Summary

  • The March Pixel update has introduced a battery-drain bug that might be preventing the CPU from entering Deep Doze.
  • Reports span Pixel 7 through Pixel 10 Pro, but not all users that have installed the March update have encountered the issue.
  • Google hasn't acknowledged the problem yet, but users have filed an Issue Tracker report.

Alongside additional AI functionality, upgraded Now Playing, and new security features, Google's March Pixel update also included a frustrating battery drain bug.

Google hasn't officially acknowledged the problem yet, but one Pixel owner thinks they might have uncovered the source of the issue. In a now-deleted Reddit post, a user outlined how the March update seems to introduce a bug that stops the smartphone's CPU from entering Deep Doze, a mode that throttles performance and background activities when the phone isn't being used (via Android Police). It's unclear why the moderators of r/GooglePixel deleted Reddit the post.

Not every Pixel device seems to have been hit with the battery drain issue, but a quick look at Reddit and Google's support forums reveals several users suffering from the problem. That said, the bug doesn't seem to be that widespread. In most cases, users have noted that their devices are eating up battery life far more quickly, with their phones dying well before the end of the day. There are few things more annoying than being forced to top up your smartphone's battery at the end of the day when it typically lasts well into the evening.

Google's March Pixel update has been a bit of a mess

Hopefully, a fix arrives soon

The problem seems to be affecting a wide variety of phones, ranging from the Pixel 7 all the way up to the Pixel 10 Pro. For what it's worth, my Pixel 10 Pro's battery life has been fine since I installed the March update.

A user that's been hit with the issue has posted a formal defect request in the Google Issue Tracker, so hopefully, the problem lands on Google's radar soon. The issue tracker flag currently has over 99 comments, indicating that it has at least some momentum already. If you're encountering this problem, unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a solution right now. Some Pixel users also reported encountering a bootloop issue after installing the smartphone's March update.

XDA has reached out to Google about the March Pixel update's battery drain issues. This story will be updated with more information if we hear back from the tech giant.