HN Explorer

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

91 points by computehyper ↗ HN
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.

52 comments

[ 5.0 ms ] story [ 97.4 ms ] thread
999900000999
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
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
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.
ChrisArchitect
Related thread:

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

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

computehyper
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...
texas1775
St Vincent DePaul in your city can help you.
computehyper
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.
chiengineer
Dude you need a new phone

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

And it won't happen again

computehyper
I am backing up data, or trying my best to. It's just now I have to buy a new phone because Google can't help me even though they said they would. I don't keep everything on the cloud, not something I trust.
Bancakes
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.
computehyper
The files aren't the only issues, it's that now I have to buy a new phone for no reason. It was working perfectly. I can't even buy a used Pixel 4a as all the phones now have the update of death.
moralestapia
Man, what a terrible reply.

Because of this,

>you need to have them backed up in a cloud

and also this,

>Your life cannot end because you wake up one morning and your phone stops booting.

What if it does? Edge cases exist, whenever you fall through the cracks in the future remember your attitude here.

Bancakes
Well excuse me but a few people offered real solutions including free devices. Nope this guy wants his google pixel with 3 hours of battery life (lol) back.
moralestapia
I'm sure (I hope) you have enough mental ability to understand what I'm conveying there.
computehyper
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
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

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

computehyper
Hi, I'm not sure if you've saw it but not only is the battery is close to dead but the charging is super slow and it struggles to work plugged in. So I cannot use it well. The only option will to get a new phone, but it's been taking a toll on me.

I am not looking to be a charity case. I'm just flustered at what Google did. Something that never happened in history, without warning, ending my phone.

[dead] rusty_venture
[flagged]
computehyper
This isn't about an old device, it's just a few years old (2020, on Android 13). I understand that things break, but this is not about that. It's how Google lied to users about the update, then the update wrecking their phones to a point where it doesn't work. If my phone were to have naturally been destroyed then I get it, I have to move on.

I'm sure a lot of people have Pixels here, if all of a sudden it is forced to update, and the phone becomes unusable, would you not be angry? What if Microsoft forcefully updated and made all processors around 2018 bricked? I've browsed here so much and everyone loves to use old and cheap CPUs for their crafts which are beautiful here. I'm sure many people use old phones for many reasons as well, such as mobile servers, gadgets, etc. The Pixel 4a was a budget phone and perfect for those who want a phone with a headphone jack and that just works. Pixel 4a was also one of the phones used for many Android projects.

At this point I just want to tell people on here what Google did and let people know that this can happen to your phone at any time. Hopefully you are all prepared as Pixel 5/6 have been having battery issues as well and a forced update might be coming for that. I hope everyone is prepared.

[dead] rusty_venture
[flagged]
Kelvin506
Your reply is completely uncalled for. I hope you're able to get professional help for whatever it is in your life that drove you to be this callous toward someone.
[dead] rusty_venture
[flagged]
Kelvin506
It can be really hard to understand why people do what they do. But I do know from personal experience that shelter insecurity is one of those pervasive stressors that makes everything difficult.

Maybe their phone getting screwed up was the proverbial last straw. Now, instead of a calm, considered approach, they're fighting exhaustion and panic while trying to problem solve.

But no matter what their circumstances, being vile toward them is unwarranted.

miunau
Hey dude. This is probably the most vile thing I've read in a while. You should be ashamed of yourself.
nixosbestos
I've been on this site for like 15 years and I've never felt so compelled to tell someone they are a useless fucking asshole of a prick besides you.

Your projection reeks. I bet the last shit I took is happier than you are as a person. Get some fucking help.

RivieraKid
> Instead of blaming all your problems on an external entity like Google

But it's not his fault. I can easily empathize with how he's feeling.

Power bank probably doesn't work well because the update limits charging speed.

What if he doesn't have money for buying a new phone? Also, transferring files via cloud storage can be a non-trivial process, especially for a non-technical person.

rusty_venture
This person is on HackerNews, implying at least enough technical expertise to use a website. Google Drive is a website. Other people have offered this person alternative devices free of charge. Yet they are so fixated on a specific outcome (Google just fixing this for them) that they can't see another solution when it's offered up on a plate. They are also neglecting to think beyond the immediate problem: say they get the firmware rolled back somehow - what happens when the device stops charging/is stolen/is dropped and all their files are still on it? Have you never know anyone like this before? Someone who needs all their problems solved for them because they refuse to take responsibility for the situations they have created for themselves through action or inaction?
m463
lol, I imagine everyone in a relationship that posts here might have run into the "listen vs problem solve" scenario...

I definitely have tried to problem solve and things would escalate because the other person wanted me to listen.

But yeah, this is HN :)

meowfly
I'm aware of the "listen" versus "problem solving" scenario. I refuse to accept the framing. For some reason people have bought in to the idea that you can unload your emotions on someone and also create expectations on how they should respond.

If someone approaches you with a problem, they should expect you'll help them find a solution.

[deleted]
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fallinghawks
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.

aristofun
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.

93po
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.