• Software support for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro ends soon
  • The Android QPR1 will be the final update for these phones
  • They were first launched by Google back in October 2021

If you're rocking a Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, launched in October 2021, then your five years of software updates are coming to an end: Google has confirmed that these devices aren't going to get access to the latest Android QPR2 Beta 1.

"Pixel 6 and 6 Pro users will not be getting this OTA since the device will reach End of Life and Android 17 QPR1 beta series will be the last for these devices," says Google in the release notes of the latest beta, via Android Police.

That means no more beta updates for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, with the final stable software release officially Android 17 QPR1, set to be part of the September Pixel Drop. That should land just before the five-year anniversary of these phones in October 2026.

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As with every end-of-life situation like this, your handset isn't suddenly going to stop working. However, it will no longer get new features or security updates — the more time passes, the more vulnerable it will be to bugs and malware attacks.

Apps may start slowing down and misbehaving, and the recommended course of action is to upgrade as soon as possible. Google is all set to unveil the new Pixel 11 series on Wednesday, August 12, so maybe you could treat yourself to one of those handsets.

There's life in the old phone yet

The Pixel 6 Pro (Image credit: TechRadar)

You've got options for what to do with your old phone. Your network operator may recycle it for you and even give you some cash back (check the website for details), but if not, you can find numerous third-party services that will — just run a web search for them.

You can also repurpose your old Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro and turn it into something else. These ideas will all work without needing regular Android software updates:

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  • Dedicated e-reader — get the Kindle app (or something similar) up on your old phone and you can keep it exclusively for getting through your e-books.
  • Car dashcam — get your old phone mounted on your car dashboard and plugged in, install an app such as Droid Dashcam, and you've got yourself a dashcam.
  • Alternative webcam — sticking with cameras, your old phone probably offers a higher resolution and better angles than your current webcam. Here's how to set it up.
  • Portable power bank — both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro can work as chargers for other phones when connected via USB-C (they can also charge smaller devices wirelessly).
  • Wi-Fi extender — if part of your home can't get Wi-Fi, use your old Pixel as a Wi-Fi extender for your router via the hotspot option (under Network and internet in Settings).
  • PC console — with an app like Touch Portal installed, you can get a Stream Deck-like experience for gaming and streaming with your old Android phone.

There's no excuse for leaving it gathering dust in a drawer, or just throwing it in the trash (and adding to our growing e-waste problem). And you've still got a couple of months to decide what you'd like to do.

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