The January 2023 security patch update seems to have been delayed on Pixel 6/7 series for T-Mobile and Google Fi users. One of the major reasons why some users are inclined toward the offering from the Silicon Valley giant is to get timely OS updates. However, for some carrier-locked Pixel device owners, things aren’t currently going on the right track.
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January Update Delayed on Pixel 6/7 series on T-Mobile and Fi
Initially, reports came from Pixel 5A 5G users that they haven’t yet received the latest update even days after it was rolled out. But now, it seems the issue is more widespread than earlier anticipated as the sixth and seventh iteration of Pixel device users are also in the same boat. At the time of writing, Pixel 6/7 series users on T-Mobile and Google Fi [which uses the T-Moible network] have reported that they are yet to receive the January 2023 security patch update.
A slew of reports is already lined across many Reddit [1, 2, and 3] and Google Support Forums regarding the same. Moroever, the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a device users on T-Moiible are even yet to receive the December 2022 update, they are still stuck on the November update.
Reason for the Delay
Talking about the delayed January update, there are speculations that the update had a few underlying bugs that initially missed the eyes of the developers but now they have got hold of the same and hence have decided to halt that update until further notice. In this regard, a Reddit user who claims to be a T-Mobile employee has also confirmed the same and has reported that the update could end up taking weeks to be rolled out for T-Mobile users.
So what exactly is this bug? Users who were able to install the January update have reported that Bluetooth is not working on their device or is disconnecting after regular intervals. So this intermittent disruption in the Bluetooth could well be the culprit and the plausible cause behind the delay.
So until that happens, is there any way of manually welcoming the update onto your device? And should you? Well, since Google has speculatively delayed this update due to some issues, it isn’t recommended that you welcome abode this update on your device. But still, if you want to take the road less traveled, then this guide will take you through two methods to install the January 2023 update onto your Pixel 6/7 series for T-Mobile and Google Fi users. Follow along.
How to Install January 2023 Update on Pixel 6/7 series on T-Mobile and Fi
Before starting with any of these two methods, please take a complete device backup beforehand. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.
Using the SIM Trick
Take out your T-Mobile/Google Fi SIM from your device, put in an unactivated Verizon SIM or an international sim, and change it to AT&T Roaming. In both these cases, you should get the OTA update within a few minutes
Join the Android Beta Program
This is the shorter and easier of the two methods but on the flip side, the beta update might have a few bugs than its stable counterpart. Moreover, if you ever plan on going back to the stable build, then you will first have to reset your device. So if that’s all well and good, then proceed with the below steps to get started
- Head over to Android Beta Program and sign in with the same account that you are currently using on your Pixel device.
- Then scroll to the Eligible Devices section and your device will be listed there, click on Opt-in.
- Now proceed with the on-screen instructions to get yourself enrolled in the Beta program.
- Once done, you will shortly receive the beta update on your device from Settings > System > System Update section.
- So download and install it right away. That’s it. You are now on the latest January 2023 security patch update on your Pixel 6/7.
Via ADB Sideload
While this method is slightly technical in comparison with the earlier one but it doesn’t require any data wipe and you don’t need to be a beta tester either. So if you are willing to give this tweak a try, then take a data backup [to be on the safer side] and then check out our guide on Flash Firmware on Pixel via ADB Sideload
So these were the two different methods through which you could install the latest January 2023 security patch update onto your Pixel 6/7 device. This is a developing story and we will update it continuously as and when there are any further news surrounding the same. Stay tuned!
