Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Google

2025-08-22T19:27:02Z

UnknownSource: oops, move to appropriate section

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1998
|Industry=Technology
|Logo=Google.webp
|ParentCompany=Alphabet Inc.
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.google.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Google|Google LLC]]''', founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is one of the most influential technology companies in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest tech companies by market cap |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/ |url-status=live |website=companiesmarketcap.com}}</ref> Originally developed as a search engine to organize and index the growing amount of information on the internet, Google has since expanded into a wide range of services and products, becoming a central player in digital advertising, software, hardware, and cloud computing.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Google Products |url=https://about.google/products/ |access-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Google's search engine remains its most well-known service, but the company has significantly diversified its offerings. Key products include the [[Android]] operating system, the [[Google Chrome]] web browser, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drive Google Drive] for cloud storage, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps Google Maps], [[YouTube]], and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Google Play]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helpful products, built with you in mind |url=https://about.google/intl/ALL_us/products/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed}} Additionally, the company provides digital advertising services through Google Ads, generating the majority of its revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2025 |title=Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results |url=https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> In recent years, Google has also developed hardware products such as the Pixel smartphone and Nest smart home devices.

Google has faced ongoing scrutiny related to data privacy, competition, and its dominant position in the market, such concerns have stretched as far back as 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Adam |date=5 Mar 2012 |title=Will We Ever Get Strong Internet Privacy Rules? |url=https://ideas.time.com/2012/03/05/will-we-ever-get-strong-internet-privacy-rules/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=REPORT: Google at 25: From “Don’t Be Evil” To ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://techoversight.org/2023/09/06/google-at-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Tech Oversight Project}}</ref> The company has been the subject of various legal and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning antitrust issues, the use of personal data, and its impact on consumer choice.{{Citation needed}} The US government is currently engaged in an antitrust lawsuit against Google, with a decision expected early 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2024 |title=Closing Arguments, November 25: Once, Twice, Three Times a Monopolist |url=https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=US v Google}}</ref> {{UpdateNeeded|date={{subst:August}} {{subst:2025}}|reason=We need updates on this situation.}}

In December 2024, Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing [[wikipedia:Fingerprint_(computing)|fingerprinting]] techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Almond |first=Stephen |date=19 Dec 2024 |title=Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting |url=https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/12/our-response-to-google-s-policy-change-on-fingerprinting/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ico.}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer incidents==

===Service shutdowns===

====Google Play Music shutdown====
[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Music|Google Play Music]] was a service that allowed users to purchase music, listen via streaming, and download to the local device; alternatively users could pay for a subscription to listen to all music available through streaming. It was publicly launched on the 16th November 2011 and later shutdown in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=Google Play Music, Music Play Store & Music Manager are going away – everything you need to know |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/62843644/google-play-music-music-play-store-music-manager-are-going-away-%E2%80%93-everything-you-need-to-know?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=28 Oct 2020 |title=RIP Google Play Music, 2011 – 2020 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/rip-google-play-music-2011-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> Google Play Music further allowed users to upload their own songs to listen on all their devices, with a limit of up to 50,000 files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=11 Jan 2017 |title=How to Upload Your Music Library to Google Play Music |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/288231/how-to-upload-your-music-library-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek}}</ref> Users were able to purchase songs individually or buy whole albums that they could then download and listen to, or stream through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Jan 2020 |title=How To Buy Music From Google Play (Now YouTube Music) |url=https://www.technobezz.com/buy-music-google-play |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Technobezz}}</ref>

In October 2020, Google announced that they would be shutting down Google Play Music, with it being fully shut down by December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=3 Dec 2020 |title=Google fully shuts down Play Music around the world |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/12/03/google-play-music-dead/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=9To5Google}}</ref> This went ahead with a warning to their users to begin migrating to [[wikipedia:YouTube_Music|YouTube Music]], and that they would be losing access to their purchased songs. Google recommended users should download their purchased songs before the service would shut down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=YouTube Music will replace Google Play Music by end of 2020 |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog}}</ref>

After the shut down, users lost access to the music they paid for, with no way to download them. Google justified this by transferring all playlists and purchase history to YouTube Music, and only refunding songs that were not directly available,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Oct 2023 |title=What happened to my songs on Google Music? |url=https://darwinsdata.com/what-happened-to-my-songs-on-google-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Darwin's Data}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaney |first=Sarah |date=5 Feb 2022 |title=What Happened to Google Play Music? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-happened-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=MUO}}</ref> with no guarantee that the songs will remain available through the new service. Users found that their purchased songs were no longer able to stream at 320kbps on YouTube Music compared to Google Play Music unless they paid for the monthly subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutlack |first=Gary |date=23 Dec 2012 |title=Google Music UK: everything you need to know |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/software/google-music-uk-everything-you-need-to-know-1120176 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. Hald |first=Nicole |date=24 Mar 2025 |title=How Is YouTube Music Sound Quality in 2025? Is It Any Good? |url=https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/youtube-music-audio-quality.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NoteBurner}}</ref> If a user failed to initiate the transfer of their music library or locally download their songs by 24th February 2021, then they lost all access and all data associated with Google Play Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sodhi |first=Tanishka |date=8 Feb 2021 |title=Google Play Music Data Will Be Deleted on February 24: Here’s How to Transfer to YouTube Music |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/news/google-play-music-data-deleted-february-24-youtube-how-to-transfer-files-playlists-billing-information-2365609 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Gadgets 360}}</ref> YouTube Music does not provide the option to download songs as MP3s, with local downloads requiring an internet connection every 30 days to stay up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download music and podcasts to listen to offline |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>

====Google Stadia shutdown====
In January 2023, Google announced the shutdown of its cloud gaming service, Stadia, which was launched in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming service |url=https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Stadia required users to purchase games individually, unlike other gaming platforms that offer subscription-based access. Upon the service's closure, Google promised to refund consumers for their purchases, including both games and hardware. The refunds for games and software were issued automatically.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravenscraft |first=Erin |date=10 Nov 2022 |title=Stadia Is Dying. Here’s What’s in Your Refund and How to Get It |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Wired}}</ref>

Stadia users were effectively renting access to games, as the platform did not allow for traditional ownership or offline play. With the service discontinued, consumers were left without access to the content they had purchased. Stadia users who had bought controllers and other peripherals for the service were also impacted by the shutdown. While Google offered refunds to customers, many Stadia consumers were left with equipment that no longer performs the advertised functions and limited recourse for repurposing or reselling their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=Mack |date=5 Oct 2022 |title=Stadia Shut Down: How To Use Your Hardware Now Google’s Shutting It Down |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Game Revolution}}</ref>

Google Stadia controllers were limited to Wi-Fi connectivity, however upon shut down they started offering an update to allow them to connect through Bluetooth, the update service website was scheduled to shut down on the 31st December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devine |first=Richard |date=17 Jan 2023 |title=Bluetooth support for Google Stadia Controller arrives — Here's how to enable it and play PC games |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/bluetooth-support-for-google-stadia-controller-arrives-heres-how-to-enable-it-and-play-pc-games |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Windows Central}}</ref>

===='''Manifest V2 shutdown'''====
On July 24, 2025, Google permanently disabled all Manifest V2 extensions for Chrome 138 users, and disabled the ability to turn them back on.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=Manifest V2 support timeline |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808191702/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

Manifest V3 disabled the <code>webRequestBlocking</code> permission in the <code>webRequest</code> API<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers}}</ref>, preventing many ad content blockers from working.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=Understanding Manifest V3 and the Future of uBlock Origin |url=https://ublockorigin.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812114916/https://ublockorigin.com/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad content blocker}}</ref> Google cites performance reasons <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers |quote="In Manifest V2, blocking web requests could significantly degrade both the performance of extensions and the performance of pages they work with."}}</ref>, but this is dubious; restricting content blockers prevents users from impeding their tracking and surveillance, meaning they can create a larger profit from the data gained. This is likely the ulterior motive, although unproven.

==='''Pixel 4a battery reduction update'''===
{{Main|Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program}}
On January 6, 2025, Google issued a software update to the Pixel 4a that significantly decreased battery capacity on "Impacted Devices". Not all units were affected. It's speculated that the affected units have defective batteries and may pose a safety risk if the update is not applied, but Google never disclosed the reason(s) that the update was deemed necessary. Google removed all factory images for previous versions of the system software from their website, making it difficult to revert the update.

As compensation, Google offered a free battery replacement only in select countries. In other countries, you could choose between a $50 USD payment or $100 USD worth of Google Store credits. However, some users reported difficulty obtaining their compensation.

==Controversies==

===Google device repair program restrictions===
{{Main|Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair}}
Google's Service & Repair Program terms explicitly state that any device containing non-Google-authorized parts "will not be returned" to the customer.

===Target API level requirements for Google Play apps===
Google's policy of requiring apps for Android to target recent API levels to appear in the Play Store<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2024 |title=Policy Center |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Play Console Help}}</ref> creates a continuous cycle of maintenance and redevelopment that can be especially burdensome for smaller developers, indie creators, and consumers.

The requirement for apps to target newer APIs each year serves some legitimate security and feature purposes. However, it also effectively functions as a form of forced obsolescence. Even perfectly functional apps that don't need technical updates must be regularly reworked just to remain visible on the Play Store.

This creates several issues:

*Development resources must be allocated to updating apps rather than creating new features
*Smaller teams and individual developers are placed at a disadvantage attempting to keep up with the constant update cycle
*Legacy apps that are no longer actively maintained disappear, even if they're still useful
*The cost of maintaining apps increases, potentially making some projects financially nonviable
*Losing access to previously purchased apps when upgrading devices
*Users being unable to reinstall older apps that worked perfectly well for their needs
*Facing unexpected costs to replace functionality they've already paid for
*Dealing with the frustration of discovering favorite apps have disappeared

While Google argues this approach improves the Android ecosystem's security and functionality, it does place a significant burden on developers and can lead to the premature "death" of otherwise functional applications.

This creates a troubling disconnect in digital ownership. Consumers reasonably expect that when they purchase an app, they should maintain access to it across their devices over time. Instead, they discover their digital purchases can effectively vanish due to policy decisions beyond their control.

===Ban on third-party tech support ads===
Google prohibits tech support ads on their platform if they are not authorised by the manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graff |first=David |date=31 Aug 2018 |title=Restricting ads in third-party tech support services |url=https://blog.google/products/ads/restricting-ads-third-party-tech-support-services/ |website=Google}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer legal cases==

===Rodriguez v. Google LLC (5/21/21 - Present)===
Google's Web & App Activity setting had the ability to be paused. Reportedly, despite this setting being paused by consumers, Google would continue to collect consumer data regardless of consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodriguez v. Google LLC |url=https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/FAQ#faq1 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> This case is currently ongoing and has yet to receive a judgment.<ref>[https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/Documents Important Documents]</ref>

===Epic Games, Inc. v. Google Inc. (8/13/20 - 5/31/25)===
Google takes a 30% share of all revenue made through all sales made on the Play Store, which is a comparable figure to other digital storefronts such as the [[Apple App Store]] and [[Steam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Tom |date=7 Oct 2019 |title=Report: Steam's 30% Cut Is Actually the Industry Standard |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/07/report-steams-30-cut-is-actually-the-industry-standard |url-status=live |website=ign.com}}</ref> On 13th August 2020, [[Epic Games]] CEO Tim Sweeney updated both iOS and Android versions of ''Fortnite'' to redirect users to Epic Games' storefront to purchase in-game currency ("V-Bucks") alongside the respective first-party storefront, with incentives including cheaper prices if buying from Epic Games directly. This violated the Terms of Service of both Apple and Google's storefronts, and ''Fortnite'' was removed from both app stores the same day.

Epic Games would use this motion to file federal lawsuits against both Google and Apple, citing that these practices meant that the companies were engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. Google lost in the lawsuit, but attempted to appeal the decision, in which they lost again.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=31 July 2025 |title=Epic just won its Google lawsuit again, and Android may never be the same |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/716856/epic-v-google-win-in-appeals-court |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

==See also==

===Products and Services===

[[List of Google products]]
===Controversies===

*[[Advertising overload]]
*[[Google follows Samsung, asserts the right to steal your phone during a repair]]
*[[Google Pixel Watches do not come with repair options]]
*[[HD Movie Purchases Google Movies/YouTube reduced to 480p on the web]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Google]]

Google

2025-08-22T19:23:37Z

UnknownSource: Add Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=1998
|Industry=Technology
|Logo=Google.webp
|ParentCompany=Alphabet Inc.
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://www.google.com/
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Google|Google LLC]]''', founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is one of the most influential technology companies in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest tech companies by market cap |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/ |url-status=live |website=companiesmarketcap.com}}</ref> Originally developed as a search engine to organize and index the growing amount of information on the internet, Google has since expanded into a wide range of services and products, becoming a central player in digital advertising, software, hardware, and cloud computing.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Google Products |url=https://about.google/products/ |access-date=10 Mar 2025}}</ref>

Google's search engine remains its most well-known service, but the company has significantly diversified its offerings. Key products include the [[Android]] operating system, the [[Google Chrome]] web browser, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drive Google Drive] for cloud storage, [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps Google Maps], [[YouTube]], and [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Google Play]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helpful products, built with you in mind |url=https://about.google/intl/ALL_us/products/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed}} Additionally, the company provides digital advertising services through Google Ads, generating the majority of its revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Feb 2025 |title=Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results |url=https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> In recent years, Google has also developed hardware products such as the Pixel smartphone and Nest smart home devices.

Google has faced ongoing scrutiny related to data privacy, competition, and its dominant position in the market, such concerns have stretched as far back as 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Adam |date=5 Mar 2012 |title=Will We Ever Get Strong Internet Privacy Rules? |url=https://ideas.time.com/2012/03/05/will-we-ever-get-strong-internet-privacy-rules/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Sep 2023 |title=REPORT: Google at 25: From “Don’t Be Evil” To ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://techoversight.org/2023/09/06/google-at-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Tech Oversight Project}}</ref> The company has been the subject of various legal and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning antitrust issues, the use of personal data, and its impact on consumer choice.{{Citation needed}} The US government is currently engaged in an antitrust lawsuit against Google, with a decision expected early 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Nov 2024 |title=Closing Arguments, November 25: Once, Twice, Three Times a Monopolist |url=https://www.usvgoogleads.com/trial-updates/closing-arguments-november-25-once-twice-three-times-a-monopolist |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=US v Google}}</ref> {{UpdateNeeded|date={{subst:August}} {{subst:2025}}|reason=We need updates on this situation.}}

In December 2024, Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing [[wikipedia:Fingerprint_(computing)|fingerprinting]] techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Almond |first=Stephen |date=19 Dec 2024 |title=Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting |url=https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/12/our-response-to-google-s-policy-change-on-fingerprinting/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ico.}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer incidents==

===Service shutdowns===

====Google Play Music shutdown====
[[wikipedia:Google_Play_Music|Google Play Music]] was a service that allowed users to purchase music, listen via streaming, and download to the local device; alternatively users could pay for a subscription to listen to all music available through streaming. It was publicly launched on the 16th November 2011 and later shutdown in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=Google Play Music, Music Play Store & Music Manager are going away – everything you need to know |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/62843644/google-play-music-music-play-store-music-manager-are-going-away-%E2%80%93-everything-you-need-to-know?hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=28 Oct 2020 |title=RIP Google Play Music, 2011 – 2020 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/rip-google-play-music-2011-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> Google Play Music further allowed users to upload their own songs to listen on all their devices, with a limit of up to 50,000 files.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |date=11 Jan 2017 |title=How to Upload Your Music Library to Google Play Music |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/288231/how-to-upload-your-music-library-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=How-To-Geek}}</ref> Users were able to purchase songs individually or buy whole albums that they could then download and listen to, or stream through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Jan 2020 |title=How To Buy Music From Google Play (Now YouTube Music) |url=https://www.technobezz.com/buy-music-google-play |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Technobezz}}</ref>

In October 2020, Google announced that they would be shutting down Google Play Music, with it being fully shut down by December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=3 Dec 2020 |title=Google fully shuts down Play Music around the world |url=https://9to5google.com/2020/12/03/google-play-music-dead/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=9To5Google}}</ref> This went ahead with a warning to their users to begin migrating to [[wikipedia:YouTube_Music|YouTube Music]], and that they would be losing access to their purchased songs. Google recommended users should download their purchased songs before the service would shut down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Aug 2020 |title=YouTube Music will replace Google Play Music by end of 2020 |url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=YouTube Official Blog}}</ref>

After the shut down, users lost access to the music they paid for, with no way to download them. Google justified this by transferring all playlists and purchase history to YouTube Music, and only refunding songs that were not directly available,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Oct 2023 |title=What happened to my songs on Google Music? |url=https://darwinsdata.com/what-happened-to-my-songs-on-google-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Darwin's Data}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chaney |first=Sarah |date=5 Feb 2022 |title=What Happened to Google Play Music? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-happened-to-google-play-music/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=MUO}}</ref> with no guarantee that the songs will remain available through the new service. Users found that their purchased songs were no longer able to stream at 320kbps on YouTube Music compared to Google Play Music unless they paid for the monthly subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cutlack |first=Gary |date=23 Dec 2012 |title=Google Music UK: everything you need to know |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/software/google-music-uk-everything-you-need-to-know-1120176 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. Hald |first=Nicole |date=24 Mar 2025 |title=How Is YouTube Music Sound Quality in 2025? Is It Any Good? |url=https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/youtube-music-audio-quality.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NoteBurner}}</ref> If a user failed to initiate the transfer of their music library or locally download their songs by 24th February 2021, then they lost all access and all data associated with Google Play Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sodhi |first=Tanishka |date=8 Feb 2021 |title=Google Play Music Data Will Be Deleted on February 24: Here’s How to Transfer to YouTube Music |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/how-to/news/google-play-music-data-deleted-february-24-youtube-how-to-transfer-files-playlists-billing-information-2365609 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Gadgets 360}}</ref> YouTube Music does not provide the option to download songs as MP3s, with local downloads requiring an internet connection every 30 days to stay up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download music and podcasts to listen to offline |url=https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>

====Google Stadia shutdown====
In January 2023, Google announced the shutdown of its cloud gaming service, Stadia, which was launched in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming service |url=https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Stadia required users to purchase games individually, unlike other gaming platforms that offer subscription-based access. Upon the service's closure, Google promised to refund consumers for their purchases, including both games and hardware. The refunds for games and software were issued automatically.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravenscraft |first=Erin |date=10 Nov 2022 |title=Stadia Is Dying. Here’s What’s in Your Refund and How to Get It |url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Wired}}</ref>

Stadia users were effectively renting access to games, as the platform did not allow for traditional ownership or offline play. With the service discontinued, consumers were left without access to the content they had purchased. Stadia users who had bought controllers and other peripherals for the service were also impacted by the shutdown. While Google offered refunds to customers, many Stadia consumers were left with equipment that no longer performs the advertised functions and limited recourse for repurposing or reselling their devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashworth |first=Mack |date=5 Oct 2022 |title=Stadia Shut Down: How To Use Your Hardware Now Google’s Shutting It Down |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Game Revolution}}</ref>

Google Stadia controllers were limited to Wi-Fi connectivity, however upon shut down they started offering an update to allow them to connect through Bluetooth, the update service website was scheduled to shut down on the 31st December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devine |first=Richard |date=17 Jan 2023 |title=Bluetooth support for Google Stadia Controller arrives — Here's how to enable it and play PC games |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/bluetooth-support-for-google-stadia-controller-arrives-heres-how-to-enable-it-and-play-pc-games |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=Windows Central}}</ref>

'''Pixel 4a battery reduction update'''{{Main|Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program}}
On January 6, 2025, Google issued a software update to the Pixel 4a that significantly decreased battery capacity on "Impacted Devices". Not all units were affected. It's speculated that the affected units have defective batteries and may pose a safety risk if the update is not applied, but Google never disclosed the reason(s) that the update was deemed necessary. Google removed all factory images for previous versions of the system software from their website, making it difficult to revert the update.

As compensation, Google offered a free battery replacement only in select countries. In other countries, you could choose between a $50 USD payment or $100 USD worth of Google Store credits. However, some users reported difficulty obtaining their compensation.

===='''Manifest V2 shutdown'''====
On July 24, 2025, Google permanently disabled all Manifest V2 extensions for Chrome 138 users, and disabled the ability to turn them back on.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=Manifest V2 support timeline |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808191702/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/mv2-deprecation-timeline |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>

Manifest V3 disabled the <code>webRequestBlocking</code> permission in the <code>webRequest</code> API<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers}}</ref>, preventing many ad content blockers from working.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=Understanding Manifest V3 and the Future of uBlock Origin |url=https://ublockorigin.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812114916/https://ublockorigin.com/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad content blocker}}</ref> Google cites performance reasons <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-09 |title=Replace blocking web request listeners {{!}} Chrome Extensions {{!}} Chrome for Developers |url=https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614074559/https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/migrate/blocking-web-requests |archive-date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Chrome for Developers |quote="In Manifest V2, blocking web requests could significantly degrade both the performance of extensions and the performance of pages they work with."}}</ref>, but this is dubious; restricting content blockers prevents users from impeding their tracking and surveillance, meaning they can create a larger profit from the data gained. This is likely the ulterior motive, although unproven.

==Controversies==

===Google device repair program restrictions===
{{Main|Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair}}
Google's Service & Repair Program terms explicitly state that any device containing non-Google-authorized parts "will not be returned" to the customer.

===Target API level requirements for Google Play apps===
Google's policy of requiring apps for Android to target recent API levels to appear in the Play Store<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Aug 2024 |title=Policy Center |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11926878?hl=en |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Play Console Help}}</ref> creates a continuous cycle of maintenance and redevelopment that can be especially burdensome for smaller developers, indie creators, and consumers.

The requirement for apps to target newer APIs each year serves some legitimate security and feature purposes. However, it also effectively functions as a form of forced obsolescence. Even perfectly functional apps that don't need technical updates must be regularly reworked just to remain visible on the Play Store.

This creates several issues:

*Development resources must be allocated to updating apps rather than creating new features
*Smaller teams and individual developers are placed at a disadvantage attempting to keep up with the constant update cycle
*Legacy apps that are no longer actively maintained disappear, even if they're still useful
*The cost of maintaining apps increases, potentially making some projects financially nonviable
*Losing access to previously purchased apps when upgrading devices
*Users being unable to reinstall older apps that worked perfectly well for their needs
*Facing unexpected costs to replace functionality they've already paid for
*Dealing with the frustration of discovering favorite apps have disappeared

While Google argues this approach improves the Android ecosystem's security and functionality, it does place a significant burden on developers and can lead to the premature "death" of otherwise functional applications.

This creates a troubling disconnect in digital ownership. Consumers reasonably expect that when they purchase an app, they should maintain access to it across their devices over time. Instead, they discover their digital purchases can effectively vanish due to policy decisions beyond their control.

===Ban on third-party tech support ads===
Google prohibits tech support ads on their platform if they are not authorised by the manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graff |first=David |date=31 Aug 2018 |title=Restricting ads in third-party tech support services |url=https://blog.google/products/ads/restricting-ads-third-party-tech-support-services/ |website=Google}}</ref>

==Anti-consumer legal cases==

===Rodriguez v. Google LLC (5/21/21 - Present)===
Google's Web & App Activity setting had the ability to be paused. Reportedly, despite this setting being paused by consumers, Google would continue to collect consumer data regardless of consent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodriguez v. Google LLC |url=https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/FAQ#faq1 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> This case is currently ongoing and has yet to receive a judgment.<ref>[https://www.googlewebappactivitylawsuit.com/Home/Documents Important Documents]</ref>

===Epic Games, Inc. v. Google Inc. (8/13/20 - 5/31/25)===
Google takes a 30% share of all revenue made through all sales made on the Play Store, which is a comparable figure to other digital storefronts such as the [[Apple App Store]] and [[Steam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Tom |date=7 Oct 2019 |title=Report: Steam's 30% Cut Is Actually the Industry Standard |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/07/report-steams-30-cut-is-actually-the-industry-standard |url-status=live |website=ign.com}}</ref> On 13th August 2020, [[Epic Games]] CEO Tim Sweeney updated both iOS and Android versions of ''Fortnite'' to redirect users to Epic Games' storefront to purchase in-game currency ("V-Bucks") alongside the respective first-party storefront, with incentives including cheaper prices if buying from Epic Games directly. This violated the Terms of Service of both Apple and Google's storefronts, and ''Fortnite'' was removed from both app stores the same day.

Epic Games would use this motion to file federal lawsuits against both Google and Apple, citing that these practices meant that the companies were engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. Google lost in the lawsuit, but attempted to appeal the decision, in which they lost again.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=31 July 2025 |title=Epic just won its Google lawsuit again, and Android may never be the same |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/716856/epic-v-google-win-in-appeals-court |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref>

==See also==

===Products and Services===

[[List of Google products]]
===Controversies===

*[[Advertising overload]]
*[[Google follows Samsung, asserts the right to steal your phone during a repair]]
*[[Google Pixel Watches do not come with repair options]]
*[[HD Movie Purchases Google Movies/YouTube reduced to 480p on the web]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Google]]

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-02-01T02:55:24Z

UnknownSource: Expand "replacing the battery" section

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

===Replacing the battery===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program with another OEM battery, look for one with the serial number "8230015901". Make sure it does NOT have the bad serial number, "8230020501".

The serial number is printed on the battery, as marked in the following image:

[[File:Pixel 4a battery serial.jpg|500px]]

You may also be able to run the following command over [https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/ adb shell] to retrieve the serial number:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/battery-update-analysis-and-way-to-detect-affected-battery.4716132/</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

===Blocking the update or flashing older firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

===Flashing a custom firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before ignoring the battery update. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Another option is flashing a custom firmware ("ROM") onto the device, such as [[wikipedia:LineageOS|LineageOS]], [[wikipedia:CalyxOS|CalyxOS]], or [[wikipedia:GrapheneOS|GrapheneOS]]. Custom ROMs have not adopted the closed source kernel changes that reduce the battery's capacity.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-02-01T02:49:43Z

UnknownSource: Add image of battery serial number

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

===Replacing the battery===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program, make sure you're getting a battery with the serial number "8230015901".

The serial number is printed on the battery, as marked in the following image:

[[File:Pixel 4a battery serial.jpg|500px]]

You may also be able to run the following command over [https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/ adb shell] to retrieve the serial number:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/battery-update-analysis-and-way-to-detect-affected-battery.4716132/</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

===Blocking the update or flashing older firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

===Flashing a custom firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before ignoring the battery update. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Another option is flashing a custom firmware ("ROM") onto the device, such as [[wikipedia:LineageOS|LineageOS]], [[wikipedia:CalyxOS|CalyxOS]], or [[wikipedia:GrapheneOS|GrapheneOS]]. Custom ROMs have not adopted the closed source kernel changes that reduce the battery's capacity.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]

File:Pixel 4a battery serial.jpg

2025-02-01T02:43:01Z

UnknownSource: /* Summary */

==Summary==
Image originally obtained from [https://www.ifixit.com iFixit].

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

File:Pixel 4a battery serial.jpg

2025-02-01T02:42:02Z

UnknownSource: Image originally obtained from iFixit. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

== Summary ==
Image originally obtained from iFixit.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-02-01T01:33:29Z

UnknownSource: Add links

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

===Replacing the battery===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program, make sure you're getting a battery with the serial number "8230015901".

The serial number is printed on the battery.

You may also be able to run the following command over [https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/ adb shell] to retrieve the serial number:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/battery-update-analysis-and-way-to-detect-affected-battery.4716132/</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

===Blocking the update or flashing older firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

===Flashing a custom firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before ignoring the battery update. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Another option is flashing a custom firmware ("ROM") onto the device, such as [[wikipedia:LineageOS|LineageOS]], [[wikipedia:CalyxOS|CalyxOS]], or [[wikipedia:GrapheneOS|GrapheneOS]]. Custom ROMs have not adopted the closed source kernel changes that reduce the battery's capacity.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-02-01T01:30:13Z

UnknownSource: Add "flashing custom firmware" as a battery restoration option

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

===Replacing the battery===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program, make sure you're getting a battery with the serial number "8230015901".

The serial number is printed on the battery.

You may also be able to run the following command over adb shell to retrieve the serial number:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/battery-update-analysis-and-way-to-detect-affected-battery.4716132/</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

===Blocking the update or flashing older firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

=== Flashing a custom firmware ===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before ignoring the battery update. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Another option is flashing a custom firmware ("ROM") onto the device, such as LineageOS, CalyxOS, or GrapheneOS. Custom ROMs have not adopted the closed source kernel changes that reduce the battery's capacity.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-01-31T20:02:11Z

UnknownSource: Better link for retrieving battery info over adb which describes what to look for

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

===Replacing the battery===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program, make sure you're getting a battery with the serial number "8230015901".

The battery serial number is printed on the battery.

You may also be able to run the following command over adb shell to retrieve the serial number:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/battery-update-analysis-and-way-to-detect-affected-battery.4716132/</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

===Blocking the update or flashing older firmware===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-01-31T19:56:49Z

UnknownSource: Further clarified that only the serial number on the battery can be used for identification, not the brand name (thank you anon)

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

=== Replacing the battery ===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program, make sure you're getting a battery with the serial number "8230015901".

The battery serial number is printed on the battery.

You may also be able to run the following command over adb shell to retrieve the serial number, but it appears to be in a different format than the number printed on the battery:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/where-is-the-source-code-of-the-changes-to-the-pixel-4a-battery.4715642/#post-89930040</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

=== Blocking the update or flashing older firmware ===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]

Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program

2025-01-31T19:15:34Z

UnknownSource: Provide more options and info about restoring battery functionality (TODO: image of serial number on battery)

The Google Pixel 4a is an Android smartphone designed, developed and marketed by [[Google]]. It was released on August 20, 2020, and reached its end of support on August 5, 2023.<ref>https://endoflife.date/pixel</ref> On January 6, 2025, Google announced its Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program to users:<blockquote>"Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting January 8, 2025. For some devices ("Impacted Devices"), '''the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance.''' [...] users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google."''<ref name=":0">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Mirror, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Other mirror via archive.ph https://archive.ph/zoooR</ref>''</blockquote>

==Compensation==

===Request form sent out to users===
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 4a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/15642495 (unavailable after January 6, 2026)

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref> If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:

*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$50 USD''' (or local equivalent)<ref name=":0" />

Compensation will be unavailable after January 6, 2026.<ref name=":0" />

===Payment-processing issues===
The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through Payoneer, which has many issues:
*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

===Store-credit limitations===
The $100 USD Google Store credit option has restrictions:
*Must be used on full-price devices in most regions
*Available only for Pixel phone purchases<ref name=":0" />
*Cannot be used in conjunction with trade-in offers
*Users cannot change their compensation choice after selecting this option<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref>

===Editing of initial announcement===
By January 15, 2025 the following edit had been inserted into the original January 6 announcement:<blockquote>"'''Note:''' Carefully select your appeasement option as after you choose, you can't change it. You may have statutory rights available to you under laws of the country where you purchased the device. If available to you, you may alternatively make a claim pursuant to those."<ref>January 7, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

January 15, 2025, via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20250115045948/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</ref></blockquote>

==Aftermath of software update==
Users with "Impacted Devices" who have received the update have reported severely decreased battery capacity & other performance issues.

===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
*Erratic battery percentage readings, including sudden jumps in charge levels
*Battery percentage remaining static despite continuous use
*Reduced charging speeds
*Permanent exclamation mark appearing in battery indicator
*Forced battery percentage display
*Severely reduced battery life, even with recently replaced batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>

===Battery-replacement complications===
Many users have reported that replacing the battery, either before or after the update, doesn't fix the performance limitations:
*Devices with new batteries still show warning indicators
*Performance remains capped even with official Google batteries
*Users who replaced batteries before the update experienced the same limitations as those with original batteries<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2xm7c/i_change_my_battery_a_month_before_the_upgrade/</ref>
*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====
Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN.

==Possible technical rationale==
While Google has not provided detailed technical explanations for the update, there are several known factors about lithium-ion battery aging that could potentially justify such measures:

===Aging lithium-ion batteries===
Lithium-ion batteries face degradation as they age:
*Loss of active lithium ions through repeated charge cycles
*Growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer
*Physical expansion & contraction stress during charging cycles
*Potential for dendrite formation in aged cells
*Increased internal resistance over time<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775320301476</ref>

===Safety considerations===
Several factors specific to the Pixel 4a situation could indicate that this was a battery safety concern:
*The device was released in August 2020; many units are approaching 4.5 years of use
*The mandatory nature of the update suggests safety implications rather than performance optimization
*The use of specialized shipping containers marked for "Damaged/Defective Lithium Ion Battery(s)" parallels procedures used for known hazardous devices<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hxyp6z/certainly_seems_battery_defectrelated_vs_planned/</ref><ref>https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Note-7-return-kit.png</ref>

*The update seems to target specific device serial numbers rather than all units; suggesting a manufacturing batch issue<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24338566/google-pixel-4a-battery-stability-replacement-reduced-capacity</ref>

===Precedent in mobile phones===
Similar battery-related interventions have occurred previously; Apple's 2017 iPhone throttling was done to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with degraded batteries.

===Potential manufacturing variables===
Several factors could explain why only certain devices are affected:
*Different battery suppliers or manufacturing batches
*Variations in battery cell chemistry or construction
*Manufacturing date ranges coinciding with specific material supplies
*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>

==Criticism by community==
The following concerns have been raised regarding the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program:

#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#*While the update can be circumvented, it requires technical knowledge of Android phones, which an average user does not have.
#Google's communication on what the problem with "Impacted Devices" is and how the update seeks to remedy it has been vague.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/</ref>
#*As Google has not publicly commented on the issue, users have been left to speculate on what the intent behind the update could be.
#Google Support has been giving out misleading or incorrect information'''.'''
#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i2zz4g/100_google_store_voucher_code_cannot_be_combined/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/</ref>
#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/comment/m867zhz/]</ref>
#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

=== Replacing the battery ===
[[#Technical evidence of battery changes|Initial reverse engineering efforts]] suggest that you can identify if your battery is bad by looking at the serial number. If you're going to replace the battery outside of Google's program, make sure you're getting a battery with the serial number "8230015901", which will probably carry the brand name "Amperex Technology Limited".

The battery serial number is printed on the battery.

'''If you have an a Pixel 4a and are comfortable opening the device and attesting to the serial number and brand name, that would be helpful!'''

You may also be able to run the following command over adb shell to retrieve the serial number, but it appears to be in a different format than the number printed on the battery:<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/where-is-the-source-code-of-the-changes-to-the-pixel-4a-battery.4715642/#post-89930040</ref>

adb shell cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/serial_number

=== Blocking the update or flashing older firmware ===
'''Warning:''' please consider the [[Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program#Safety considerations|battery safety concerns]] before reverting or ignoring updates. Users must evaluate battery health at own risk.

Following the criticism, the community was quick to find workarounds to retain or restore previous battery capacity. Users can stop the update by blocking DNS requests to Google's OTA servers (''ota.googlezip.net, ota-cache1.googlezip.net, ota-cache2.googlezip.net'') via a DNS filtering application such as NextDNS, RethinkDNS, or AdAway<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/</ref>. Users can delete an already downloaded (and not yet installed) update: ''Settings -> Apps -> All Apps -> Google Play Services -> Storage and cache -> Manage Space'' and from there on delete all data through the "'''Clear all data'''" button. If the phone has already installed the Jan 2025 update, users can manually flash the previous firmware to restore functionality<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/undo-the-january-2025-update-without-losing-data-unlocked-devices-only.4713980</ref>. Flashing to the previous firmware requires unlocking the bootloader<ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-root-safetynet-for-pixel-4a.4153773/</ref>, and a copy of the previous firmware from November 2023 (sunfish-tq3a.230805.001.s1-factory-82902ea9) <ref>https://xdaforums.com/t/changes-coming-to-your-pixel-4a.4712085/</ref>.

Google has removed all official images for the pixel 4a except the jan 2025 update, effectively removing official images as an option for downgrades <ref>https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish</ref>.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Pixel 4a]]