The Google Pixel 4a is known for giving users a great Android experience in a smaller, easy-to-handle phone. Many people loved their Pixel 4a, but they’re now upset because of a recent surprise update.

What Was Supposed to Be Good News

Google rolled out the Pixel 4a in 2020, so it doesn’t get the new promise of long-lasting OS and security updates. So, when Google suddenly decided to update the Pixel 4a, users were initially excited. Google named this update the “Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program,” suggesting it would make the phone’s battery last longer. But, they also mentioned it might reduce battery life between charges. Many users thought this wouldn’t be a problem, but a discussion on Reddit proved otherwise.

One user shared, “I thought Google was doing us a favor by updating this old phone. Boy, was I wrong! Now, my phone barely works. I was going to buy the new model, but not anymore. They should be sued for this.”

Calls for Legal Action

The Reddit thread is full of angry Pixel 4a owners, some even suggesting legal action against Google. One comment read, “They made it sound so good, but now my battery only lasts an hour!” Another person wrote, “I updated on Saturday and my phone went from full to 2% in just 5 hours with very little use. What a mess!”

The main issue is that Google didn’t explain why this update was necessary or what problem it should fix. If there was a serious hardware issue, Google should have been more open about it. Without clear information, reverting to the old update doesn’t seem like a safe bet either.

A Silver Lining

However, there’s some relief for those affected. Google has started a program where users can get their battery replaced for free. Alternatively, users can opt for a $50 payment or a $100 credit towards buying another Pixel device from the Google Store. This might help soothe some of the frustration, but many are still left feeling disappointed by the unexpected turn of events.

Google has started to roll out a new security feature called “Identity Check” for Pixel phones. This feature will soon be available for Samsung phones with One UI 7 as well.

With Identity Check turned on, your phone will ask you to use your fingerprint or face to confirm it’s you before you can do certain important things when you’re not in a safe place like home or work. Here’s what it will do:

• Manage saved passwords and keys for logging in.
• Use saved passwords in apps, except for Chrome.
• Change your phone’s lock settings like PIN, pattern, or password.
• Update your biometric settings, such as fingerprint or face recognition.
• Reset your phone to factory settings.
• Disable the “Find My Device” feature.
• Turn off other security features that protect against theft.
• See where your phone considers “safe” places.
• Disable Identity Check itself.
• Set up a new phone with your current one.
• Add or remove Google accounts.
• Access special developer settings.

This feature makes it much harder for someone else to use your phone or access your accounts if they get hold of it. It also adds extra safety for Samsung accounts on phones that can use One UI 7.

To use this feature, you’ll need to set trusted places in your phone’s settings and ensure your phone supports high-level biometric security.

For Pixel phones, you can find and turn on Identity Check by going to the Settings app, then to Security & Privacy, then Device Unlock, followed by Theft Protection, and finally selecting Identity Check. Another way is through Settings, then Google, then All Services, and under Theft Protection.

This follows last year’s rollout of Theft Detection Lock, which is now on all Android phones from version 10 and up worldwide.

Everyone has a lot of private details on their phones these days, which makes them easy targets for thieves. If someone steals your phone when it’s unlocked, you can lock it from afar to keep your apps safe. But, if a thief watches you type in your lock screen code before taking your phone, just locking it remotely won’t stop them from getting in again. Google is working on a fix for this problem, and they might add a new feature called Safety Lock in the Android 16 update to make it tougher for thieves to get to your private info.

If a thief sees you put in your phone’s lock code before they steal it, you can’t stop them from unlocking your phone, even if you use fingerprint or face recognition. Android doesn’t mainly use biometrics for unlocking because they aren’t as secure as entering a code, PIN, or pattern. Biometrics can be tricked, even though it’s not very likely, so they are just a backup. But if someone knows your main lock code, this security setup doesn’t work well.

Google tried to solve this with a feature named Identity Check in the first Android 15 update. With Identity Check on, your phone needs biometric confirmation before you can change important settings when you’re not in a safe place. This means a thief with your lock code can’t change account settings or see saved passwords. But this doesn’t completely block access to all your private data, as things like app alerts, widgets, or voice assistants might still give away info.

This is where the new Safety Lock feature steps in. It’s being developed by Google to boost security by adding a mode you can turn on from anywhere. To unlock your phone in this mode, you’ll need both your lock code and biometric verification. It also limits things like app notifications, widgets, quick settings, and the voice assistant to keep your data secure.

Since Google hasn’t told us much about Safety Lock yet, I’ve done some digging. I found a new permission in Android 16 named MANAGE_SAFETY_LOCK_DEVICE, probably meant for Google Play Services, which runs Find My Device. It seems you might be able to activate Safety Lock remotely via the Find My Device site. While I haven’t proven this yet, it’s a good guess I’ll keep checking into.