Google rolling out January 2026 security update for Pixel 10, 9, 8, and Pixel 7a

Google has finally begun rolling out the January 2026 security update for Pixel devices, following the publication of the month’s Android security bulletin earlier this month. The update is now reaching supported Pixel phones and tablets running Android 16, with availability expanding in phases depending on the device model and carrier.

As usual, Google says the rollout will take about a week to fully complete, meaning some users may need to wait a few days before seeing the OTA notification.

What’s new in the January 2026 Pixel update

The January update focuses primarily on bug fixes, stability improvements, and security patches, rather than introducing new user-facing features. According to Google’s official changelog, the update addresses issues across several areas.

Audio

• Fix for noisy ringback tones experienced during Webex calls under certain conditions*[1]

Battery & Charging

• Fix for issue with battery draining in certain conditions*[2]

Display & Graphics

• Fix for issue with AOD flickering under certain conditions*[3]
• Fix for noisy lines flashing on the screen when editing HDR photos in the Adobe Lightroom app under certain conditions*[3]
• General improvements for GPU performance in certain conditions*[3]

Touch

• Fix for the issue with the touchscreen randomly stopping working in certain conditions*[3]

User Interface

• Fix for an issue where deleting a Live Universe wallpaper could occasionally cause the Wallpaper and style app to become unusable until the device is rebooted*[1]

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Device Applicability

Fixes are available for all supported Pixel devices unless otherwise indicated below.

*[1]  Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold

*[2]  Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold

*[3] Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Google notes that some fixes are device-specific or region-specific, which explains why not all Pixel models receive every listed improvement.

The January 2026 update is rolling out to a wide range of Pixel devices, including the Pixel 7a (finally), Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 8 and 9 series, and the Pixel 10 lineup.

Most global units are receiving build BP4A.260105.004.E1, while select regions such as EMEA, Japan, and Verizon variants are getting slightly different build numbers.

As always, users can manually check for the update by heading to Settings > Security & privacy > Updates > System update.

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