Essential Information
- The May 2025 update is being rolled out for Google Pixel devices, addressing another zero-day exploit.
- The update may take about a week to reach all Pixel phones and tablets, depending on your device and carrier, so it’s advisable to update promptly.
- This patch also includes three minor bug fixes for Google Pixel 6 and more recent models.
As of today, May 6, the May 2025 security update for Google Pixel devices is being rolled out, including a critical fix for a zero-day security vulnerability. This update also encompasses three bug fixes along with a total of 28 security patches aimed at resolving issues related to Android and Google services. The rollout will proceed over the next week, contingent on your carrier and device model, meaning you may not receive it right away.
The Android Security Bulletin details the security vulnerabilities addressed in this month’s Pixel update, particularly the zero-day exploit identified as CVE-2025-27363. The bulletin indicates that “there are signs that CVE-2025-27363 may be subject to limited, targeted exploitation.” Therefore, you should ensure your device is updated as soon as the May 2025 patch is available to avoid potential security risks.
The May 2025 security patch will also upgrade your device’s bootloader to integrate anti-rollback measures. Post-update, you will not have the ability to run older versions of Android 15 on your device. This is likely a response to both the April and May patches addressing zero-day vulnerabilities.
“The May 2025 update for Pixel 6 (6, 6 Pro, 6a) and Pixel 8 (8, 8 Pro, 8a) devices includes a bootloader update that raises the anti-rollback version,” Google explains. “This prevents the device from reverting to previously vulnerable bootloader versions. After applying the May 2025 update to these devices, you will be unable to flash and boot older Android 15 builds.”
The May 2025 update also tackles three bugs affecting Google Pixel 6 and newer devices, as outlined in Google’s release notes:
- Audio
- Improvement for degraded microphone recording quality in select apps
- Bluetooth
- Resolution for Bluetooth pairing issues with certain smartwatches under specific conditions
- Framework
- Fix for incorrect secondary language displayed in quick settings under certain situations
Once the update is available, all Google Pixel users should install it without delay. You can verify updates by opening the Settings app, then navigating to System > Software update > System update, and tapping Check for update. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the OTA update once it’s ready.