The first Google Pixel update of the year landed two weeks ago for most of the Pixel phones, tablets, and foldables available. In fact, at the time that Google released builds, we thought everyone should be preparing to receive an update. As it turns out, folks who own a Pixel 9 series device on T-Mobile might have had to wait a while and are only now seeing a special build that should show up over-the-air to install.
Google posted new factory image and OTA files for build AP4A.250105.002.C1, which is available for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold on T-Mobile. I keep saying T-Mobile because Google lists T-Mobile as the carrier that this build targets.
This fresh update is still listed as the January 2025 update for Pixel, so it should not be different from the builds from earlier in the month, outside of having special changes that must target the Pixel 9 when used on T-Mobile’s network.
We see updates like this land in most months, this one just happens to arrive a bit later than we would like to see. A 2-week wait with no word from Google that they were holding back a special build for T-Mobile folks isn’t great. What I’m saying is that Google should announce this build with the others, so that impatient T-Mobile folks don’t immediately flash a global build when a targeted build is still in the works. That way, they could at least wait around for their build or at least know what to be on the lookout for.
For Pixel 9 series owners on T-Mobile, your update is here for January! You should receive it over-the-air by heading into Settings>System>System update. You can also flash factory image or OTA files, which we’ve linked below.
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Again?! They did the same thing with the December update! It really sucks to have to sideload the only published OTA on the release date to get the security patches and OS fixes, only to have to have to update again weeks later. If it was one time I would say "thanks Google" for fixing whatever the critical issue was. But this is twice in a row they must have known another build was coming soon and they didn't even mention it. A little notice that another build might arrive and a note to say installing the base OTA for the month will be compatible if you go ahead and do that earlier, would be nice.
They didn't hold back the Jan update for T-Mobile users. I got it OTA on two different Pixel 9 devices the same day it was announced. I then got this 9mb update today.
This is just an additional update. Who knows why it was needed, but T-Mobile people got Jan OTA just fine.
It could be a sign of a new approach for dealing with carrier specific issues. Push the normal build and follow it with a mop up update when it finishes testing.
I did notice on the December update that I got the T-Mobile specific build as an OTA after I had side loaded the OTA. That's the first time it has happened, most of the time you would stick with the version you side loaded until the next month.
Confirming that it adds Satellite Messaging capability and works with the T-Mobile/Starlink Beta. This is on my unlocked Pixel 9 Pro XL using T-Mobile https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e36ab497ef17efd45b9ae133ec890fb9918f2c954ea31ff02f6d438bedafee45.png
How do you get there?
T-Mobile becoming the new Verizon with update delays.
It looks like it adds the Satellite messaging framework for T-Mobile's Starlink Beta that they are starting to open up.
I received a second January 2025 update on my SIM locked T-Mobile Pixel 9 phone today. It was a small 9MB update. Is that what this is? The T-Mobile specific parts?
Same here
Same
That is odd, my Pixel 9 Pro XL on T-Mobile got the OTA update on the 7th and now it states that no update is available.