Arielle / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google will quickly warn Pixel 6a house owners a few potential battery overheating difficulty, following a number of stories of the machine catching hearth.
- A string we discovered within the newest Android beta states the telephone’s battery capability and charging pace might be restricted after 400 cost cycles as a security measure.
- Given the intense threat of fireside, customers who see the warning are strongly suggested to switch the battery or improve their telephone instantly.
Replace, June 11, 2025 (4:51 PM ET): A spokesperson for Google has shared the next assertion with Android Authority:
A subset of Pixel 6a telephones would require a compulsory software program replace to cut back the chance of potential battery overheating. The replace will allow battery administration options that may scale back capability and charging efficiency after the battery reaches 400 cost cycles. We’ll contact impacted prospects subsequent month, with all the knowledge they should tackle the difficulty.
This assertion confirms that Google will quickly difficulty a compulsory software program replace to “a subset of Pixel 6a telephones” with a purpose to “scale back the chance of potential battery overheating.” This replace will “allow battery administration options” that may “scale back capability and charging efficiency” as soon as the battery reaches 400 charging cycles. The corporate will contact impacted Pixel 6a customers subsequent month with “all the knowledge they should tackle the difficulty.”
Authentic article, June 11, 2025 (2:05 PM ET): Google’s Pixel A-series gives a few of the greatest worth for cash amongst Android phones. The road really hit its stride with the Pixel 6a in July 2022, which introduced Google’s flagship Tensor processor to a mid-range worth level — a development that continues at the moment. Whereas many individuals are nonetheless holding onto their Pixel 6a, which is able to obtain software program assist till July 2027, it could be time to contemplate an improve, as Google is now warning of a possible battery overheating difficulty with the machine.
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We sometimes hear about smartphones catching hearth or exploding. Whereas these are sometimes remoted incidents, generally they level to a extra widespread, elementary flaw within the machine itself. This was the case for the Pixel 4a, which additionally suffered from battery overheating risks, forcing Google to launch an replace that throttled the machine’s efficiency to mitigate the hazard.
The issue with the Pixel 4a was so extreme that Google provided free battery replacements or money compensation to affected customers. Australian authorities even issued a recall for the machine, with the nation’s Competitors & Client Fee warning that “an overheating battery might pose a threat of fireside and/or burns to a person.”
Now, it seems the identical difficulty could also be affecting the Pixel 6a. Over the previous month, we’ve noticed two separate situations of the device catching fire — one in Could and one other simply final week. A Reddit person and an Android Authority reader each individually shared ugly photos of their melted Pixel 6a phones, portray a vivid image of what can occur when a battery critically overheats.
At first, we weren’t positive if these had been merely remoted incidents. Nevertheless, given Google’s current historical past with battery points on the Pixel 4a and Pixel 7a, we had been involved. Sadly, our fears look like confirmed by new textual content discovered within the newest Android 16 beta.
Hidden inside the Settings app of the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 launch is a warning for Pixel 6a customers a few “potential battery overheating difficulty.” The alert, which seems after the battery reaches 375 cost cycles, states that as a precaution, the machine’s “battery capability and charging efficiency might be decreased” as soon as it hits 400 cycles.
Code
Your battery has reached 375 cost cycles. As a result of a possible battery overheating difficulty, when your battery reaches 400 cost cycles the battery capability and charging efficiency might be decreased and battery substitute is really useful. Assist choices can be found, go to <u>g.co/pixel/6abattery</u> for extra data.
As a result of a possible battery overheating difficulty, battery capability and charging efficiency are decreased, and battery substitute is really useful. Assist choices can be found, go to <u>g.co/pixel/6abattery</u> for extra data. As soon as efficiency is throttled, Google recommends changing the battery and visiting g.co/pixel/6abattery for obtainable assist choices. That assist web page isn’t reside but, so we now have reached out to Google for extra particulars on the way it plans to deal with Pixel 6a battery replacements.
Should you personal a Pixel 6a, we urge you to verify for this warning below Settings > Battery > Battery well being. Should you see the alert, we strongly suggest changing the battery or upgrading your machine instantly. Battery fires are not any joke and pose a critical risk to you and your private home.
