What to Do If a Google Pixel 4a Software Update Ruined Your Battery Life
A recent software update designed to stabilize the Pixel 4a’s battery life has had an unexpected side effect: Some Pixel 4a owners are reporting that their phones can now barely hold a charge. There’s a particularly egregious example on Reddit where a user reported that their phone went from seven hours of screen time on a charge to just 30 minutes.
Pixel 4a battery performance issues
Earlier this month , Google published a detailed document explaining the Pixel 4a’s software update to Android 13. The company says some people are experiencing degradation in battery capacity, battery life, or performance as is expected for certain types of lithium-ion batteries. age. However, in the case of the Pixel 4a, Google decided to release a software update to provide more stable battery performance, but with a caveat: it may result in shorter battery life and slower charging.
Google’s document states: “For select devices (“Affected Devices”), the update includes new battery management features that improve the stability of your battery so your battery can last for shorter periods of time between charges. Users of Affected Devices may also be aware of other changes, such as reduced charging performance or changes in the way the battery level indicator on your phone shows battery capacity.” This has left some Pixel 4a users with phones that can barely hold a charge.
Google Solution to Fix Pixel 4a Battery Issues
The company offered several options to Pixel 4a owners affected by this software update: a free battery replacement, a one-time payment of $50, or a $100 credit that you can use toward a new Pixel phone from Google.
Reddit users seemed to have a good experience replacing the battery, with some reporting they were able to do it in less than two hours. Most people recommend returning your device in person to ensure the shortest possible processing time and reduce the risk of loss or damage. However, this requires some effort to back up the device and reset it to factory settings. Although people replace batteries without doing either, I don’t recommend it. A full backup is an important step if you don’t want to lose your data. The factory reset step ensures that others cannot access all the data on your unlocked phone.
How to check if your Pixel 4a is affected
Google is calling the affected Pixel 4a “affected devices.” You can check if your solution is one of them by going to this Google Pixel support page and following the on-screen instructions to choose from the three suggested solutions. You’ll be able to request a free battery replacement, request store credit, or accept cash payment.