Saturday, 31 October 2026

Pixel software updates now span seven years for Pixel 8 family

Every Pixel from the 8 onward gets seven years of updates, but older models get five. Here is the exact end date for your phone, from Pixel 6 to Pixel 11.

Pixel 8
Photo: IXTA9839 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (modified)

The short version

  • Google promises seven years of Pixel software updates, including Android upgrades and security patches, for the Pixel 8 and every newer model.
  • The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro get updates until October 2030; the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro run to August 2033.
  • The Pixel 6, 6a, 7, 7a and first Pixel Fold get five years, and the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro reach their end of support in October 2026.
  • Each countdown starts in the month the phone went on sale on the US Google Store.
Quick read · 1 min

Google gives every Pixel from the Pixel 8 onward seven years of software updates, covering both new Android versions and monthly security patches. The Pixel 6 and 7 generations, plus the first Pixel Fold, get five years. The clock starts in the month each phone went on sale on Google's US store.

  • Pixel 8 and 8 Pro: supported until October 2030.
  • Pixel 9a: until April 2032. Pixel 10a: around March 2033.
  • Pixel 11 and 11 Pro: until August 2033.

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro reach the end of their support window in October 2026, so this month's patch, which fixes critical Bluetooth flaws, may be their last. The Pixel 7 runs to October 2027. Once updates stop, new security holes stay unpatched, so owners of older models should plan an upgrade, while a discounted Pixel 8 still has years left.

If you bought a Pixel 8 Pro when it launched, your phone is set to keep getting new Android versions and security fixes until October 2030. Own a Pixel 6 instead, and October 2026 is the end of the road. That gap comes down to one promise Google made in 2023, and it decides how long your phone stays safe to use.

Software support matters more than most people think. When a phone stops getting updates, newly found security holes stay open, apps slowly stop supporting it, and its resale value drops. Knowing your Pixel’s end date tells you whether that discounted older model is still a good buy, and when you’ll need to budget for a new phone.

01

How many years of Pixel software updates you get

Pixel 8 and newer phones get seven years of software updates, and the Pixel 6 and 7 generations get five. Since the Pixel 8 launched in 2023, Google has covered both monthly security patches and major Android version upgrades for seven years. That beat Samsung’s 2019 pledge of three years of major updates for cheaper Galaxy phones, with longer support reserved for selected flagships.

Google starts the clock in the month a model first went on sale on its US Google Store, not the day you bought it. A Pixel 8 bought new this year still stops getting updates on the same date as one bought at launch.

A person’s hand holding a modern smartphone
02

Pixel update end dates for every supported model

Here is when each current Pixel gets its last scheduled update, based on Google’s release dates.

Seven years of support

  • Pixel 8 and 8 Pro: until October 2030.
  • Pixel 8a (released May 2024): until May 2031.
  • Pixel 9 and 9 Pro (released August and September 2024): until those same months in 2031.
  • Pixel 9a (announced in March, on sale April 2025): until April 2032.
  • Pixel 10 and 10 Pro (2025): until August 2032.
  • Pixel 10a: a final update around March 2033.
  • Pixel 11 and 11 Pro: until August 2033.

Five years of support

  • Pixel 6 and 6 Pro: support ends in October 2026.
  • Pixel 6a: until July 2027.
  • Pixel 7 and 7 Pro: until the end of October 2027.
  • Pixel 7a: until May 2028.
  • Original Pixel Fold: five years from the month it went on sale.

Every Pixel from the original model through the Pixel 5a is already out of support. The a-series phones launch on a different schedule from the main models, which is why their dates don’t line up with the flagships.

03

The Pixel 6 has just hit its last scheduled update

For Pixel 6 and 6 Pro owners, the October 2026 update could be the final one. Google had already stretched these phones to five years of support, and their regular window closes this month. Google hasn’t said outright that it’s the last patch, but monthly updates would need another extension to continue.

That makes this month’s patch worth installing quickly. The October update, with the Oct. 5 security patch level, fixes six extra Pixel vulnerabilities on top of the regular Android bulletin, including critical flaws in Bluetooth. It also fixes everyday bugs: distorted audio on some internet calls for the Pixel 8 through 10, and a keyboard that sometimes failed to appear in search fields on the Pixel 8 through 11. The rollout is staged, so it may take a few days to reach your phone.

Calendar page showing long update timeline
04

What this means if you’re buying or keeping a Pixel

The seven-year promise changes the math on older models. A discounted Pixel 8 still has years of updates left, which makes it a reasonable budget pick in a way a two-year-old Android phone often wasn’t before 2023.

Some practical rules of thumb:

  • Buying used or on sale? Check the end date above, not just the price. A Pixel 7 is cheaper than a Pixel 8 but loses support three years sooner.
  • On a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro? Install the October update, then plan to replace the phone, especially if you use it for banking or work.
  • On a Pixel 8 or newer? You don’t need to upgrade for software reasons for years. Battery health is more likely to push you to replace it.
05

What happens after your Pixel stops getting updates

Your phone keeps working, but it gets riskier over time. Monthly security patches stop, so any new flaw found after that date stays unfixed. The safest move is to switch to a phone that’s still supported.

Custom software is an option for tinkerers, with limits. Installing a third-party version of Android, such as the privacy-focused GrapheneOS or the widely used LineageOS, can extend an old Pixel’s life, but neither can fully protect it, because they no longer get the manufacturer’s own firmware, kernel and hardware code. LineageOS, which still supports the original 2016 Pixel, requires an unlocked bootloader (the startup lock that verifies the system is untouched), and that can stop banking apps, mobile wallets and some games from working.

06

Quick answers

How long will the Pixel 8 Pro get security updates?

Until October 2030. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro both get seven years of Android and security updates from their October 2023 launch.

How many years of updates does the Pixel 9a get?

Seven. The Pixel 9a went on sale in April 2025 and is supported until April 2032.

How long is the Pixel 10a supported?

The Pixel 10a gets seven years too, with its final update expected around March 2033.

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