How Long Google Pixel Phones Will Receive Software Updates
Google guarantees seven years of updates for the Pixel 8 and newer models, and five years for older ones. The support window counts from the month a phone went on sale in the Google Store in the US.
Google, the US technology company, has set different software support periods for its Pixel smartphones depending on the model. Starting with the Pixel 8, released in 2023, the company promised seven years of both security patches and major Android operating system upgrades. This matters because short support had been a key reason Android phones lost their resale value quickly.
The support clock starts in the month a device first became available to buy on Google's online store in the US.
Older models
All Pixels from the original model through the Pixel 5a no longer receive updates. Phones in the Pixel 6 and 7 families, as well as the original Pixel Fold, get five years of support. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro reach the end of support in October 2026, and the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro by the end of October 2027. The Pixel 6a will be supported until July 2027, and the Pixel 7a until May 2028.
Seven years of support
The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will stop getting updates after October 2030. The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, released in August and September 2024, are covered through the same months in 2031, the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro through August 2032, and the new Pixel 11 and 11 Pro through August 2033. The Pixel 8a, released in May 2024, is supported until May 2031, the Pixel 9a until April 2032, and the Pixel 10a until around March 2033.
What to do when updates end
It is possible to keep using a phone with its last update, but over time this exposes it to security risks. Android security patches generally arrive monthly, and once they stop, newly discovered vulnerabilities go unfixed. Moving to a device that still receives security updates is advisable.
Custom operating systems such as the privacy-focused GrapheneOS or LineageOS are an alternative, but they do not provide full protection because they lack the manufacturer's firmware, kernel and vendor code. LineageOS runs with an unlocked bootloader, so apps that require strict security, such as banking apps, mobile wallets and games with anti-cheat measures, may stop working. LineageOS still supports the original 2016 Pixel.
