You queued a firmware update for your Pixel Buds Pro 2, watched the progress sit still, and now the update reads as failed or simply will not finish. It is a frustrating wall to hit, especially when the buds otherwise pair and play fine. The good news is that a stalled or failed firmware update on the Pro 2 is almost always recoverable without any special tools, and Google documents a clear path from the simplest retry all the way to a full factory reset.
Work through the fixes below in order. The early steps are safe, reversible, and resolve most cases; the reset and support contact at the end are reserved for the rare update that refuses to complete any other way.
Start By Meeting Every Update Requirement
Firmware updates on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 only download and install when a specific set of conditions is satisfied, so it is worth confirming each one before you retry. Google requires the host device to be on Android 6.0 or newer, with both the earbuds and the charging case holding sufficient charge.
Seating matters too. Make sure both buds are seated correctly in the charging case, since an improperly seated earbud can quietly block the update from proceeding. Reseat each bud until it sits fully in its cradle.
Give The Update Time And Leave The Buds Alone
A failed update is often just a paused one. Google states that it may take multiple attempts for the update to complete, and that taking your earbuds out of the charging case while an update is installing may pause it. If any part of the process is interrupted, it resumes at the next opportunity.
So resist the urge to pull the buds out to check on things. Leave both buds in the open case near your phone and give it room to work. Interruptions only restart the process, so the steadiest path to a finished update is to leave everything alone until it completes.
Trigger The Update Manually From The Right Menu
If waiting does not move things along, push the update yourself. On a Pixel phone go to Settings > Connected devices > tap the Gear next to your Pixel Buds. On other Android phones, open the Pixel Buds app from your Home screen or app drawer instead.
From there, follow these steps:
- 1.Open Settings > More settings > Firmware update.
- 2.Place the earbuds securely in the case.
- 3.Tap "Manual update available."
- 4.Follow the on-screen instructions and let it finish.
If no update is mentioned on that screen, that is not a malfunction; it means you already have the latest version installed.
Confirm Automatic Updates Are Switched On
An update can appear to fail simply because the buds were never set to install it on their own. In Settings > More settings > Firmware update, toggle "Automatic updates" on.
This setting matters more than it looks. Google notes that when automatic updates are turned off, a notification appears on your device when an update is available, but it will not be downloaded or installed on your Pixel Buds. In other words, you may have been seeing the alert without anything ever installing, which reads exactly like a failure.
Switch To The Web Companion App On A Computer
When the phone update keeps stalling, move the whole process to a computer. Open a browser and go to mypixelbuds.google.com, which is the official Google tool for checking and applying firmware updates from a computer when the phone-based path fails.
For the best experience with the web companion app, use Chrome or Edge. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your buds, then apply the firmware update from there. This often clears an update that a phone simply would not push through, and it works on Android and computer, not iOS.
Recover A Stuck Web Update With A Disconnect And Re-Pair
If the update stalls inside the web companion app itself, Google has a specific recovery sequence rather than a fresh page reload. The idea is to fully detach the buds from both the app and the computer's Bluetooth stack, then reconnect cleanly.
- 1.Return to the homepage and click Remove to disconnect the buds from the web companion app.
- 2.Remove the Pixel Buds under your computer's Bluetooth settings.
- 3.Pair the buds with the computer again.
- 4.Retry the firmware update from the web companion app.
Clearing both the app association and the system Bluetooth pairing removes the most common cause of a wedged web update, and the retry usually proceeds normally.
Forget And Re-Pair To Clear A Bad Connection
A stale or broken Bluetooth link between your phone and the buds can stop an update from completing even when everything else looks correct. A clean re-pair frequently lets a stuck update go through. Start by going to your device's Bluetooth settings and forgetting Google Pixel Buds.
Then put the buds back into pairing mode:
- 1.Leave the case open with both buds seated.
- 2.Press and hold the pairing button for 3 seconds, until the case status light is bouncing white.
- 3.On Android, complete setup from the pop-up that appears on your phone.
- 4.On iPhone or iPad, select Google Pixel Buds in Bluetooth settings.
Keep in mind that the firmware update itself must be run from an Android phone or the web companion app; on iOS the buds work only as a standard Bluetooth headset, so re-pairing there restores audio but is not where you apply firmware.
Factory Reset As A Last Resort, Then Reach Google
If none of the above works, a factory reset returns the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to a clean state and gives the next update attempt a fresh start. Before you begin, understand what it clears. A reset erases all settings, including the device name and feature preferences, and on Pixel Buds Pro 2 it resets the ability to locate them with Find Hub. You will set the buds up again from scratch afterward, so treat this as a true last resort.
When you are ready, follow the official procedure exactly:
- 1.In your device's Bluetooth settings, forget Google Pixel Buds.
- 2.Plug the charging case into power with a USB-C cable.
- 3.Seat both buds in the case and leave the case open.
- 4.On the back of the case, press and hold the pairing button for 30 seconds, keeping the case open the whole time.
- 5.The status light blinks orange and white; when it stops bouncing and turns off, let go of the pairing button.
- 6.The light then bounces white again, meaning the buds are reset and ready to pair.
Once the buds are reset, pair them again and retry the firmware update through the phone or the web companion app. If updates still fail after this, contact Google support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Pixel Buds Pro 2 update keep pausing?
Taking the earbuds out of the charging case while an update is installing can pause it, and Google notes that the update may take multiple attempts to complete. If the process is interrupted, it resumes at the next opportunity, so the fix is usually to seat both buds in the open case and leave them undisturbed until it finishes.
Can I update Pixel Buds Pro 2 firmware from an iPhone?
No. There is no Pixel Buds app for iPhone or iPad, and on iOS the buds function as a standard Bluetooth headset only. To apply firmware updates, use an Android phone running Android 6.0 or newer, or the web companion app at mypixelbuds.google.com on a computer.
What does it mean if no update is listed under Firmware update?
If no update is mentioned in Settings > More settings > Firmware update, you already have the latest version. The empty screen is the expected result when your buds are current, not a sign that something failed.
Will a factory reset delete my Pixel Buds Pro 2 settings?
Yes. A factory reset erases all settings, including the device name and feature preferences, and it resets the ability to locate the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with Find Hub. You will need to pair and set them up again afterward, so reserve this step for when other fixes have not worked.
The web companion update froze, what should I do?
Return to the homepage and click Remove to disconnect the buds from the web companion app, then remove the Pixel Buds under your computer's Bluetooth settings. Pair the buds with the computer again and retry the firmware update from the web companion app, using Chrome or Edge for the best experience.
