You can now check to see whether your Pixel 6a has a defective battery
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
20 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Watch 4 Leaks Just Spoiled Google's Whole Party
The faucet for Google leaks is on, and no one is home. After Google's Pixel 10 was leaked by Google itself, and then the whole Pixel 10 family on top of that, we're now getting an alleged look at the rest of the previously unconfirmed products from reputable gadget leaker Evan Blass. These particular leaks include images of not only Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 but also its next smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. Sorry, Google, looks like the whole cat is now out of the bag. — Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 25, 2025While there's nothing particularly surprising about the images, there are some hints about changes we can expect, especially when it comes to the Pixel Watch 4. Separate leaks from Android Headlines show that the Pixel Watch 4 may actually charge on its side. On the surface, that might not mean much, but it could also be bad news for anyone who wants to use their current charger on a new watch, since it looks like the cable is Watch 4-specific. That being said, it could also enable faster charging and may be easier to repair. The Pixel Watch 4 is moving the charging contacts from the back to the side of the watch 👀 This could be why it has 25% faster charging + is repairable. — Alex Maxham (@alexmaxham) July 24, 2025As for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, they look basically the same design-wise but do showcase a new grayish-blue color, which is great if you like the Pixel Buds Pro 2. I wasn't a huge fan of the look, personally, and I found the audio tuning to be just okay, but I'm leaving space this year for Google to step up its game this year with new drivers or software (hopefully). The wireless earbuds market is pretty competitive, so if Google is going to make a pair of earbuds that stand out from the pack, it's going to have to try something. It's been a bumpy ride to the run-up of Google's planned August event, and there's truly, truly, not a ton to be surprised about at this point, but I guess there's always a chance that these devices will have some kind of hidden feature or quirk that hasn't already been spoiled by a leaker or by Google itself. I, for one, am interested in the next-gen Pixel Fold and how it compares to the very appealing Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is incredibly thin and light. If the Pixel Fold doesn't give Samsung a run for its money, it'll have an even tougher time competing when Apple inevitably releases its first-ever folding iPhone. If there's any area Google could improve upon in the foldable field, it's price. Here's to hoping for a more affordable foldable.
Android Authority
20 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Google Maps brings music controls back, but the fix isn't perfect
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Media playback controls are back in Google Maps. Google confirmed earlier this week that the disappearance was a bug. The fix is likely being issued as a server-side update. Google Maps has long had media playback controls to minimize distractions when navigating. However, earlier this week, those controls suddenly disappeared without warning. Now it appears Google has brought the controls back. After reports started coming in about the missing playback controls, Google confirmed that a bug was behind the unintended removal and a fix was on its way. Fast forward a few days, it appears that fix is starting to roll out now. The folks over at Android Police have spotted the return of the media controls on multiple devices running Google Maps versions 25.28.04 and 25.30.00. Considering that these are the same versions that were affected by the bug, it's likely this fix is a server-side update. Not only have the playback controls returned, but so has the setting to enable the feature. This setting can be found by tapping on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen, scrolling down to Settings, and locating Navigation. You should see the option to 'Show media playback controls' right above Alert options. This issue was first spotted only about a week ago. So the fact that Google rolled out a fix this quickly is a pleasant surprise. However, there may be some more work that needs to be done. Android Police notes that the media playback controls don't appear in the collapsed card while in navigation mode. The controls are only visible after you expand the card.
Forbes
22 minutes ago
- Forbes
Google Brings Clarity To An Ad Space Long Blurred By Wine And Guesses
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 08: In this photo illustration, Google app logos, Drive, YouTube, Gmail, ... More Chrome, Google and Google Maps are displayed on the screen of an iPhone on June 08, 2023 in Paris, France. Users of the Google Chrome search engine are advised to update the software on their web browser as soon as possible to ensure their security. The American giant has just released a security update to correct a computer flaw representing a high risk for Internet users. This is the third time since the beginning of the year that Google has spotted a "zero day" flaw, that is to say, a computer flaw not directly resolved, a favorite prey of hackers.(Photo illustration) 'We could sell you a page of advertising for $100,000, tell you it was going to reach a lot of influential and wealthy people, take you out to dinner, dangle an invite to the Oscar party, order expensive wine, get you drunk, and hope you forgot to ask any questions.' Those are the words of Dana Brown, former Deputy Editor of Vanity Fair, from his 2022 autobiography, Dilettante. Brown described how advertising used to be, and how in the dark occasionally overserved ad buyers once were. Ad purchases from editors who 'weren't data people' set the stage for change. It's capitalism's greatest feature: competing away high margins. It rates serious thought as the Department of Justice (DOJ) inches toward the conclusion of its antitrust case against Google. The lawsuit was instigated by Google's supposed 'monopoly' over search, along with its alleged failure to provide advertisers with 'transparency.' It's a look backwards, in concert with a failure to understand just how much Google has vastly enhanced transparency and sales for advertisers. The speculation here is that Brown would agree. All it takes to understand this is to compare search results on Google from July 25, 2022 to July 25, 2025. What users see based on any search or question is profoundly different. The difference is an effect of intense competition within the search space, and particularly the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT. The release of ChatGPT and a myriad of other AI-trained search locales since very much calls into question the DOJ's case. If Google had a monopoly on search, it would reflect in a lack of search-result evolution at Google. Why compete when you're a monopoly? Why indeed. Also, why invest in an uncertain AI future to the tune of $85 billion (the amount Google's parent, Alphabet, is investing in AI in 2025 alone) if your future is already secure; the future born of your control of the present and future? In the words of DOJ attorney David Dahlquist, 'This court has an opportunity to remedy a monopoly that has controlled the internet for today's generation and restore competition for decades to come.' Except that there's no monopoly. See the profound evolution of search results on the alleged monopoly offender in Google. Then see Alphabet's substantial investment in the very technology that promises to render search results from today unrecognizable relative to the future. Or see yet again Dana Brown's memoirs. While the Brown quote that opened this opinion piece has already vivified just how in-the-dark ad buyers used to be, there's more to know. Brown's memoirs explain why the old ways of ad sales were rendered obsolete. Google and Facebook loom large. In Brown's words, Facebook and Google 'were able to target advertising at very specific demographics and then show advertisers actual figures of who saw the ad, who clicked on it, and who made a purchase.' Contrast the above with the days when ad buyers were plied with alcohol so that they wouldn't ask difficult questions from people who probably couldn't answer them to begin with. Not so with Google and Facebook. As Brown recalls, 'They were data-driven businesses.' Yet the DOJ claims Google hasn't been transparent enough with buyers? More realistically, its success is an effect of bringing transparency and data to purchases that were formerly a speculation. Which is just a comment that the DOJ isn't just looking backwards with its lawsuit, it also looking into the past without understanding just how substantially Google has improved the present and future by ending for good the opaque nature of ad-buying from the past.
