Google Pixel owners are reporting performance issues after the recent September software update, with complaints ranging from severe lag and overheating to apps freezing and phones becoming temporarily unusable.
The reports surfaced on Reddit, where a Pixel 10 user claimed that their device became noticeably slower after installing the update. According to the post, apps including WhatsApp now stutter, the Recent Apps screen glitches, and the phone gets unusually warm even during light use. Other users have since shared similar experiences, suggesting that the problem is not limited to Google’s latest flagship.
One Pixel 9 Pro owner described the QPR1 update as “terrible”, claiming the same issues were still present after a later patch. Meanwhile, a Pixel 10 Pro XL user reported consistently hotter temperatures after the update, although they experienced no lag or stuttering. Interestingly, the user said that the problems appeared after moving from the beta program to the stable release.
Some complaints are more serious than others. One Pixel 10 Pro owners described several cases of overheating during daily use, including occasions where the phone got stuck on the lock screen.
In one case, they were unable to access their garage door app, while another incident prevented them from opening an email containing a QR code. The user also claimed that attempts to unlock the phone sometimes triggered the camera instead, making the overheating problem even more frustrating.
It’s still unclear what’s causing the problems or why some Pixel devices seem unaffected. One Reddit user pointed to a Google Issue Tracker report and claimed that GrapheneOS had already addressed the underlying problem, although this connection has not been independently confirmed.
A possible temporary solution was also shared, with limited background processes to four through Android developer options. However, another user noted that the setting resets after a reboot, so it’s far from a permanent solution.
Google has yet to publicly acknowledge the specific problem in the reports provided, and there is no confirmed timeline for a fix. For now, complaints suggest that the September update introduced performance problems in several Pixel generations, although the extent of the issue remains unclear.