Affected Pixel users have taken to online forums like Reddit to report the issue. According to the Reddit posts (via 9to5Google), the devices don’t respond to a wireless charging pad. For some, the charging icon appears on the screen but the phone doesn’t draw any power. Some others, meanwhile, say that the phone reports a charging error or misalignment with the charging pad. A few users have found that wireless charging works for some time but stops abruptly showing a “not charging” message on the screen. These issues exist regardless of the make and model of the wireless charger in use. For affected Pixel phones, it’s the same whether you use Google’s Pixel Stands or some third-party chargers. Forgetting the Pixel Stand and adding it again got wireless charging working again for some Pixel users. But this workaround is inconsistent. Even adjusting settings such as Adaptive Charging fixes the issue for some users, but again, not for everyone.
Android 13 causes wireless charging issues on Pixel phones
It’s unclear what is causing this wireless charging issue on Pixel phones following the Android 13 update. As the new report notes, it could be a bug in the software controlling the charging. The software can slow down or stop charging (both wired and wireless) depending on various factors. For example, if you put your Pixel on charging overnight, Google slows down the charging speed to ease the strain on the battery while ensuring you wake up with 100% charge. The feature uses your phone’s alarm to determine an optimal charging speed. Another similar feature stops charging at 80% when you keep the device plugged in for multiple days. This software control also kicks in if the battery is draining fast, such as during gaming sessions. Unfortunately, there’s no telling if either of these software controls is misbehaving or if Android 13 has introduced some other bug. Of course, not every Pixel device running Android 13 is affected. But it is still a widespread issue. And to make matter worse for Pixel 6 series users, they can’t even roll back to Android 12. For Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 users, that option is still there. As of this writing, Google hasn’t responded to these reports of wireless charging issues on Pixel phones with Android 13. Hopefully, the company will sort this out soon. We will let you know when we have more information.
