Google's Pixel 9 Series Update: Changes to Battery Share

Google has quietly introduced a significant change to how Battery Share, the company's reverse wireless charging feature, functions on the Pixel 9 series. While reverse wireless charging remains a handy tool for charging accessories like earbuds or sharing power with another device, Pixel 9 owners will notice a notable limitation compared to previous models.

What Is Reverse Wireless Charging?

Reverse wireless charging allows your phone to act as a power source for other devices, without the need for a cable. Imagine topping off your wireless earbuds or helping a friend charge their phone in an emergency, all from the battery of your Pixel. It’s a practical feature that adds convenience to your smartphone experience.

In earlier Pixel models, Battery Share could be used while the phone was charging over a wire. This meant you could charge your earbuds wirelessly from your Pixel, even while your phone was plugged into the wall. But with the new Pixel 9, this is no longer possible.

As phones evolve and certain features like Battery Share change, managing your device's storage and battery life becomes even more crucial. One way to optimize your Pixel's performance is by keeping your media files organized. Enter Smart Transfer, a third-party data manager app designed to help users declutter their phones effortlessly. The app’s Photo Cleaner Organizer feature ensures that your media files are sorted, cleaned, and optimized, freeing up storage and allowing your phone to run smoothly. Whether you're transferring data between phones or just need to organize your gallery, Smart Transfer makes it simple.

Google's Recent Battery Share Update

Google has removed the ability to use reverse wireless charging on the Pixel 9 while the device is charging via a wired connection. While the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL still support Battery Share, the option to wirelessly charge another device while your phone is plugged in has been disabled. This change was confirmed by Google on its support page, though no specific reason was provided for the update.

This is a departure from previous Pixel models that allowed for Battery Share to be used in tandem with wired charging. While the feature itself is still available, users will have to adapt to the change, particularly those who relied on charging accessories while their phone was charging simultaneously.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Battery Share Limitation

Another notable change is the absence of Battery Share on Google’s foldable models. Similar to the first-generation Pixel Fold, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does not support reverse wireless charging at all. Given the unique design and coil placement of the foldable devices, this feature appears to be a challenge for Google’s current hardware configuration.

Battery Share is also unavailable on Pixel 6a, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold models, making the feature more limited to select devices within Google's lineup.

How Does This Affect Pixel Users?

For Pixel users who often charged their accessories while the phone was connected to a power source, this change may require adjusting daily habits. While Battery Share remains a useful feature for sharing power with other devices, the inability to do so while charging over a wire limits its versatility.

Final Thoughts

While the removal of reverse wireless charging during wired charging on the Pixel 9 may seem inconvenient to some, it’s important to consider how this change affects overall user experience. Will this shift impact your daily use of Battery Share? Let us know in the comments below!