What you need to know
- Google unexpectedly rolled out a second October 2025 update for Pixel phones, including the Pixel 10.
- The small 30MB update mainly brings performance improvements and no major new features or changes.
- It’s possible that Google pushed this update early to address a serious security issue ahead of the November release.
- The major November update is expected to add theme packs, GIF creation in Pixel Studio, and more tools.
Google typically rolls out a software update for its Pixel devices during the first week of every month. While the The October 2025 update for Pixel smartphones is already here, to everyone’s surprise the company has started rolling out another update for Pixel phones this month.
The new software update is available for all Pixel devices from the Pixel 7 series to Pixel 10, with the update weighing around 30 MB for Pixel 10 owners. The build number of the latest Pixel 10 series is BD3A.251005.003.W4. The previous update ended with the W3. For Pixel Tablet users, Google seems to have ignored this release.
For those waiting for new features, the update doesn’t appear to bring any major additions. Google’s release notes don’t list anything new, but Verizon Changelog mentions that “the update improves the performance of your device”.
It’s not confirmed, but it’s possible that Google discovered a major security issue with Pixel devices and decided to release a small update early. The company could have bundled these changes with the November update, but the issue could have been serious enough to move it forward sooner than expected.
Surprise Pixel update hints at possible security patch
If you have a Pixel smartphone, you can check for updates by going to Settings > System > Software updates > System update > Check for update. The update appeared automatically on my Pixel 10 Pro, but if you don’t see it yet, you can try checking manually. You can also load the OTA file on your Pixel.
The timing of this update is interesting since we are only a few days away from the next major Pixel release. Google has been working on the November update, which should bring theme packs, the ability to create GIFs in Pixel Studio, and much more. It’s possible that Google delayed this rollout and decided to push this smaller security update first – although that’s just speculation at the moment.
Google is also working on a GPU driver update for the Pixel 10 series, but it’s unclear when it will roll out. For now, it’s best to update your Pixel to the latest version to stay safe.
