To troubleshoot battery and performance problems on Pixel 7a and earlier, including Pixel Fold, you can use our self-help flow.
If your phone's battery life seems poor or short, it could be that a downloaded app uses too much battery. You can adjust your phone settings to help its battery last. To fix battery drain, use the steps below.
Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
After a software update, it's normal for your Pixel battery to drain a little more than usual. It's because the phone works hard to download and optimise the new software and get everything up and running.
If you still experience unusual battery drain after a few days, let us know and we'll be happy to help.
How do I save battery with my settings?
If your phone's battery life is too short, learn how to get a longer battery life.
You can also learn which activities use the most battery.
How do I close apps that use the most battery?
Important: You can't force stop or uninstall Google Play services. Your phone uses Google services through Google Play. It’s integrated with Android. Learn about Google Play services.
With high background or overall battery usage
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Battery
Battery usage.
- To get battery usage by app, tap View by apps.
- To review or change how a listed app or system uses the battery, tap the app or system.
- For all apps, it's recommended that you keep battery optimisation turned on.
- For some apps, you can restrict background battery usage.
- To review the battery usage settings for all of your apps:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Apps
- If you find a message with advice to restrict an app or system, tap the message
Battery usage.
Tip: When some apps are set to 'Restricted', they may not work as usual, or notifications may be delayed.
Important: If you force stop some essential apps or services, your phone won't work correctly. Force stop isn’t available for all apps.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Apps
- Tap the app
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Apps
- Tap the app.
- Tap Uninstall
Tip: When you touch and hold the app, you can find 'Uninstall', 'Remove' or both on your screen. To remove the app from your phone, tap Uninstall. To remove it from your home screen only, tap Remove.
How do I check if my phone needs to be updated?
- Restart your phone.
- On Pixel 5a and earlier: Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds, or until your phone restarts.
- On Pixel 6 and later, including Fold: Press and hold the power button + volume up button for a few seconds.
- Tap Restart
.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Near the bottom, tap System
- When the update status appears on your screen, follow the steps.
Check if an update for the Camera app is available:
- Open the Google Play Store app
.
- At the top right, tap the Profile icon.
- Tap Manage apps and devices.
- Under 'Updates available', install any updates available for Pixel Camera.
Check if an Android system update is available:
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Tap System.
- Tap Software updates.
- Tap System update.
- Tap Check for update.