Here's how to stop the Google Pixel 4a 'battery' update

Some Google Pixel 4a owners aren’t happy about a recent update that seems to mess with their phone’s battery life. While Google rolled out a battery replacement program to help users, plenty of them want to avoid dealing with the chaos altogether. If you’re one of them, here’s how you can stop the update from taking over your phone.

These steps were shared by u/amateurninja on Reddit and some users confirmed that it did the trick for them.

Disclaimer: We have not tested these steps ourselves, nor do we endorse going against Google’s recommended updates for its Pixel phones. Proceed with this at your own risk.

First, block these URLs to stop your device from checking or downloading the update:

• ota.googlezip.net
• ota-cache1.googlezip.net
• ota-cache2.googlezip.net

There are a few ways to block these:

• Use a firewall app.
• Try an app like AdAway.
• Edit your hosts file (if you’re rooted).
• Set up a DNS service like NextDNS in the Android Private DNS settings.

For this guide, let’s take NextDNS as an example. Open up NextDNS and put “googlezip.net” on your blocklist since it only blocks full domains.

If your phone has already downloaded the update or started downloading it, clear the storage for Google Play Services. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > Storage > Clear Storage. This deletes the update, but you may need to log back into your Google account afterward.

Once you’ve blocked the URLs and cleared the storage, check for updates manually. Your phone won’t be able to connect to the update server, so it should say your system is up to date. You can double-check in your blocking app’s log to see that the URLs were successfully blocked.

Many users say these steps work even if the update was already downloaded. If you want extra peace of mind, don’t restart your phone unless you’re sure the blocking worked.

The frustration among Pixel 4a owners is real, with plenty venting about being forced into an update they didn’t ask for. Hopefully, these steps will give you a bit more control over your device.