Pixel phone users have reported that the Google app is causing their devices to overheat and drain their battery life. The issue is suspected to be related to an update that was rolled out on May 12th. An Engadget reader shared a screenshot of their phone’s settings menu, which showed that the Google app was consuming a significant amount of battery in the background. The user claims that they had not used their phone for an hour, yet it had become very hot, and if they had not reverted to an older version of the app, their phone’s battery life would have been further reduced.
Reddit and Google support forums are also filled with complaints from other Pixel users who are experiencing the same issue. Some users have tried resetting their devices to their factory settings and reinstalling apps, but the problem persists. Some have tried rolling back to an older version of the Google app, but this has not resolved the issue for them. A few users have contacted Google’s support staff, but they claim that they have not received much help.
One of the Redditors wrote, “It just started yesterday. Massive battery usage from Google app and to a lesser degree Android System Intelligence. Just went through and did a factory reset, reinstalled most things and it’s still happening. Beyond the battery not lasting, the phone is getting really warm so it’s harming the battery and potentially the CPU.”
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Some users have even reported that rolling back to an even older version of the app on Pixel, from May 10th, did not solve the issue for them. A user who contacted Engadget suspects that the issue may be server-side and that the app is attempting to call home or is on a loop. They claim that they have rolled back to the May 1st version of the app, but the problem persists.
Google has not responded to Engadget’s request for comment on the matter. However, if the Google app is indeed responsible for this problem, it wouldn’t be the first time that a software update has caused headaches for Pixel users. In May 2021, Google had to patch the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro after an earlier update caused the phones to produce much weaker haptic feedback. In 2020, the company paused the rollout of its December Pixel update after users found that it was causing their phones to drop calls.
It is unclear how widespread the current issue with the Google app is and which Pixel models are affected. It is possible that a future update from Google may resolve the problem. In the meantime, users may want to keep a charger handy and avoid using the Google app as much as possible. They may also consider turning off background activity for the app or uninstalling it altogether until a fix is available. It is always important to stay vigilant and report any issues with your device to the manufacturer’s support team, as they may be able to provide a solution or escalate the problem to the development team.
