#Pixel 9 Pro XL not receiving Android 16 after first activation (stuck checking for updates)

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

wise hazel
#

Hi everyone,

I have a question about Android updates on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and I’m a bit confused about what’s happening.

I recently bought a Pixel 9 Pro XL from BackMarket listed as “excellent condition”, but the phone arrived completely new: sealed box, original packaging, unused IMEI, never activated before. I powered it on for the first time today, set it up normally, installed all available updates, and the phone is currently on Android 15 (stable) with the latest security patch.

The strange part is that my partner has the exact same model (Pixel 9 Pro XL), but hers is reconditioned (it had been used before), and she already has Android 16 installed. We are in the same country, using the same network, and neither phone is enrolled in any beta program.

I’ve tried checking for updates manually multiple times (Settings → System → Software update), but when I tap “Check for updates”, the phone just stays searching indefinitely. It keeps saying it’s checking for software updates in a loop and never finishes or returns any result. It doesn’t say that an update is available, but it also doesn’t clearly say that the system is fully up to date either.

So my questions are:

Is it normal for a brand-new, never-activated Pixel to not receive the latest Android version immediately?

Does Google’s OTA rollout prioritize devices that were already active before the Android 16 release?

Is the infinite “checking for updates” behavior normal during a staged rollout?

Has anyone else experienced delays or this kind of update loop on newly activated Pixel 9 devices?

I understand that updates are rolled out gradually, but since Pixel phones are supposed to get Android updates “immediately”, this feels a bit odd—especially when another Pixel 9 Pro XL already has Android 16.

Any insight or similar experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Screenshot_20251223-140209.png
novel marsh
# wise hazel Hi everyone, I have a question about Android updates on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL...

and the phone is currently on Android 15 (stable) with the latest security patch.
This is really fishy.

Is it normal for a brand-new, never-activated Pixel to not receive the latest Android version immediately?
Not in your case

Does Google’s OTA rollout prioritize devices that were already active before the Android 16 release?
Yes it is roll out in batches.

Is the infinite “checking for updates” behavior normal during a staged rollout?
Yes

I will recommend you to wait at least 2 days. Maybe if possible also reset the phone that can maybe help in your case. Just because your phone has the latest security update and not the latest OS update, I will not recommend you to update it manually.

#

Before resetting, try restarting and then try to check for the update.

#

@dense pecan Before resetting can booting in safe mode and checking for update help?

dense pecan
novel marsh
# dense pecan

Where is the snapshot from? And the loop issue is with all Pixels and not just 9 series.

dense pecan
novel marsh
#

@wise hazelI am not sure if you can try to check update in Safe mode but I will recommend to try that out as well.

dense pecan
#

if you are bothered about it

#

you can actually just sideload the OTA image

novel marsh
dense pecan
novel marsh
#

and the phone is currently on Android 15 (stable) with the latest security patch.
I have never seen case.

dense pecan
#

just adb into the phone, get the right file and adb sideload ota_filename.zip

novel marsh
dense pecan
wise hazel
#

The versions of the updates that I currently have installed

Screenshot_20251223-144735.png
raw geode
novel marsh
dense pecan
novel marsh
#

He would have found out by now, but just in case.

dense pecan
#

i use AI to only get general info on why it happens, and then i verify it by seeing if anyone else faces the same issue

#

im not a printer, i dont just drag everything from AI

raw geode
#

Fair enough, just making sure

dense pecan
#

yup no worries

wise hazel
dense pecan
#

its normal for a pixel to come out of the box without the latest software

novel marsh
dense pecan
novel marsh
# wise hazel With reset, do you mean, factory reset it?
  1. Restart and check again
  2. Try booting in safe mode and try checking for update
  3. After booting out of it try checking for it
  4. Wait maybe 2-4 (I would prefer 4) days and at the end of the day, check for update once. No need to check again and again
  5. If any option didn't help maybe Factory reset and check again.
  6. Last resort would be to flash it manually.
novel marsh
dense pecan
#

i also face the same issue where i dont get updates pretty immediately, so i dont mind much
sometimes it gives me the update, sometimes it doesnt, oh well, my phone is rooted anyway, so i just flash it myself

novel marsh
dense pecan
#

flashing manually doesnt always erase data

#

android flash tool allows you to flash without erasing your data

#

(unless youre downgrading or you need to recover your device)

novel marsh
wise hazel
#

So I want to know. If I flash the update. Does it affect future updates or patches? I lose all the data on my phone as if I had factory reseted it?

novel marsh
#

I will only recommend you do this if you are sure your device is 100% genuine. The up-to-date security but not the latest OS update is a bit weird, honestly.

#

Verifying the IMEI number with the box. You mentioned the IMEI has not used before so I guess you have already verified everything.

novel marsh
wise hazel
dense pecan
#

your best chance is to download the OTA file from google if you really really really want the update badly

#

if youre using windows, you need a USB driver which they'll probably give you or you can just search the download for it, and you also need to download platform tools (will also be provided by google, you just have to search for it)

#

to install the usb drivers, you can watch a youtube tutorial

#

after that, you can go into platform tools folder, do cmd in the path section of the folder, and then find your device by doing adb devices (make sure you have turned on USB debugging in developer options. to enable dev options, go to about phone, scroll all the way down, tap build number a lot of times till you enable developer options)

#

then, once you have verified that your device is on, do
adb reboot bootloader
after that, use the power buttons to navigate to "recovery mode" and enter it
you'll see the dead android, hold the power button and press the vol up button, immediately release

#

then, navigate to apply update from ADB

#

and then simply just do adb sideload <ota_image.zip> (drag and drop the file to paste the path, you dont need to extract it)

#

dont touch it, else you might mess something up
after the OTA is done installing, you'll be sent back to recovery mode, just simply select reboot now, and your device will boot to the new OTA update you have applied, voila
no, it will not break any updates or anything, your phone should receive updates from google as usual if you wait patiently

#

in most cases, if you accidentally interrupt the flashing, you should immediately try to flash the file again, and your data should be intact
failed flash for adb sideload has a very low to no chance of deleting all your data

wise hazel
#

@dense pecan The phone never endint checking for updates is normal?

novel marsh
novel marsh
dense pecan