If your Pixel Tablet's battery life seems poor or short, an app on your tablet could be using too much battery. Follow the steps below to help your tablet's battery last longer.
Important: To dock your Pixel Tablet or use Hub Mode, you need a Charging Speaker Dock. You can purchase the Pixel Tablet with or without a dock, or purchase a dock separately.
Use battery protection
Learn about battery protection, a feature for your Pixel Tablet that can help prolong its battery life when attached to a Charging Speaker Dock.
Check open apps
Step 1: Restrict apps that use the most battery
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Battery.
- If the screen has a card with advice to restrict an app, tap the card Restrict.
Restrict apps with high overall battery use
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Battery Battery usage.
- A list of apps appear that have used your battery in the previous 7 days, or since your tablet's last full charge.
- Tap an app to review or change how it uses the battery.
- Tip: For apps you use, choose Optimized. Set apps you don't use to Restricted. Restricted apps don't use the battery when they run in the background, so they might not work as usual.
Check battery use for all of your apps
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Apps App battery usage.
Step 2: Close apps you aren't using
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Apps under "Recently opened apps", tap See all [x] apps.
- Tap the app you want to close.
- Tap Force stop OK.
Important: Some apps can't be closed. Your tablet won't work correctly if you close some essential apps or services.
Step 3: Uninstall apps with high battery usage
- Go to the Home screen swipe up find the app you want to uninstall.
- If you can't find the app, swipe up on your Home screen.
- Touch and hold the app drag it to an option at the top of the screen:
- Remove: Remove the app from your Home screen but keep it on the tablet.
- Uninstall: Uninstall the app from your tablet.
- Cancel: Don't remove or uninstall the app.
- Lift your finger if prompted, tap OK.
Tip: If an uninstall option doesn't appear, it means the app can't be uninstalled.
Reduce screen brightness and shorten screen timeout
Step 1: Reduce screen brightness
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Drag the brightness slider to the left to reduce the screen's brightness.
Step 2: Shorten screen timeout
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap Display Screen timeout.
- Choose a shorter time for your screen timeout.
Restart or update your Pixel Tablet
Restart your tablet (reboot)
Check for system software updates
- Open your device's Settings app .
- Tap System Software updates.
- Your update status will appear. Follow any on-screen instructions.
- To check for an update, tap Check for update.
Check for app updates
- Open the Google Play Store app .
- At the top right, tap the profile icon.
- Tap Manage apps & devices.
- Under "Updates available," choose to update all apps or a specific app.
Try advanced steps
Perform a factory reset
Post your question to a Google forum
Still have issues with battery drain?
If your Pixel Tablet still has issues with battery drain, contact us for additional support.