Google issues Pixel update blocking Android downgrades
Updated
Updated · Forbes · May 11
Google issues Pixel update blocking Android downgrades
14 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 11
The May 2026 release fixes CVE-2026-0073, a no-click Android flaw, and affects Pixel 10 models, while similar anti-rollback limits already apply to Pixel 6 and Pixel 8 lines.
Google says the bootloader change stops devices returning to older vulnerable builds, but if flashing or an OTA update fails, seamless fallback can leave some phones unbootable.
The update is rolling out over the air via Google and carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T; Google says it can recover bricked devices, but users cannot.
Is Google's security update a death blow to independent repair and user freedom?
What happens when an irreversible 'fix' is worse than the original bug?