Pixel October Android Pie Update: What You Need to Know

This week, Google released the October monthly Android update for Nexus and Pixel phones. Only now Android 9 Pie for Pixel and Android 8.1 Oreo for Nexus phones. These updates every month increase security, and sometimes fix a few bugs or issues. This month Google added some major fixes for Pixel and Pixel 2 on Android 9.

Pixel and Pixel 2 October When the Android Pie update becomes available from October 2, owners will want to know what to expect. In addition to the latest security, you will get fixes for Bluetooth and charging.

Many Pixel & Nexus owners will get an updated version of Android this week. And remember, older devices like Nexus 5 and Nexus Player are no longer supported. Instead, the Nexus 5X and 6P get Android 8.1, while newer devices are the second monthly patches of Android 9 Pie.

Either way, this is an important update that can affect your device and its performance. For October, we’re seeing new security enhancements and multiple critical security patches, followed by a few bug fixes. The most important change is that since Google got the Android Pie version, Google Pixel fixed fast charging and no charging problem.

Supported devices

Pixel October Android Pie Update Details

Google approved the update on Monday, October 1, and immediately released the files for developers to manually install the latest software. As expected, most users received the over-the-air update notification within 24-48 hours. I got mine on the original Pixel XL the night of October 1st.

Google has renewed Android security bulletinalso Pixel/Nexus security page with all the details for those who want to dig deeper into the changelog. Next, we’ll highlight the important bits below. You can take factory images and manually install if you want too.

As expected, we don’t see anything too crazy or significant in this monthly release. Again, Google’s main effort is security, and they occasionally fix a few bugs or issues while they’re ready. Typically, there are at least 30+ changes, but this month is very light. As a bonus, this means that Google does a good job of keeping our smartphones safe.

We recommend that you skip installing the update manually before proceeding with any changes. It’s not worth the risk to be such a small software version. Instead, wait for Google to send the over-the-air update files to your phone or tablet if you haven’t received them yet.

October Android Pie Update Fixes and Patches

Recently, Google has been taking monthly updates very seriously. For most of 2018, Google has added a number of bug fixes to these security updates. Function updates, not just software changes. While we found a lot of minor patches, it’s the minor bug fixes that matter.

This is Android Pie’s second monthly patch, so we expected a lot of minor changes. However, Google only patched four things. The most important of these is “Improved fast charging behavior for Pixel devices”. This isn’t just a minor fix, it allows Pixel phones to charge in around 90 minutes instead of taking more than 3 hours. This is a big fix and should have come a lot faster. Then we see performance, Android Auto and call screen behavior changes.

Download Nexus and Pixel October Updates

If you want to get this latest version of Android for your Nexus or Pixel device right away, you can download or flash it from the links below instead of waiting. Or read more about each of these changes.

1. download Factory Images
2. To capture OTA Update Files
3. To read Nexus/Pixel Security Bulletin
4. To read Android October Security Bulletin

When will the update come?

We expect the update in 24-48 hours. Google is always quick to deliver updates, or you can download and install them manually as we talked through the links above.

Some users may choose to manually download the files and update to their October Oreo or Pie version. However, we recommend waiting for Google’s OTA update notification instead. It’s easier this way. I went and bought it right away. This will pull the update from Google servers to your phone. The whole process took less than 10 minutes. From downloading my Pixel XL on Android Pie to installing it and rebooting.

More Details and What Next for Nexus/Pixel Owners?

In closing, expect an update on your Nexus or Pixel device in the coming days if you haven’t received it yet. Remember, this only applies to Google’s Nexus and Pixel devices. If you have a phone from Samsung, LG or Motorola, this does not apply to you. They’re still waiting for the original Android Pie update and probably won’t see it until 2019.