Google will release a mandatory software update for some Pixel 6A phones to address potential battery overheating risks. The update will implement battery management features that reduce battery capacity and charging performance after 400 charge cycles, according to Google spokesperson Alex Moriconi.
Impacted users will be contacted next month with detailed instructions on how to proceed.
Reports of Pixel 6A devices catching fire have emerged, including a Reddit user whose phone reportedly combusted spontaneously overnight. Android Authority also discovered code in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 referencing potential battery overheating issues for the Pixel 6A and linking to a support page that is not yet live.
This follows a similar update earlier this year for the Pixel 4A, where battery life was reduced to avoid overheating. Additionally, Google announced an extended repair program in April for battery swelling issues affecting the Pixel 7A.