How to Fix Excessive Battery Drain on Pixel 8 Pro

• This guide offers solutions to fix excessive battery drain on the Pixel 8 Pro, although results may vary.
• There’s no official acknowledgment or ETA for a fix from developers at this time.
• Users should proceed with these workarounds cautiously and consider backing up data before a factory reset.

If you’re a Pixel 8 Pro owner, you’re probably familiar with the frustrating battery drain issue that has been plaguing this device. Despite the annual hopes for improvements, Pixel smartphones continue to suffer from this problem. Even with the transition to Google’s own Tensor chipset, the issue remains, and it’s compounded by overheating, network, and modem problems. The latest iteration of the Pixel, the Pixel 8 Pro, is no exception. Users are already flooding forums with complaints about excessive battery drain, leaving them with disappointing screen-on times.

The root cause of these problems seems to be Google’s reliance on the Exynos-based Tensor chipset. Until Google makes a significant change in this regard, it’s likely that these issues will persist. However, there are some workarounds that may provide temporary relief from this maddening bug. In this guide, we will explore various methods to address the battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro. Let’s dive into these solutions right away.

How to Resolve Battery Drain on Pixel 8 Pro

If you’re experiencing battery drain on your Pixel 8 Pro, there are several workarounds you can try to address this issue. Let’s explore these solutions one by one.

Solution 1: Restrict App’s Battery Usage

To begin, we will tackle the problem of apps consuming excessive battery in the background. Follow these steps to identify and restrict the culprit app:

1. Open the Settings menu on your Pixel 8 Pro.
2. Navigate to the Battery section and select Battery Usage.
3. Check the list of apps under “App usage for the past 24 hours.”
4. Tap on the first app in the list and choose the “Restricted” option from the menu.
5. Repeat this process for any other apps that appear high on the list.

Once you’ve applied these restrictions, monitor your device to see if it resolves the excessive battery drain problem on your Pixel 8 Pro.

Solution 2: Disable Always On Display

Another common battery-draining culprit is the Always On Display feature. To save battery life, consider disabling it using these steps:

1. Open the Settings on your Pixel 8 Pro.
2. Go to Display and then Lock Screen.
3. Disable the “Always Show Time and Info” toggle.

After making this change, keep an eye on your device to see if it helps in mitigating the excessive battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro.

Solution 3: Disable Mobile Data Always Active

Your Pixel 8 Pro might be constantly using mobile data, even when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, just in case the Wi-Fi signal weakens. This feature is handy for staying connected but can significantly impact your battery life. To disable it, follow these steps:

1. Enable Developer Options by going to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number seven times. You’ll receive a prompt confirming that you are now a developer.
2. Navigate to Settings > System > Developer Options.
3. Look for the “Mobile Data Always Active” option and turn it off.

After making this adjustment, monitor your device to see if it resolves the excessive battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro.

Solution 4: Lower the Screen Timeout

Adjusting the screen timeout duration can help conserve your Pixel 8 Pro’s battery. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Navigate to the Display section.
3. Select the “Screen Timeout” option.
4. Choose a shorter duration, such as 15 seconds or a maximum of 30 seconds.

By reducing the screen timeout, you can minimize unnecessary power consumption and potentially resolve the excessive battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro.

Solution 5: Disable Tap to Wake

The Tap to Wake feature on your Pixel 8 Pro allows you to quickly access notifications and perform tasks without unlocking your phone. However, it can be a drain on your battery. To save power, consider disabling the associated features using these steps:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Go to the Display section.
3. Select the Lock Screen option.
4. Disable both the “Tap to Check Phone” and “Lift to Check Phone” features.

By turning off these features, you may be able to address the excessive battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro. Keep an eye on your device to see if it makes a noticeable difference.

Solution 6: Use Battery Saver Mode

The Battery Saver Mode is a tried-and-true method to address excessive battery drain, although it does come with some sacrifices in terms of features. If you’re willing to make this trade-off for improved battery life, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings on your device.
2. Navigate to the Battery section and select Battery Saver.
3. Enable the toggle next to “Use Battery Saver.”

Enabling this feature may restrict some functionalities like high refresh rates and auto-sync, but it can significantly extend your Pixel 8 Pro’s battery life. Give it a try and monitor the results to see if it effectively resolves the excessive battery drain issue.

Solution 7: Enable Extreme Battery Saver

For a more aggressive approach to conserve battery on your Pixel 8 Pro, consider enabling the Extreme Battery Saver Mode. This mode essentially suspends the functionality of most apps and services but allows you to whitelist essential apps. You can use this mode overnight or during periods when you want to maximize battery life. Here’s how to enable and use this feature:

1. Go to Settings on your device.
2. Navigate to the Battery section and select Battery Saver.
3. Choose the Extreme Battery Saver option, then select “When to use” and pick “Always Use.”

Make sure to add your essential apps to the whitelist in the “Essential Apps” section to ensure they continue functioning as usual. This method can be especially effective in extending your Pixel 8 Pro’s battery life when needed.

Solution 8: Turn off Adaptive Connectivity

Adaptive Connectivity, although a helpful feature, can sometimes contribute to battery drain on your Pixel 8 Pro. It automatically switches between 5G and 4G based on your activity to save battery. However, in practice, it may end up consuming more power than it conserves.

To see if disabling this feature resolves your battery drain issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings on your device.
2. Navigate to the Network and Internet section.
3. Scroll down to find Adaptive Connectivity and disable the toggle next to it.

By turning off Adaptive Connectivity, you might be able to preserve more battery life on your Pixel 8 Pro. Keep an eye on your device to see if this change positively impacts the excessive battery drain issue.

Solution 9: Disable Physical Activity Permission

The Physical Activity permission within the Samsung Health app has been identified as a potential cause of battery drain and overheating on your Pixel 8 Pro, especially if you have a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch.

To address this issue, you can restrict this permission. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Settings on your device.
2. Go to the “Apps” or “Applications” section, and select “See All Apps.”
3. Find and select the Samsung Health app.
4. Navigate to the Permissions section within the app settings.
5. Look for the “Physical Activity” permission and change it from “Allowed” to “Don’t Allow.”

By revoking the Physical Activity permission, you may be able to alleviate the excessive battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro. Monitor your device to see if this adjustment makes a noticeable difference.

Format Data

If none of the previous steps have resolved the battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro, your last resort is to perform a factory reset. This will wipe all the data from your device and set it up as if it were brand new, potentially eliminating any underlying problems. Follow these steps to proceed:

1. Open the Settings on your device.
2. Go to the System section and select “Reset Options.”
3. Tap on “Erase All Data (Factory Reset)” and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the process to complete, and once it’s done, set up your device again.

Performing a factory reset can be an effective way to address persistent battery-related issues on your Pixel 8 Pro. After the reset, monitor your device to see if the problem has been resolved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we’ve explored several methods to address the excessive battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro. While the official stance from developers regarding this problem remains uncertain, these workarounds offer a practical solution. It’s important to keep an eye out for any future updates or fixes, but for now, the methods discussed in this guide are your best options to improve your device’s battery life. Stay tuned for updates, but don’t set your hopes too high.

Disclaimer: It’s essential to note that the information provided in this guide is intended to help you address the battery drain issue on your Pixel 8 Pro. However, individual experiences may vary, and there’s no guarantee that these solutions will work for every device or user. Additionally, changes in device software, updates, or unique circumstances can affect the effectiveness of these methods. Please use these recommendations with caution, and be aware that performing a factory reset will erase all data on your device. Before proceeding with any significant changes, it’s advisable to back up your data. We also recommend keeping an eye out for official announcements or updates from the device manufacturer regarding this issue.