At the start of 2025, Google announced a Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program with a new Android 13 OTA update, free battery replacement, and/or appeasement option. As part of this, Google has removed all previous Pixel 4a updates.
Pixel 4a owners noticed today that the “Factory Images”/“Full OTA Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices” website has removed all downloads for the Pixel 4a except for the new update with “battery management features”: TQ3A.230805.001.S2. From what we can tell, this removal happened on Wednesday, January 22.
Google says this Android 13 update “reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance”: “…so the battery may last for shorter periods between charges. Users of Impacted Devices may also notice other changes, like reduced charging performance or changes to how the battery-level indicator on your phone shows your battery capacity.” This update is “automatically downloaded to your device when the software is released and your device is charged and connected to the internet.”
Affected users that have installed the update have found this to be the case, while some are not happy that the device inspection as part of the free battery replacement has turned up other issues that require a fix/payment. This is not surprising on hardware from 2020, and a standard practice that Google’s FAQ makes note of. However, it’s still upsetting.
Historically, Google removes factory images when there are issues with the release. In this case, it appears that the company does not want owners to revert back.
Not all Pixel 4a are affected by these battery issues, so Google removing three years of updates for everyone is a pretty aggrieve step, but there is no real way to gate who can download/install.
If a “battery replacement is not convenient,” Google offers one of two options:
- $50 USD (converted to your local currency) payment.
- $100 USD (converted to your local currency) Google hardware discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone on the Google Store (as available).
You can visit this page (until January 8, 2026) to get started on a “repair, payment, or future discount code,” and see if your Pixel 4a is impacted.
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