PSA: Google Pixel November patch coming as 2GB Android 14 update for some, but fret not

Google started rolling out the November security update to eligible Pixel devices earlier this week, tagging along several fixes for bugs introduced with last month’s update to Android 14. The new update is rolling out in phases, and it’s only now that some Pixel owners are receiving it. But instead of the typical small-sized update that characterizes monthly security patches, some Google Pixel users are receiving another Android 14 update with November security patch weighing over 2GB in size. However, there’s no reason to fret.

Google rolled out the update to Android 14 last month to eligible Pixel devices from the Pixel 4a (5G) all the way to the Pixel 7 family. But soon after, reports of a storage bug affecting Pixel 6 and newer devices surfaced, even possibly prompting Google to halt the rollout in an attempt to minimize the damage. The latest November update contains a fix for this issue and a few others, which is the most logical explanation behind the re-released 2GB update some Pixel owners are receiving.

Essentially, what’s happening here is that devices affected by the memory storage bug are likely getting a full Android 14-based build with the November patch on top of the previous Android 14 build that triggered the glitch.

And if anything, the fact that everyone — yes, I read hundreds of comments in multiple Reddit threads and X — who received this huge update is on a Pixel 6 or newer device adds even more weight to this argument. There’s no single person with a Pixel 4a (5G) or Pixel 5 reporting this issue. The majority of reports are from Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7a users, which are the devices that were massively affected by the Android 14 storage bug.

So, if you receive the new November update that weighs over 2GB, go ahead and install it without any fears. Alternatively, you may restart your Pixel phone to see if the update downsizes to the normal weight. This is what one of those affected did to restore the new 2GB November update to the normal size of below 30MB. Although I wouldn’t recommend this since you’ll be skipping the chance to start on a clean slate with the new November build.

It’s worth noting that Google hasn’t put out any official statement on why some Pixel users are receiving a huge November update, but this is just another of those informed guesses. We will keep an eye on this and let you know if there’s any official word from Google.