What you’ll want to know
- Google’s February 2026 Pixel replace is small, probably holding again main modifications for the upcoming Android 16 QPR3 launch.
- The replace skips Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 collection telephones, hinting at a shift away from month-to-month updates for older units.
- Google says affected Pixel telephones will stay safety compliant, however provides little readability on future replace frequency.
Google has launched a brand new February 2026 replace for Pixel units, but it surely solely contains small modifications. It seems Google is holding again bigger updates for subsequent month alongside the Android 16 QPR3 launch, however this replace additionally confirms a shift for older Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 collection units.
After a buggy begin to the 12 months with the January 2026 replace, which brought about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth points on some Pixel units earlier than being mounted, Google is again to releasing its month-to-month Android updates for Pixel units on schedule.
The corporate is rolling out a brand new replace for Pixel units, starting from the Pixel 7a, Pixel Pill, and the unique Pixel Fold to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 10 collection, carrying the construct quantity BP4A.260205.
The replace is round 20 MB in measurement and is already out there for appropriate Pixel house owners. You possibly can verify for it by going to Settings > System > Software program updates > System replace > Verify for replace.
Google appears to be saving the actual modifications for later
As for fixes this time, the replace doesn’t convey a lot that’s new. There aren’t any UI or characteristic modifications general, but it surely does embody a high-severity vulnerability repair for the VPU driver.
The dearth of main modifications suggests Google is ready for the Android 16 QPR3 launch subsequent month, which is predicted to convey options like the flexibility to cover the At a Look widget and a controllable flashlight brightness slider.
That stated, whereas this replace is small, it confirms a notable change for older Pixel units.
A small replace with a much bigger message beneath
In case you have seen, the February replace shouldn’t be listed for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional, nor for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional. The lacking updates had been first noticed by Droid-Life, which requested Google concerning the lacking assist. The corporate replied that these units will “stay safety compliant” for his or her full assist interval, which does not supply a lot readability.
The publication additionally seen a sample. Pixel 6 units seem to have moved to a quarterly replace schedule after lacking the October and November updates final 12 months and receiving solely the December replace, adopted by skipping January and February as properly.
Equally, the Pixel 7 and seven Professional appear to have shifted to a quarterly cadence by skipping the January and February updates.
Google has not formally introduced this alteration, however the sample is changing into clearer. There are additionally experiences of Google shifting these units to a risk-based schedule, the place updates are pushed solely when vital. Because it stands, although, it seems these telephones will now not obtain month-to-month updates.
Android Central’s Take
It is a large shift. Google has up to now delivered month-to-month updates for all its units, and whereas the corporate has by no means explicitly promised a month-to-month schedule, that has been its follow. With these current updates, Google seems to be spacing out updates for older units, which is comprehensible given the rising variety of telephones it must assist.
