Android Pie has killed fast charging on some Google Pixel XLs (Update: Fix coming)

Update, August 14, 2018 (04:00PM EST): A Google spokesperson told The Verge that it is aware of the fast charging bug described in the post below and that a fix will arrive in the coming weeks. However, the spokesperson clarified that the official Pixel and Pixel XL chargers that came with the devices should be unaffected by the Android 9.0 Pie bug. However, users on Reddit refute this claim.

Here’s a statement quote from Google:

“We’re aware of an issue where non-Power Delivery (PD) USB-C chargers no longer rapidly charge the 2016 Pixel and Pixel XL after the upgrade to Android 9.0 Pie. The 18W rapid charger included in-box is a PD charger and does not exhibit this behavior. We are verifying a fix for non-PD USB-C chargers and will roll it out in the coming weeks.”

In the meantime, you’ll have to anticipate it taking a little longer to charge your Pixel than it usually would take.

Original Article, August 13, 2018 (05:17AM EST): Some original Google Pixel XL phones are experiencing charging issues following the Android 9.0 Pie update last Monday. As mentioned on the Google Issue Tracker (via Android Police and Reddit), some original Google Pixel XL’s no longer quick charge, and the “charging rapidly” static notification is also missing.

The problem doesn’t appear to be related to the type of charger used, as reports suggest both official and third-party chargers fail to fast charge affected handsets. These Pixel XL’s still charge, only at a noticeably slower rate. The issue also doesn’t appear to have affected the standard Pixels, or second generation units.

A Googler has responded to comments in the Google Issue Tracker — so it is on the company’s radar — though we don’t yet know the cause, nor is there any sign of a guaranteed solution. It’s pretty clear that it’s related to the Android Pie update, so perhaps rolling back to Oreo might help (if you’re prepared to downgrade, that is).

This isn’t the first Google Pixel XL (2016) charging issue we’ve encountered this year. Back in March, a bug in Android 8.1 Oreo caused certain Pixel XLs to overcharge. Google has yet to roll out a solution for that — perhaps the current charging problem was an attempt to do so?

We’ll keep an eye on this story to see how it develops in the coming days. Let us know in the comments if you’ve experienced this on your Pixel, or if you have an idea for a fix.