Google’s latest update for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series brings two new features designed to extend battery life.
The first is a charge limit option that caps the battery at 80%, preventing it from fully charging and reducing wear.
The second feature, a charging bypass, powers the phone directly from an external source, like a wall adapter, instead of the battery itself.
To enable these features, go to Settings > Battery and toggle “Use charging optimization.” Select “Limit to 80%” and enable the bypass option.
Once activated, your Pixel will show as “not charging” and power will be drawn from the wall power instead of the battery.
Occasionally, the phone may briefly charge to 100% and then return to 80% to calibrate the battery.
This feature is similar to what other brands, like Samsung, offer, though Google hasn’t provided specific charger requirements for the bypass to work.
