Google pushes mandatory Pixel 6a update to fix overheating battery

Summary

Google is pushing a mandatory update for “impacted” Pixel 6a phones aimed at addressing battery overheating issues by reducing its battery capacity and charging speeds.
The mandatory Android 16 software update will be rolled out on July 8. If your Pixel 6a isn’t impacted, it won’t receive the update.
You can check to see if your Pixel 6a is eligible for the software update and a battery replacement on Google’s support forum.

The Pixel 9 series that Google released last year was undoubtedly its best smartphone lineup to date. However, to get there, Google experienced a few bumps along the road, especially regarding battery health. It’s no secret that Pixel smartphones in the past have had serious battery overheating issues, and Google’s recent actions aim to fix those.

Earlier this year, the tech giant rolled out an update for the Pixel 4a after determining that “certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery’s performance.” The update reduced the Pixel 4a’s battery capacity and charging speed in an effort to address battery health problems like overheating. While this negatively affected the phone’s performance due to worse battery life, Google compensated users by offering free battery replacements for “impacted” Pixel 4a devices.

Now, history is repeating itself, and the Pixel 6a is receiving the same treatment as the Pixel 4a earlier this year. This is due to multiple reports of the phone catching fire, which is certainly not something you want your smartphone to do, as it poses a serious safety risk (I’m having Galaxy Note 7 flashbacks).

To fix the Pixel 6a’s overheating issues, Google announced it will push a software update next week to “certain Pixel 6a phones” that will modify their batteries. Similar to the Pixel 4a, Google is offering a replacement program for batteries if your Pixel 6a is considered an “impacted device.”

Brand: Google
SoC: Tensor G1
Display: 6.1-inch, OLED, Full HD+, 60Hz
Battery: 4410mAh, Fast charging

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Google’s Pixel 6a update will reduce battery capacity and charging speed

You can check to see if your Pixel 6a is eligible for a battery replacement now

Google Pixel 6A in hand from the bottom up.

Google states that the software update for affected Pixel 6a phones will begin rolling out next week, on July 8. It is a mandatory automatic update to Android 16. However, Google clarifies that only “Impacted Devices will receive the battery management features,” meaning not every Pixel 6a will get this update.

The changes Google is making through this mandatory update include reducing the maximum battery capacity and charging performance, but only after the phone reaches 400 charge cycles. A charge cycle is one full charge from zero to 100 percent, so if you charge the phone from zero to 100 percent once a day, it would take about 400 days to reach 400 charge cycles. Since the Pixel 6a was released in 2022, many of the impacted devices likely have already hit 400 charge cycles.

If you own a Pixel 6a and want to check if your device is eligible for a replacement battery, Google provides a free tool on its support page for that purpose, which you can check out here.

Google is offering a battery replacement program for impacted Pixel 6a phones at no charge. The program will start on July 21 at walk-in repair centers in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and India. Mail-in repairs will also be available for impacted users in the US and India. Google plans to extend its Pixel 6a battery replacement program to Australia and some parts of Europe as well.

If you own a Pixel 6a and want to check if your device is eligible for a replacement battery, Google provides a free tool on its support page for that purpose, which you can check out here. If your phone qualifies, you’ll be able to get a free battery replacement. However, Google also states that if a battery replacement isn’t “convenient” for you, you can select other support options, such as “cash or a Google hardware discount code” to purchase a new Pixel from the Google Store.

If I had an impacted Pixel 6a, I’d probably opt for the discount at the Google Store rather than a battery replacement. The newly released Pixel 9a is a solid upgrade…

While these battery issues with the Pixel 6a are frustrating and shouldn’t have happened, I’m just glad Google is being mostly transparent about the problem and taking steps to fix it. If I had an impacted Pixel 6a, I’d probably opt for the discount at the Google Store rather than a battery replacement. The newly released Pixel 9a is a solid upgrade, featuring a large 5,100mAh battery and Google’s Tensor G4 chipset. It also includes Google’s new Battery Health Assistance feature, designed to prevent the battery health issues that affected the Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a.