Google Pixel 6a

[x1243x]

How much to replace the battery? And I assume this is at CDTI official pixel service center?

Mine was under the recall notice so it's free

 

[Sulo Garbage]

Update:
My phone received the software update, notification that battery replacement is recommended. Emailed Google with the screenshot but they still rejected the appeasement and said they cannot provide reasons.

So in summary, now I have a phone that was supposed to be eligible based on IMEI and received an update with notification that the battery is nerfed, but Google can still refuse to provide appeasement.

Now the phone barely lasts me a day of usage and I have to upgrade my phone prematurely. Not happy about this especially I got the phone when it first launched at full retail price. Thinking of filing a CASE complaint.

 

[jwcm98]

Mine was under the recall notice so it's free

How is the service at CTDI service center? They need you to reset your phone , or can set the phone to Repair Mode? After battery replacement, the pixel 6a charging and battery life back to normal?

 

[x1243x]

How is the service at CTDI service center? They need you to reset your phone , or can set the phone to Repair Mode? After battery replacement, the pixel 6a charging and battery life back to normal?

service is good. even though they said 2 days I got it back the next day after 3pm. no need to reset. repair mode. yup performance back to normal.

 

[nothinghere]

Another Pixel 6a catches fire. Looks like the updates do not stop your phone from catching fire after all.

 

[ThinkMe]

Hi how long it takes for the fund to transfer to U? It's been a week since approved I still haven receive

3 days. As long as you see it on your payoneer should be fine.

Actually no additional thing to set up after the bank detail has been approved?

Thus far only see my bank has the funding source from Google LLC but nothing else was being reflected.

 

[chari-men]

Another Pixel 6a catches fire. Looks like the updates do not stop your phone from catching fire after all.

Better get that cash refund and dispose the 6A le..

 

[jwcm98]

service is good. even though they said 2 days I got it back the next day after 3pm. no need to reset. repair mode. yup performance back to normal.

Thanks.

 

[Boltstorm]

Actually no additional thing to set up after the bank detail has been approved?

Thus far only see my bank has the funding source from Google LLC but nothing else was being reflected.

same situation as me, when I emailed support they just tell me to wait

 

[ThinkMe]

same situation as me, when I emailed support they just tell me to wait

Too many for them to refund?

 

[limmk]

 

[limmk]

TL;DR

• Another Google Pixel 6a has caught fire, according to a Reddit user.
• The user said their phone caught fire despite installing Google’s mandatory update to combat battery heating.
• This also comes after Australia’s consumer watchdog issued a notice about Pixel 6a battery overheating.

We’ve reported on several Google Pixel 6a battery fires earlier this year. This prompted Google to release a mandatory update for some units earlier this month to combat the issue. This update is supposed to dramatically cut battery life and reduce charging speeds in a bid to reduce battery heating issues. Unfortunately, someone has reported a Pixel 6a battery fire after installing the update.

Redditor footymanageraddict reports that their Pixel 6a caught fire while they were sleeping on Saturday (July 26):

I got woken up with a horrible smell and a loud noise. Fire had already started and i managed to throw the phone on the tile floor pulling it by the cord. The phone was sitting less than 40 cms away from my head on my nightstand. Sheets caught on fire. My ac (a floor unit) had damages (sic) on its surface from the fire. My throat hurt the whole day from the fumes i inhaled (My room door was closed because of the ac being on so i basically breathed the smoke for a longer time than i would want trying to stop a fire from spreading).

The Redditor said they had been charging the phone with the Steam Deck’s 45W charger. They also posted several photos showing the aftermath of the fire, seen below. The images show an extensively burned Pixel 6a, including a melted screen, a partially melted case, and charred internals.

What’s particularly concerning is that the user said they had installed Google’s “Battery Performance Program” update, which was supposed to reduce the risk of battery overheating in the first place. Google also recommends a free battery replacement for affected devices (via mail or walk-in), but the user said walk-in replacements weren’t available in their country.

This might be the fifth Pixel 6a to catch fire in the last 12 months. However, the previous four incidents occurred before Google’s “Battery Performance Program” update.

This latest incident suggests that the update doesn’t go far enough and that Google needs to perform a mandatory battery replacement or device recall. It’s also theoretically possible that the device battery was already past the point of no return. However, the user didn’t notice any battery swelling or other telltale signs.

This also comes after Australia’s consumer watchdog issued a warning about the Pixel 6a on July 25. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission warned that the phone’s battery may overheat, but added that users didn’t have to return their devices. The warning nevertheless came a day before the latest battery fire incident.

We’ve asked Google for comment regarding this latest issue and whether it will take additional actions (e.g., a mandatory recall/replacement). We’ll update the article when the Pixel maker gives us an answer. Either way, it’s getting harder to recommend mid-range Pixel phones due to this issue.

 

[limmk]

In June, shortly after reports of Pixel 6a phones literally melting due to battery malfunctions, Android Authority found strings in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 code that outlined Google's intention to restrict the 6a's charging speed and battery capacity.

The strings referenced a warning that'd be displayed after 375 charging cycles, forewarning these restrictions. There was also another warning that would be displayed after 400 charging cycles had been completed and restrictions started.

At the time, Android Police reached out to Google and received the following statement from a spokesperson:

A subset of Pixel 6a phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating. 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.

A few weeks later, Google began what it calls the Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program. The program comprises the forewarned mandatory Android 16 rollout for Pixel 6a phones, plus an accompanying customer service campaign.

If you have an "impacted" Pixel 6a — one Google has deemed at risk of potentially dangerous battery failure — the Android 16 update will activate battery management features. These features will limit your phone's charging rate and battery capacity in an effort to prevent overheating.

I reached out to Google for specifics about these battery management limitations — what the limited capacity and charging rate are — and a representative pointed me to the Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program help page, which does not include those specifics.

Why is this happening?​

The Pixel 6a uses a lithium-ion battery. As Google tells it, Li-ion cells "may experience performance, capacity, or runtime degradation as they are used." In some cases, this degradation can be dangerous, leading to overheating and potentially outright combustion.

As my former colleague Ryan Whitwam writes for Ars Technica, lithium-ion batteries degrade in a couple of ways.

Electrolytes that transport electrons when Li-ion batteries charge or discharge can degrade into flammable gasses, causing battery swelling. Lithium ions can also clump up into formations called dendrites, which can cause short circuits inside batteries.

This type of damage is exacerbated by heat, and if unchecked, can cause batteries to get dangerously hot or even catch fire. Quickly charging a battery to its full capacity generates more heat than a lower, slower charge.

To mitigate the risk of damage and injury, Google opted to restrict the 6a's charging rate and battery capacity after its battery has completed 400 charging cycles. The company's language in public statements reads as if only certain 6a units will face these limitations.

Google hasn't shared why some aging 6a batteries may be dangerous while others evidently aren't. In the case of the Pixel 4a, which faced a similar fiasco earlier this year that led to a nationwide recall in Australia, the difference was down to which of two different battery models a given phone was built with.

Google wasn't able to provide me with additional details on which Pixel 6a units may be affected. The company has been contacting impacted users directly, so if you have a 6a, check your inbox.

What you can do​

If you have a Pixel 6a and you're staring down new battery limitations, Google is giving you some options, potentially including a free battery replacement. But you might not qualify for that particular remedy.

Remedies for a faulty Pixel 6a battery include battery replacement, a cash payment, or a Google Store discount code that comes with some caveats.

If you want a battery replacement, you'll need to either mail your 6a in for repair or take it to an in-person authorized repair center. The catch is that your phone will be subject to inspection, and defects like water damage or signs of "exposure to sharp objects, or excessive force" will disqualify your phone.

Google says its authorized techs may fix other issues, like cracked display glass, before replacing your battery, but you'll be charged for any non-battery repairs. You'll get a cost estimate (and the chance to opt out) before the repairs begin.

If your Pixel 6a is disqualified from receiving a free battery replacement, or if you don't want to pay for other fixes such as screen replacement, you'll be directed to pick another remedy option. The simplest is a one-time payment of $100 or the equivalent in your local currency.

You would also have the opportunity to choose a Google Store discount code of $150 (or your local equivalent). These discount codes can only be used toward Pixel phones from the Google Store.

Find out if you qualify​

Google set up a page you can use to determine if your Pixel 6a qualifies for any of these remedies. To see if you're owed anything, you can go through the workflow here.

At first blush, it seems kind of admirable that Google is doing anything at all to appease owners of the four-year-old, midrange Pixel 6a. A 6a owner who was looking at getting a new Pixel phone anyway may be pleased with a $150 credit towards an upgrade.

Still, this is the second Pixel A-series model this year to come down with serious battery issues. Last year's Pixel 8a is set to receive software updates into 2031; the 4a's and 6a's issues make me wonder how many units will actually last that long.

 

[chari-men]

Why not just recall all pixel 6a and refund original purchase amount sua?? Do so many funny stuff still got reports of fire hazards everywhere...

 

[halocast]

They still never learn, stop cheaping out on the batteries.

 

[joesph]

if they give credit or store credit then 6a still at risk

 

[limmk]

Multiple Pixel 6a units have caught fire, despite Google’s software-based battery safety updates. With no recalls in sight and growing concerns over cost-cutting, Google risks undoing years of momentum in its Pixel lineup if it doesn’t act decisively.

The Pixel 6a comes with a SIM ejector tool, a quick switch adapter, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and of course, the phone. But with recent battery issues, maybe Google should consider bundling a fire extinguisher with future iterations of its Pixel A-series models.

Because over the past year, at least five Pixel 6a units have caught fire. And we’re not talking about “fire” in the colloquial “this phone is fiyah” kind of way. We’re talking battery-swelling, chassis-melting, display-popping literal flames. One user woke up to the smell of smoke. Another had to toss their flaming phone into the toilet.
To be clear, these Pixel A-series battery issues aren’t isolated accidents. They come on the heels of Google issuing software updates that deliberately nerf the battery performance of both the Pixel 4a and 6a, supposedly to avoid overheating. But yet here we are. Melted phones and no official recall in sight. Just a quiet Battery Performance Program that we’re not sure actually works.

Which makes you wonder: are corners being cut somewhere, and are users paying the price? And is this Google’s Samsung Galaxy Note 7 moment?

The Pixel A-Series Proposition: Great Value, Until It Isn’t​

Google’s Nexus phones were all about clean software, no gimmicks, and fair pricing. That spirit carried over briefly into the early Pixel years, before prices started climbing to match Apple and Samsung. Suddenly, “pure Android” came with a premium. Call it the Google tax.

The A-series was supposed to be the answer to that. Budget-friendly, stripped-down, and smart. You didn’t get the latest hardware, but you got the Pixel experience, such as timely updates, great software, and the same camera magic. It was the sensible choice, especially in today’s economy.

But now the batteries are swelling, melting, and catching fire. And that value proposition? It’s starting to look more like a liability.

To hit those budget-friendly price points, Google clearly had to make compromises. And maybe, just maybe, those corner-cutting decisions are finally catching up. The Pixel 4a and 6a are now both on battery-throttling life support.

Worse, this isn’t just an A-series problem. Even the flagship Pixels have been riddled with hardware issues: screens showing pink lines, fingerprint sensors that barely register, phones that overheat under light use, camera bars literally popping off the Pixel 9. Let’s not forget, software issues that have not been addressed for half a year.

These are not isolated incidents. It’s starting to feel like a pattern of inconsistency and poor quality control.

From Battery Throttling to Battery Fires​

The Pixel A-series battery issues didn’t start with the 6a. It started with the 4a. Earlier this year, Google quietly pushed a software update that throttled battery performance, citing overheating concerns. Charging got slower, and battery life went into the toilet. The fix was a limited battery swap program or $50–$100 in Google Store credit. More on that later, but it wasn’t exactly generous.

In Australia, the situation escalated. The ACCC issued an official recall, warning that the Pixel 4a’s overheating battery could cause fires or burns.

Then the Pixel 6a caught fire, literally. At least five cases have surfaced so far, including one phone that already had the safety update. Another unit melted into a user’s clothes while charging overnight.

Google’s response came in the form of a software patch called the “Battery Performance Program.” After 400 charge cycles, it slows down charging and caps battery use to reduce risk. But it doesn’t always work. And even when it does, it leaves users with a crippled device. In some places, replacement batteries aren’t even available.

So users are stuck with a choice: live with a phone that is a shell of its former self, or buy a new one. Either way, Google escapes liability, and users are left holding the fire hazard.

No Recall, Just Risk Management​

So far, five Pixel 6a units have caught fire, with one of them catching fire after receiving Google’s so-called “Battery Performance Program” update. The fix was supposed to prevent exactly this. It didn’t. And yet, there’s still no recall, no formal investigation, and not even a warning page pinned to Google’s own support site.

Instead, Google quietly pushed out a software update that throttles battery capacity after 400 charge cycles and called it a day. The ACCC echoed this, telling users that as long as they update their devices, they’re fine, and that “Consumers do not need to return their devices.” But “fine” doesn’t describe phones that melt, explode, or burn through clothing.

Google is lucky no one’s been injured. Yet. But are they really going to wait for that headline before taking action? Are they going to wait until someone shows up in the ER with third-degree burns? Do they really want to have that scrolling across the news ticker in the evenings?

Unlike Samsung, Google doesn’t have the luxury of a dozen different smartphone lines. There’s no “Pixel Lite” brand to sacrifice. If one Pixel burns a hole in someone’s pocket, literally, it scorches the entire brand. Samsung ultimately killed off its Note series, but it still had the Galaxy S-series to fall back on. It also has its budget-friendly Galaxy A-series that drives most of its revenue.
This is when Google needs to get proactive. Issue a recall. Make it right. Because if they don’t, they’re not just risking battery fires, they’re risking the reputation of every Pixel to come. At this point, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending a Pixel phone to anyone.

Loyalty, Punished​

Google’s idea of “compensation” for these battery issues is a choice: $50 in cash, or $100 in store credit toward a new Pixel. On paper, it looks fair. But in practice? Less so.

The cash can be used freely. The $100 voucher, on the other hand, cannot be stacked with sales, according to a customer posting on Google’s support forums. Try to use it during a discount, and the voucher gets absorbed into the sale price. This essentially makes it worthless. You pay what everyone else pays, and your “compensation” evaporates.

So if you chose the voucher thinking it was the better deal, you’re punished for wanting to stay loyal to Google. That’s exactly what happened to the original poster, who detailed how they planned to keep their phone for another year or two, but were forced to replace it early due to Google’s software update throttling the battery. They chose the voucher in good faith. However, little did they know it would trap them into paying full price for a phone that anyone else could get cheaper.

When they asked Google Support for help, they got copy-pasted policy replies that completely ignored the issue.

That’s just bad business ethics. Google broke these phones and then tried to spin a bait-and-switch as compensation. What happened to “You break it, you fix it”? The message is clear: Google thinks it’s indispensable to the point where brand loyalty can kiss its colorful behind.
Maybe it’s time we start taking our money elsewhere.

 

[limmk]

Conclusion: Google Needs to Wake Up​

Google can’t keep treating the Pixel A-series battery issues like they’re just another support ticket. Throttling the Pixel 6a’s battery might lower the odds of it bursting into flames, but it doesn’t change the fact that it ever could in the first place. That alone should’ve triggered a recall. Instead, we got silence, store credit, and half-hearted firmware updates.

And it’s happening while Google pours money into its custom Tensor chips, ramps up Pixel availability worldwide, and tries to convince us it’s serious about hardware. But you can’t ask people to buy into the Pixel brand when your response to literal fire hazards is a $100 Play Store voucher.

That’s not how you treat customers who are willing to spend their hard-earned money on your product.

Most people who bought a Pixel A-series phone just wanted a reliable, affordable device. They didn’t sign up for hidden battery throttling or the risk of waking up to smoke. If Google wants to compete with Apple and Samsung, it needs to grow up and take responsibility. That means real transparency, actual fixes, and an apology that isn’t buried in a firmware changelog.

Because right now, it’s not just batteries that are catching on fire, it’s everything the Pixel brand was supposed to stand for.

 

[x1243x]

ok quick update on my p6a. changed battery slightly more than a week ago. today when I turned it on it was only at 99% despite charging a few hours. maybe adaptive charging. as of this writing, the battery has dropped 4% in 28 minutes. just yesterday it would be at 100 or 99% after using this long. anyone else who changed to new battery observed this? I'm going to observe a few more days. I think the cdti warranty is only for a week right?

update: just spoke to Google support.90 day warranty. so still got time. as of now 7 % in 52 minute for just normal browsing and 1 short phone call.

 

[ThinkMe]

same situation as me, when I emailed support they just tell me to wait

Have you received yet? I email Payoneer and no reply......