make the July deadline, so it wasn't included in today's update. In short, we will have to wait until August to receive the fix that beta users already got two weeks ago. If your back button is working fine and your Pixel's series number doesn't start with a 6, you'll have some reason to be excited about today's update — Google is including a fix for glitchy display graphics on Android Auto and in certain apps, and Wi-Fi performance has also been upgraded. What's included The July 2025 update includes bug fixes and improvements for Pixel users – see below for details Display & Graphics Fix to improve smoother visual experiences in apps like Android Auto Wi-Fi Fix to improve Wi-Fi connectivity stability and performance in certain conditions The update is in the process of rolling out now, but Google is sending it out in phases "over the next week." To see if it's available on your device, head to Settings → System → Software updates → System update and tap the Check for updates earlier version of this story erroneously reported that Google had fixed the back button bug with this release. Google has now confirmed that the fix didn't make the cut in time for July's patches, so we'll have to wait until the August update for the situation to be resolved.
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
‘Critical' Google alert for millions of phone owners – exact number you must check your mobile for today to stay safe
Find out what you need to do GOOG GRIEF 'Critical' Google alert for millions of phone owners – exact number you must check your mobile for today to stay safe GOOGLE is issuing a critical alert for millions of phone users to look out for this month to ensure security. It involves the next software update to address serious security vulnerabilities and enhance performance of devices. Advertisement 1 New alert for Google Pixel users is to fix security of phones this month Credit: Reuters The latest software update for the month of July 2025 will roll out in phases over the coming week. Devices to receive the alert It is for Google Pixel devices, specifically to provide new security patch and bug fixes to the Pixel 6a to Pixel 9 series. The July update started rolling out to users yesterday, and also includes firmware for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel Tablet. Google Pixel users with series 6a to 9, as well as Tablet, can therefore expect to receive a notification once the update is available to their device. Advertisement What the update involves The latest firmware comes with a BP2A.250705.008 version number. Issues in Android Auto are said to be addressed in the new firmware, such as providing a smoother visual experience, as well as improved Wi-Fi connectivity stability. A statement from the Google Pixel Support Team wrote: "All supported Pixel devices will remain security compliant for the full duration of their support window." "We encourage you to check your Android version and update to receive the latest software," they added. Advertisement How to check and update your Android To check which Android version is currently installed on your device, open the Settings app. Here you can also find the security update level and Google Play system level. Google reveals surprise Android upgrade including AI that answers phone for you It is also where you can check for updates, as notifications appear when they become available. After navigating to the Settings app, tap 'System' followed by 'Software update' where you will find your update status. Advertisement Then follow the on-screen instructions. It is useful to note that it is normal for Android devices to drain more batter after a software update. This is because it is working hard to download, optimise, and install the update. Most system updates and security patches happen automatically, but to get security and Google Play system updates, go to Security and Privacy in the Settings app. Advertisement Then tap System and updates, where you can find the different available updates. If these do not appear, you can try restarting your phone.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Forbes
Google Warns Pixel 6a Owners To Update Immediately
Google's Pixel 6a Today sees the start of a mandatory automatic software update to Android 16 for Pixel 6a owners. This update brings the latest version of Android to the Pixel 6a and addresses a significant battery overheating issue. Pixel 6a Pushed To Android 16 Android 16 was released on June 10, 2025. It offers updated security features, additions to the UI including Predictive Back animations, new codes for multimedia, and improved accessibility. One of the visible changes is in the management of notifications. Android 16 will group notifications from a single app, live updates in the notification bar, so you don't have to check back in with compatible apps, such as ride-share and delivery apps. However, the most significant change for Pixel 6a owners is addressing the potential for overheating batteries by introducing new battery management software. Pixel 6a Update Impact Ahead of the rollout, the Google Developers website removed all factory images and over-the-air images for the Pixel 6a, presumably to ensure that there is no option to roll back to an older version of Android or continue using the previous iteration of the management software. The update will also address concerns around battery overheating on a subset of Pixel 6a devices. This will include battery management rules that reduce battery capacity and charging rates on these devices after they pass 400 battery charge cycles. This restriction will be removed if a new battery is fitted to the 6a. Google has pushed a similar software update to the Pixel 4a when it faced battery concerns. That update reduced the battery life of the 4a to a few hours. Pixel 6a Owners' Options Depending on where you are based, Google is offering to replace the battery free of charge, receive a cash payment of $100, or a $150 discount code in the Google Store to upgrade to a new Pixel. Given the battery issues, it's likely that the Pixel 6a resale and trade-in values offered by third-party sites will crash, so Google's offer will be a welcome one. Google is being particularly aggressive with its trade-in prices at the moment on the Pixel 9 series. Next month's Made By Google event will see the launch of the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro XL. No doubt, there will be more trade-in offers to promote the new handsets. Trading in the Pixel 6a? Read one of the key improvements offered by the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL…
Deccan Herald
07-07-2025
- Deccan Herald
Google to offer free battery replacement for Pixel 6a
Google on Monday (July 8) is slated to release the Android 16 update to the Pixel 6a, and affected devices will get a special battery management feature.
