Google finally fixes a four-month-old Pixel battery drain bug, but not for everyone

A software update usually brings new features and fixes known bugs. The March 2026 update for Google phones definitely fulfilled these two duties, but it also introduced a couple of serious issues in some Pixel devices. After installing the update, many Pixel users started complaining about different problems on their Google phones, which include severe performance degradation, battery drain, and even the smartphone getting stuck on the boot screen.

While most of the reported issues were resolved in the following monthly updates, battery drain remained an active issue until now. But according to a recent report, Google has officially rolled out a solution for the battery drainage bug on Pixel phones.

Firstly, how serious was the issue?

The severity of this particular problem can be understood by the fact that online community forums like Reddit and the Google community forum are filled with related complaints from different users. In fact, one of the related posts on the Issue Tracker page received so many comments that it reached its comment limit. From the Pixel 6 to the latest Pixel 10, the issue has been reported on almost all Pixel models.

Basically, when you lock your Google smartphone's screen, it enters a Deep Doze state where the Tensor CPU that powers the device reaches its lowest power level. But because of the battery bug, the CPU was not able to reach the Deep Doze state, and as a result, it continued to function in the background and drain the battery. An affected user who claims to have a Pixel 9 Pro mentions that their device lost almost 10% of its charge overnight when it was kept idle.

Google says it has already rolled out a fix

Comment saying the battery drain issue has been fixed. | Image by Google Issue Tracker

Just yesterday, a Google official account commented under a related post on the issue tracker that the problem has been resolved for some Pixel models. The comment says, "A fix has been merged in the July update released for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a."

Is your Pixel no longer facing the battery drainage issue?

The Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a are said to receive the fix with the September update. It's worth noting that the issue was reported on the Pixel 6, Pixel 8, and Pixel 7 lineups as well, but the comment does not have any mention of them.

You must be joking, right, Google?

While the comment from the Google official says that the problem has been addressed with this month's update, some affected users say otherwise. You see, the update went live on the 7th of July, but new complaints have been registered even after that date as well.

I was also able to spot comments with users basically saying that even this month's update didn't resolve the frustrating bug. A frustrated user who seems to have the Pixel 10 Pro mentions that it's a shame that it's been 4 long months and Google hasn't gotten rid of the bug completely.

Another thing worth noting is that even the July update log didn't have any mention of a fix for the battery drainage issue. It did mention that installing the update would resolve the boot loop problem, and it actually did.

We need more clarification

At this point, the situation remains somewhat confusing. Google says the problem has been resolved, but some affected users say otherwise. It certainly doesn't appear to be a case of gradual rollout, as it's already been many days since the July update was made available.

There are also a few reports of a similar situation happening on Samsung phones like the Galaxy S26 Plus. It opens the door to it being an Android-wide issue rather than a bug that's exclusively affecting the Tensor chip. Alternatively, it also could be the case that Google closed the ticket to make the upcoming Pixel 11 lineup look better, according to an affected user.

There are surely multiple possibilities at play. Google really needs to give more clarification on this issue and make it clear to its audience exactly what it has changed in the July update, especially since it's claiming the bug has been resolved, yet fresh complaints are still coming in.

Pixel fans won't want to miss the following Pixel‑related stories

Every Pixel 11 model just leaked in stunning new colors and from every angle

5 Pixel 11 Pro features I'm excited about ahead of the August 12 launch

Follow me on X and Threads to get a regular dose of Pixel stories.

$90

$210

$120 off (57%)

Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.

Buy at Mint Mobile