When Does the Pixel 9 Stop Getting Updates? (2026 answer)

Short answer: not before August 2031 for the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold, and April 2032 for the Pixel 9a. Google promises 7 years of Android version and security updates from the month each phone first went on sale in the US Google Store, and publishes those months itself. On 18 October 2026 all five phones run Android 17 and got the October 2026 update, the same build as the Pixel 8 and Pixel 10.

The facts (checked 18 October 2026)

Google's Pixel update page says "Pixel 8 and later phones will get updates for 7 years starting from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US", and lists all five Pixel 9 models. Its availability table gives August 2024 for the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL, September 2024 for the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold, and April 2025 for the Pixel 9a.

A note on the 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold: before December 2024, Google's own help page printed "guaranteed until at least" dates, and it listed August 2031 for every Pixel 9 model, including the 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold (9to5Google). Google's current table now says those two went on sale in September 2024, which by its own rule would mean September 2031. We use August 2031, the earlier date Google published, so you're not planning on a month that might not come.

Is the Pixel 9 still getting updates right now?

Yes. Google started rolling out the October 2026 update on 6 October 2026 to "all supported Pixel devices running Android 17", and every Pixel 9 model is on the list with build CP3A.261005.005 (Google Pixel Community). For the Pixel 9 series it fixes the on-screen keyboard sometimes not appearing in search fields and ringtone distortion in some internet (VoIP) calls. The security fixes are in the Pixel Security Bulletin.

Android 17 reached the Pixel 9 series on launch day, 16 June 2026 (9to5Google), and Android 17 QPR1 followed in the September 2026 Pixel Drop, which went to every Pixel from the Pixel 6 up (Android Authority).

To check yours: Settings → System → Software updates → System update.

How many Android upgrades are left?

The Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold launched with Android 14 (Android Police) and have had Android 15, 16 and 17. The Pixel 9a launched with Android 15 and has had 16 and 17. With Google's guarantee running to August 2031 (April 2032 for the 9a) and Google releasing a big version every year, that's roughly five more major versions for all of them. That count is our maths, not a Google statement; the end months are Google's.

What happens after August 2031?

• No more monthly security patches from Google. The phone keeps working, but new holes don't get fixed.
• Google Play system updates keep coming for a while. They patch some parts of Android, but far less than a monthly update.
• Apps follow later. Banking, payment and work apps usually stop supporting old Android versions gradually, not on day one.

The Pixel 6 is at that point right now: its guaranteed updates ran until October 2026.

Is a Pixel 9 worth buying used or refurbished in 2026?

Yes, it's one of the safest used Android buys right now. A used Pixel 9 bought today still has almost five years of guaranteed updates, about ten months more than a Pixel 8 (October 2030). The Pixel 9a is usually the cheapest of the five and is covered the longest, to April 2032. The 9 Pro Fold is the expensive outlier: same update window, but a folding screen is costlier to repair.

Before you pay, check the phone is on Android 17 with a recent patch, that it isn't carrier-locked, and that the previous owner removed their Google account (otherwise Factory Reset Protection locks you out). Comparing with other brands? See which used or refurbished phone to buy in 2026, ranked by years of updates left.

What should Pixel 9 owners do?

1. Install the October 2026 update if you haven't: Settings → System → Software updates.
2. Don't replace it for software reasons. It's fully supported until at least August 2031, including for banking, payments, DigiD and work email.
3. If the battery gets weak, replace the battery, not the phone. With about five years of updates left, that's usually the cheaper fix.

Pixel update dates at a glance

Dates come from Google's rule (5 years for Pixel 6 and 7, 7 years for Pixel 8 and later) applied to the US Google Store months in Google's availability table, with August 2031 for all Pixel 9 models as Google itself listed it. For a Samsung with a similar window, see when the Galaxy S25 stops getting updates.

Buying a used phone?

A cheap used phone can still be a bad deal if it's locked to someone else's account, reported stolen, carrier-locked or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through every check before you pay. It's a paid PDF we make ourselves; checking a model on our device list stays free.

Compare prices for Pixel 9 at bol.com, refurbished Pixel 9 at bol.com or Pixel 9a at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).

Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.

Sources

• Google, Learn when you'll get software updates on Google Pixel phones (checked 18 Oct 2026)
• Google, Find when your Pixel device became available (checked 18 Oct 2026)
• Google, Pixel 9a: The latest A-series phone ("seven years of OS updates, security updates and Pixel Drops")
• 9to5Google, Google quietly removed the explicit Pixel support page end dates (16 Apr 2025)
• Google Pixel Community, Google Pixel Update - October 2026 (6 Oct 2026)
• Android, Pixel Update Bulletins (checked 18 Oct 2026)
• 9to5Google, Google launches Android 17, rolling out now to Pixel (16 Jun 2026)
• Android Authority, Is your Pixel getting Android 17 QPR1? Here's every supported phone (15 Sep 2026)
• Android Police, It's official, the Google Pixel 9 series won't ship with Android 15 (August 2024)

Always check Google's official pages for the latest status. Update timing can vary by carrier and country.