I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

91 points by computehyper 1 year ago | 41 comments

Hi, I posted this as a comment here and just like on Reddit, it's not showing, but I'll try again.

I'm semi homeless and the forced Pixel 4a battery update made my phone unusable and I'm in a state of tears. What can I do? Reddit deleted my post (I am hoping it's not because of Google employees).

I don't want to get too long into what happened in my life, but I had a Pixel 4a and everything was running great. Even when I was on the streets homeless I was able to charge it. I'm still struggling in and out, and apparently there was an update that came automatically to my phone. I checked and talked to live support in the library and they said it was just a battery update and it will last a bit less. That wasn't a big deal I thought but now the update came and my battery went from many hours to maybe half an hour now and doesn't charge at all or very slowly. I have interviews and some other small jobs that I have to do and just hard life right now and I do not have any money for this. I am a bit emotional so I asked while tearing up to Google support why they did this and I can't afford this my life is in shambles but they didn't help me. Even with the battery replacement I do not live near any local shops and mailing it in would not be possible for my situation. I bought this phone when my life was good and I only like this one and want to use this one.

All my stuff is on here and I don't know too much about phones so I just want this to work. I don't have money to fix this. I feel like the phone will die any second. What can be done? I didn't know they would do this. My life just keeps getting worse... I always feared my phone getting stolen on the streets but never thought Google would steal my phone.

What can I do? I don't have much minutes or data and can't afford it, is there a number I can call Google directly? I don't want to play with the phone and do anything weird my life is on it and can't back it up.

Thank you all.

ChrisArchitect 1 year ago |

Related thread:

Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on the buggy battery update

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619

computehyper 1 year ago | |

If anyone can post this on Reddit, on the pixel4a and GooglePixel subreddit, I would appreciate it. Reddit auto bans new accounts and I can't post. Google has no more stock for their batteries, and people are left in the dark...

999900000999 1 year ago |

I vouched for this, since this is the type of issue our community should be concerned with.

If you can find 12$, buy a battery pack from Walmart.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/1610764819?sid=23a91a6a-7f0b-4873...

This will keep you going for the time being. Best of luck!

Edit: Here's Google official solution. Looks like a free replacement battery

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

computehyper 1 year ago | |

Thank you for your help.

I can't get a replacement because I was late and they told me that the battery will deplete only a little but I can barely use it and the charging is super slow. But I am not near any battery replacement stores so it wouldn't work. I called one that is still far away who told me that all their stores are out of stock and will be for awhile. And that they've had problems with some replacements, and that Google isn't paying them for screen replacement, as that will likely occur during replacement as the screen will break, so that will cost another $50 or so.

I have a battery pack and it doesn't work well, the battery is considered dead all around as the apps show on the phone.

BenjiWiebe 1 year ago | | |

Is your battery pack dead/bad? I've ran my galaxy s5 (2014) with a shot battery for a while, and it did run from a charger fine, even though the battery would only last a few hours of no use with airplane mode on, and even then randomly reboot.

computehyper 1 year ago |

For those who are unaware, Google released a forced update on the Pixel 4a that depleted the battery, and is not usable. They offered a battery replacement but they are all out of batteries and there are still issues so many people cannot get it replaced. Google is not helping and telling people to buy a new phone.

See: https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel-4as-old-f...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619

netsharc 1 year ago | |

It's kinda insane that they can't do a "undo last commit; git push; tell the CI/CD to push a new OS release" procedure. But there's a probably Fight-Club-esque math (1) there that make it "If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.".

Congrats Google, your procedures have made you an overweight gorilla that isn't agile enough...

(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiB8GVMNJkE

computehyper 1 year ago | | |

Yes, and all the Pixel 4a factory images are wiped (except the last one) https://developers.google.com/android/images#sunfish

fallinghawks 1 year ago |

Will https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1ic55ki/succesfull... help you undo what was done? It links to Android 13 S1 version August 5, 2023.

I was fortunately able to catch my 4a after it had downloaded the update but still needed a reboot to install. Followed https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_w... , installing NextDNS to prevent the update from downloading.

computehyper 1 year ago | |

I don't want to do anything like that because it's risky. Also it seems that Google may circumvent this now. Please check this link: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42873635

rusty_venture 1 year ago |

I'm sorry to have to say this, but this whole thread reeks of someone refusing to help themselves. Several people have given you legitimately helpful advice and you have just come back with excuses as to why it won't work for you. This includes:

- Using a wireless power bank. Android phones will work with a completely dead/useless battery if they are plugged into a power bank. If your power bank doesn't work that way, then you need a new power bank.

- Using a different device. Of course your important files are on this phone. Do you think this phone will last forever? Backup those files to the cloud so you can access them from any device. You get free cloud storage with your Google account.

Instead of blaming all your problems on an external entity like Google, if you take accountability for solving your problem, you will find it is not nearly so intractable. Others here can offer advice, but it is ultimately up to you to decide on a course of action and pursue it. I wish you the best of luck.

yial 1 year ago |

I’m not sure if this is helpful, so please feel free to ignore. My email is in my profile.

I’m happy to send to you, with instructions to hold at a post office of your choice:

* several portable power banks with cables

* a small laptop. (I have a few, you can tell me which one is best for you if interested ).

If you’re interested, please shoot me an email.

computehyper 1 year ago | |

Thank you for your help, but what primary concerns me is my phone. It has all my files and important stuff, power banks can't help this phone as the battery is diminished incredibly low. I can go to the library for things like these so it's okay.

I thank you again but this is all on Google. Pixel 4a was such a good phone for me and it's meant for the poor like. I don't know why they did this. I just want my phone back. So many people who lost their jobs can't afford to buy a new phone.

BenjiWiebe 1 year ago | | |

Replying here with my galaxy s5 plugged in and the battery removed to make sure it is possible...

I wonder if your battery pack is the issue. Your charger/battery pack should be able to provide power faster then the phone uses it.

zevon 1 year ago |

You could install another operating system on the phone. For example, as far as I know GrapheneOS (https://grapheneos.org) still has limited support for the Pixel 4a and apparantly does not include the new changes google introduced at this time (there are already a few threads about this in the GrapheneOS forums).

There is probably a Hackerspace or a Makerspace somewhere around and it's very likely that you will find people there who will help you with working on making your device usable again and with backing up your data.

computehyper 1 year ago | |

My files on my Pixel 4a are very important, and the battery barely lasts so even upgrading wouldn't work, it will surely mess up, and I am scared to lose or screw anything up with the phone. I also heard that doing anything weird like this can brick your phone. I also have bank apps that do not work on anything else apparently.

I wish Google would have told the truth so I had time to prepare. Luckily the news sites now are talking about how the update made the phone bust and Google has no batteries right now.

If someone can post this on the pixel4a and GooglePixel subreddit on Reddit I would be grateful as reddit is thinking I am a bot. I would hope Google fixes this issue for everyone, as I know there are many people like me in the same predicament.

dauertewigkeit 1 year ago | | |

Do you access to a computer? Maybe at a public library? Or on a university campus? You can recover your files with ADB.

texas1775 1 year ago |

St Vincent DePaul in your city can help you.

computehyper 1 year ago | |

I've been to many religious places and they've been very helpful. But this is more of a phone issue... I just want my phone back. I don't want a new phone... I've never heard of this ever happening ever.

Bancakes 1 year ago | | |

You keep saying how important your files are but you need to have them backed up in a cloud. Your life cannot end because you wake up one morning and your phone stops booting.

chiengineer 1 year ago | | |

Dude you need a new phone

And yeah that sucks but guess what. Back up your data.

And it won't happen again

computehyper 1 year ago |

HEY EVERYONE, GOOGLE MAY BE WIPING AND FACTORY RESETTING YOUR PHONE IF YOU DO NOT GET THE BATTERY OF DEATH UPDATE! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42873635

Please be careful!

93po 1 year ago |

if you're in houston you can have an older android of mine (but much newer than yours). sorry this is difficult for you, it sounds like it sucks.

aristofun 1 year ago |

Something is off here.

Imagine you are homeless but you have enough time to rant and argue about fr..king phone battery on the internet?

Sorry, I don’t buy it.

Get a new f..ng phone! Case closed.