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Google accidentally pushed Verizon's Android 12 to unlocked Pixel owners

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Nov 11, 2021, 10:06 AM

Software updates

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Funny stuff, many a Pixel owner are complaining today that they have been dealt a strange OTA update on their phones that asked them to upgrade to the newest Android 12 version.

The kicker is that they are already on Android 12, Material You and everything, and is appearing on devices as retro as the Pixel 3a. Moreover, the size of the update is 1.8GB, and it smells like a whole firmware swap, rather than a humble bug fix and security patch kit.

A quick version number check revealed that the update being pushed out to Pixels new and old, is the one meant for Verizon phones with the latest November security patches. It seems that Verizon may have given a range of serial numbers too wide for Google to push the carrier-specific firmware to many who are not Big Red's subscribers, but rather have unlocked Pixel phones, or vice versa.

In any case, if you see a build number SP1A.211105.002.A1/7807550 being pushed to your trusty Pixel 4, for instance, don't fall for it, and don't install any firmware just short of two gigs if you have already gotten Android 12 on your unlocked Pixel handset.

Google is sending out an Android 12 update notification to devices already running Android 12.https://t.co/d58fk2O28J

I didn't get a notification myself, but I've been getting pinged a bunch about this, so it looks like the update notification was sent out to a lot of people.
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) November 10, 2021

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.