Hi, I posted this as a comment here and just like on Reddit, it's not showing, but I'll try again.<p>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).<p>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.<p>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.<p>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.<p>Thank you all.
Related thread:<p><i>Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on the buggy battery update</i><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619</a>
I vouched for this, since this is the type of issue our community should be concerned with.<p>If you can find 12$, buy a battery pack from Walmart.<p><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/1610764819?sid=23a91a6a-7f0b-4873-bae3-6f271b939673" rel="nofollow">https://www.walmart.com/ip/1610764819?sid=23a91a6a-7f0b-4873...</a><p>This will keep you going for the time being. Best of luck!<p>Edit: Here's Google official solution. Looks like a free replacement battery<p><a href="https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861" rel="nofollow">https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861</a>
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.<p>See: <a href="https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel-4as-old-firmware-is-gone-trapping-users-on-the-buggy-battery-update" rel="nofollow">https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel-4as-old-f...</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619</a>
Will <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1ic55ki/succesfully_reverted_my_pixel_4a_to_normal/" rel="nofollow">https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1ic55ki/succesfull...</a> help you undo what was done? It links to Android 13 S1 version August 5, 2023.<p>I was fortunately able to catch my 4a after it had downloaded the update but still needed a reboot to install. Followed <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_working_solution_to_stop_the_forced/" rel="nofollow">https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i0zih0/the_only_w...</a> , installing NextDNS to prevent the update from downloading.
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:<p>- 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.<p>- 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.<p>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.
I’m not sure if this is helpful, so please feel free to ignore. My email is in my profile.<p>I’m happy to send to you, with instructions to hold at a post office of your choice:<p>* several portable power banks with cables<p>* a small laptop. (I have a few, you can tell me which one is best for you if interested ).<p>If you’re interested, please shoot me an email.
You could install another operating system on the phone. For example, as far as I know GrapheneOS (<a href="https://grapheneos.org" rel="nofollow">https://grapheneos.org</a>) 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).<p>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.
HEY EVERYONE, GOOGLE MAY BE WIPING AND FACTORY RESETTING YOUR PHONE IF YOU DO NOT GET THE BATTERY OF DEATH UPDATE!
<a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42873635">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42873635</a><p>Please be careful!
Something is off here.<p>Imagine you are homeless but you have enough time to rant and argue about fr..king phone battery on the internet?<p>Sorry, I don’t buy it.<p>Get a new f..ng phone! Case closed.