Got one of these phones? It must be updated immediately

Google is rolling out an important software update on some of its most popular phones after an alarming spate of overheating incidents and even fires.

Product Safety Australia warned of the risk of “serious burn injuries” from the battery issue on the Google Pixel 6a phones.

The alarming fault is most common in chalk, sage or charcoal-coloured Pixel 6a devices sold between June 16, 2022, and April 10, 2025.

“I got woken up with a horrible smell and a loud noise. Fire had already started and I managed to throw the phone on the tile floor pulling it by the cord. The phone was sitting less than 40 centimetres away from my head on my nightstand. Sheets caught on fire,” one Google Pixel 6a owner wrote on Reddit at the weekend.

“Terrible experience all around. I was lucky that the battery side was away from me and not facing towards me.”

The man said his bedding caught fire and there was damage to the air-conditioning unit is his home. He had a sore throat all day after inhaling smoke from the fire.

Google began rolling out the mandatory software update on July 8, as part of a worldwide update to Android 16. Affected devices need only to be updated, not returned.

“An overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user,” PSA said.

“Incidents have occurred resulting in serious burn injuries.”

Google has conceded the update will “reduce battery capacity and charging performance”. It takes effect after the phone has been charged 400 times.

“Only impacted devices will receive the battery management features. Some users will see changes sooner than others, because the battery management features activate only after an impacted device reaches 400 charge cycles,” Google said in an update.

Once the update has been installed, owners can continue using the phone.

The tech giant is also rolling out a battery replacement program. It will be available initially in the US, Canada, Britain, Singapore, Japan, and India.

“Additional battery replacement capability is expected in Japan, France, some other parts of Europe, and Australia soon,” Google said.

Some Google Pixel 6a users may be entitled to compensation such as money back or store credits. Eligibility can be checked on Google’s website.