Google will reduce Pixel 6A battery capacity due to overheating issues

Earlier this year, Google shipped a Pixel 4A update to some owners that lowered battery life to mitigate overheating risk, and soon, it’s going to do the same for the Pixel 6A.

“A subset of Pixel 6A phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating,” Google’s Alex Moriconi says in a statement to The Verge. “The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles. We’ll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.”

As reported by Android Authority, at least two users have reported instances of their Pixel 6A phones catching fire, with one person on Reddit saying their Pixel 6A “spontaneously combusted in the middle of the night.” Android Authority also spotted code strings in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release alerting Pixel 6A users to “a potential battery overheating issue” and pointing toward a support page at g.co/pixel/6abattery that currently isn’t live.

In April, Google also announced an extended repair program for battery swelling issues with the Pixel 7A.