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I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

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I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#1

Post by computehyper »

Hi, I posted this as a comment here and just like on Reddit, it's not showing, but I'll try again.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Thank you all.

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#2

Post by 999900000999 »

I vouched for this, since this is the type of issue our community should be concerned with.

If you can find 12$, buy a battery pack from Walmart.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/1610764819?sid=23a91a6a-7f0b-4873...

This will keep you going for the time being. Best of luck!

Edit: Here's Google official solution. Looks like a free replacement battery

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#5

Post by computehyper »

999900000999 wrote: post #2

I vouched for this, since this is the type of issue our community should be concerned with. If you can find 12$, buy a battery pack from Walmart. https://www.walmart.com/ip/1610764819?sid=23a91a6a-7f0b-4873... This will keep you going for the time being. Best of luck! Edit: Here's Google official solution. Looks like a free replacement battery https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861

Thank you for your help.

I can't get a replacement because I was late and they told me that the battery will deplete only a little but I can barely use it and the charging is super slow. But I am not near any battery replacement stores so it wouldn't work. I called one that is still far away who told me that all their stores are out of stock and will be for awhile. And that they've had problems with some replacements, and that Google isn't paying them for screen replacement, as that will likely occur during replacement as the screen will break, so that will cost another $50 or so.

I have a battery pack and it doesn't work well, the battery is considered dead all around as the apps show on the phone.

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#6

Post by computehyper »

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.

See: https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel-4as-old-f...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42865619

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#7

Post by netsharc »

computehyper wrote: post #6

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. See: https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel-4as-old-f... https://news.ycombinator.com/item?…

It's kinda insane that they can't do a "undo last commit; git push; tell the CI/CD to push a new OS release" procedure. But there's a probably Fight-Club-esque math (1) there that make it "If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.".

Congrats Google, your procedures have made you an overweight gorilla that isn't agile enough...

(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiB8GVMNJkE

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#8

Post by computehyper »

texas1775 wrote: post #4

St Vincent DePaul in your city can help you.

I've been to many religious places and they've been very helpful. But this is more of a phone issue... I just want my phone back. I don't want a new phone... I've never heard of this ever happening ever.

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#9

Post by yial »

I’m not sure if this is helpful, so please feel free to ignore. My email is in my profile.

I’m happy to send to you, with instructions to hold at a post office of your choice:

* several portable power banks with cables

* a small laptop. (I have a few, you can tell me which one is best for you if interested ).

If you’re interested, please shoot me an email.

Re: I'm semi homeless and Google's forced update on the Pixel 4a ruined it

#10

Post by zevon »

You could install another operating system on the phone. For example, as far as I know GrapheneOS (https://grapheneos.org) 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).

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.

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