Firmware update for Pixel Buds 2.

Now on version 295. Mine updated automatically, but I have no idea what was fixed. I couldn't find any release notes online. Glad to see the update was seamless.

Would be interested in hearing of any improvements you see after getting this update.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Now on version 295. Mine updated automatically, but I have no idea what was fixed. I couldn't find any release notes online. Glad to see the update was seamless.

Would be interested in hearing of any improvements you see after getting this update.

I couldn't agree more! I have no idea of what was upgraded or improved unfortunately.

I'm not so sure that this is anything to do with be for more upgraded version 295, but when I was using my Roku probably listening before, my left side earbud was cocking out and my right side earbud was only working. I had to reset my buds completely and read pair them with my Pixel 3XL. Now they're finding it just wanted to mention that but they are working 100%. Could have just been a fluke, it happens from time to time

I'm still holding out for the orange buds. Such a strange release with the white ones having been out for months now and the three other colors not even available for pre order yet. Hopefully by the time I have the orange in hand, all audio glitches will have been resolved.

Updated to 296. I just pulled the buds out of the case, kept the case open and down came the update. I am looking forward to continuing improvements.

Originally Posted by fwn

Updated to 296. I just pulled the buds out of the case, kept the case open and down came the update. I am looking forward to continuing improvements.

Hey, thanks, I'm going to have to try to resynchronize my buds and see if I get 296 firmware now.

Originally Posted by fwn

Updated to 296. I just pulled the buds out of the case, kept the case open and down came the update. I am looking forward to continuing improvements.

I picked it up today as well. I think this was just to eliminate the hissing some were getting (I wasn't). I tried turning back on In Ear Detection, but I continue to get drops in each bud, especially when cupping my hand over each ear. Looking forward to seeing if the next update will fix that.

Can anyone who had the hissing confirm that this is fixed with this update?

Originally Posted by jhilker

I picked it up today as well. I think this was just to eliminate the hissing some were getting (I wasn't). I tried turning back on In Ear Detection, but I continue to get drops in each bud, especially when cupping my hand over each ear. Looking forward to seeing if the next update will fix that.

Can anyone who had the hissing confirm that this is fixed with this update?

Well, I'm certainly my glad to hear that, that's for sure. I mean I haven't been able to update to 296 firmware yet. Hopefully tomorrow, it'll update for me.

After a full day, I can say that now my buds act up more than they did before the update. They cut out inside or outside, even with In Ear Detection turned off. I don't even have to cup a hand over my ear for them to cut out.

I took a phone call while on a walk outside, and it was almost impossible to hear with all the pops and scratches. Very disappointing. I didn't have the hissing sound before 296, so this feels like a definite downgrade to me.

Originally Posted by jhilker

After a full day, I can say that now my buds act up more than they did before the update. They cut out inside or outside, even with In Ear Detection turned off. I don't even have to cup a hand over my ear for them to cut out.

I took a phone call while on a walk outside, and it was almost impossible to hear with all the pops and scratches. Very disappointing. I didn't have the hissing sound before 296, so this feels like a definite downgrade to me.

MhmmI'm so very sorry to hear that dude! Report report to Google on the forums and talk to one of those gold expert reps on the online chat! they said that supposedly the hissing is supposed to be decreased or non-existent at this pointñ I will say that I do think I hear a little bit of a difference now...

Originally Posted by eric002

MhmmI'm so very sorry to hear that dude! Report report to Google on the forums and talk to one of those gold expert reps on the online chat! they said that supposedly the hissing is supposed to be decreased or non-existent at this pointñ I will say that I do think I hear a little bit of a difference now...

See, the hissing was never a problem for me. Not sure if that's due to my hearing.

Originally Posted by jhilker

See, the hissing was never a problem for me. Not sure if that's due to my hearing.

Honestly, neither was it for me. I'm hoping I don't have an issue with them outside. I haven't tested them outside yet.

I reached out to Google Chat support, and took the following steps:

1) Plug the charging case into a power source using the included USB-A to
USB-C[emoji2400] cable. Ensure that your Pixel Buds are seated within the charging case and leave the
charging case open. At the back of the charging case, press and hold the pairing button for 30
seconds. When the earbuds status light stops blinking, let go of the pairing button. The earbuds
status light will blink white and orange until the reset is complete and then start blinking white to
indicate that the Pixel Buds are ready to be paired. Your Pixel Buds will be reset.

2) Clear the phone's Bluetooth cache (Settings>Apps and Notifications>See all
apps> menu bar>Show system apps> Bluetooth> Storage> Clear cache.

Now, after clearing the cache, I went ahead and reset the buds again to be sure. Now, I can leave In Ear Detection on, and when I cup my hand over an ear, there are no cut outs. I'll try out a phone call after work today and report back, but so far, so good!

Originally Posted by jhilker

I reached out to Google Chat support, and took the following steps:

1) Plug the charging case into a power source using the included USB-A to
USB-C[emoji2400] cable. Ensure that your Pixel Buds are seated within the charging case and leave the
charging case open. At the back of the charging case, press and hold the pairing button for 30
seconds. When the earbuds status light stops blinking, let go of the pairing button. The earbuds
status light will blink white and orange until the reset is complete and then start blinking white to
indicate that the Pixel Buds are ready to be paired. Your Pixel Buds will be reset.

2) Clear the phone's Bluetooth cache (Settings>Apps and Notifications>See all
apps> menu bar>Show system apps> Bluetooth> Storage> Clear cache.

Now, after clearing the cache, I went ahead and reset the buds again to be sure. Now, I can leave In Ear Detection on, and when I cup my hand over an ear, there are no cut outs. I'll try out a phone call after work today and report back, but so far, so good!

Well, excellent excellent suggestion. Thanks for the feedback! If I have any more issues in the future, I have to give it a shot myself.

Update: Well, I had to repair my pixel buds a couple of times with my Pixel 3 XL, but I think I finally got it with the in-ear detection function on, and adaptive sound of course turned on. I'll continue testing but so far so good. Thanks for posting that update again from Google support!

Thanks for this suggestion. I will try this. I have to say every time I use the Pixel Buds 2, I think of the line from Forrest Gump, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Sometimes it's intermittent drop/cut outs, sometimes it's sound in only one bud, sometimes the touch controls do not work. Every now and then the magic happens. But, geez! This is ridiculous!

Originally Posted by NHLou

Thanks for this suggestion. I will try this. I have to say every time I use the Pixel Buds 2, I think of the line from Forrest Gump, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Sometimes it's intermittent drop/cut outs, sometimes it's sound in only one bud, sometimes the touch controls do not work. Every now and then the magic happens. But, geez! This is ridiculous!

Haha, that is an unfortunate but very good analogy! Overall since day one I received them in the mail though, my picks and bud twos have never failed me. There are a few hiccups along the way but other than talking to Google support about them a few times over the phone nothing horrible has happened and still testing this firmware update out.

So, yesterday, I went on a really long walk and testing pixel buds 2's with a new firmware and I new repairing suggestion from Google support. With any ear detection mode on. Last of pretty well. I love the future of just being able to recharge one but at a time and listen to the other but in my ear though. That's a great feature! Well that's not I had two random disconnects from my phone and my Google pixel bugs but not sure what that was about. Either from Android 11 beta 1, or the buds themselves. But other that they're absolutely fine.

Well, I will say this, after the firmware update / repairing my buds to my Pixel 3 XL a couple times yesterday morning, in addition with Android 11 beta one on my pixel through Excel, I have noticed that the Bluetooth battery status from Google play services in my notification shade does stay active as a persistent notification longer than it did in Android 10! I still have to resync the buds in the case every few times to get it to come back, but it does Stay as a persistent notification longer. This is at least until Google since I had a firmware update to hopefully improve that feature if they are going to do that. I submitted feedback regarding this.b

I'm still getting random BT disconnects with my pixel buds... What I've got to do is reboot my phone, and then everything's fine again. It's really weird...

Now, I'm retesting in ear detection off on my buds.

Thank you, so I noticed something interesting this morning with my pixel bud 2's. Even though I'm so anal and hyper focused regarding the battery percentages of my buds through the Google play services drop that notification for them in the notification shade. I did find them interesting interaction: when you're displays off and you're looking at your always on ambient display, with any of detection and adaptive sound on of course, flip your buds case open, pull out one of the buds but don't place it in your yard and within a few seconds or so, you should see that battery notification pop on to the ambient display just like any other notification without having to light up the lock screen, or unlock your phone. I mean granted I've had these buds now since the first came out as most of us have, and I've never really noticed that. What you got to do is flip the case open and leave it flipped open for a few seconds, then take I e if the buds out if the case, but don't place in your ear. You should see the battery notification light up on the always on ambient display now have you see that the in-ear detection sensor is really sensitive And maybe some future firmware updates Google can tweak this! The real annoying frustrating thing is it's just not consistent. Well, I hope this helps someone out here...

So, just out of curiosity, what does this option for mono audio actually do? It says combine audio channels but is it bad for the pixel buds?

It should provide mono sound instead of stereo. Basically the same sound in either bud. Possibly useful if you were sharing a bud so that you both heard the same sound.

Originally Posted by Mike Dee

It should provide mono sound instead of stereo. Basically the same sound in either bud. Possibly useful if you were sharing a bud so that you both heard the same sound.

Ah, okay got you. I've never seen that option before an accessibility. That's why I'm asking. Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by eric002

Ah, okay got you. I've never seen that option before an accessibility. That's why I'm asking. Thank you so much!

I'm not sure how it is intended for use in accessibility setting but the end result should be monaural sound. Possibly if someone has impaired hearing in one ear this way they will still get full sound in the good ear.

Originally Posted by Mike Dee

I'm not sure how it is intended for use in accessibility setting but the end result should be monaural sound. Possibly if someone has impaired hearing in one ear this way they will still get full sound in the good ear.

Got you got your cool thanks for the explanation I've never used that future before lol

There's another update available today, bringing it up to version 550, which is supposed to fix the connectivity issues we've been having, along with adding bass boost. You can also control volume separately on each bud, I'd your sharing with a friend. Still waiting for it to update on mine, but looking forward to testing it out.

The Verge: Google’s Pixel Buds get new transcribe mode, attention alerts, and sharing detection.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/20/2...ction-features

Originally Posted by jhilker

There's another update available today, bringing it up to version 550, which is supposed to fix the connectivity issues we've been having, along with adding bass boost. You can also control volume separately on each bud, I'd your sharing with a friend. Still waiting for it to update on mine, but looking forward to testing it out.

The Verge: Google’s Pixel Buds get new transcribe mode, attention alerts, and sharing detection.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/20/2...ction-features

Yep yep just got the email now from Google support regarding it. Looks awesome. My favorite feature is going to be able to check the battery levels with Google Assistant finally. Instead of having to go into your quick settings, press and hold on the Bluetooth icon, then go and click on the gear icon for your pixel buds. It's just too long of a step for just checking battery power to meet.

Originally Posted by eric002

Yep yep just got the email now from Google support regarding it. Looks awesome. My favorite feature is going to be able to check the battery levels with Google Assistant finally. Instead of having to go into your quick settings, press and hold on the Bluetooth icon, then go and click on the gear icon for your pixel buds. It's just too long of a step for just checking battery power to meet.

I'm going to enjoy trying out the Bass Boost, and hoping [emoji1695] that the connectivity issues are finally fixed!

I had been subscribed to a thread on the Google support site. Someone from Google made the announcement, then turned off the thread to prevent additional comments. I sure hope this fixes these!

Originally Posted by jhilker

I'm going to enjoy trying out the Bass Boost, and hoping [emoji1695] that the connectivity issues are finally fixed!

I had been subscribed to a thread on the Google support site. Someone from Google made the announcement, then turned off the thread to prevent additional comments. I sure hope this fixes these!

Hey, you and I were both in that same Google support the right! Yeah, if bass boosts actually works I'll have to test that out with Pandora. I mean I love YouTube music, but I'd rather not have to pay almost 10 bucks a month just for streaming music. Lol. I wonder if the bass boost setting within pixel buds will actually make listening to Pandora music more enjoyable? Lol there are some cool features that Google created that I'm excited to test out. I never had connectivity she was really with my buds, but any software improvements are welcomed!

Well, I hope the connectivity issues were resolved. I do not see anywhere to turn on Bass Boost, though, so I think this got left out of the update. Pretty poor QC, if that's the case.

Currently online with Google for them to figure out out. I've already submitted feedback about it as well.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Well, I hope the connectivity issues were resolved. I do not see anywhere to turn on Bass Boost, though, so I think this got left out of the update. Pretty poor QC, if that's the case.

Currently online with Google for them to figure out out. I've already submitted feedback about it as well.

Well, I'm still waiting for the new update myself. I'll update you as to what I see when I get it.

Found an article (Droid Life, maybe?) That said you need an update to the Pixel Buds app. I'm still on 1.0.322536010, and am told you need 1.0.327368352). The contact sharing toggle is there, though, and that's a new feature. I'm still on hold with Google.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Found an article (Droid Life, maybe?) That said you need an update to the Pixel Buds app. I'm still on 1.0.322536010, and am told you need 1.0.327368352). The contact sharing toggle is there, though, and that's a new feature. I'm still on hold with Google.

interesting... I'm still trying to update to the new firmware right now. I'm sure Google will send us an update via the play store.

And... Now Google Support says "the 550 update is not yet complete, that's why we can't use the Bass Boost." Huh?

No need to update the firmware, just wait for the Bass Boost to be available soon. Ok.....

Originally Posted by jhilker

And... Now Google Support says "the 550 update is not yet complete, that's why we can't use the Bass Boost." Huh?

Wait what? So is the update available to download and install or not is my question...

Originally Posted by eric002

Wait what? So is the update available to download and install or not is my question...

Oh, it's available. I have it.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Oh, it's available. I have it.[IMG=367x512]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200820/06fc319a74b85ba7b3d3f75daea85cd6.jpg[/url]

so you have all the new features then? I'm still trying to update mine. I keep on leaving my buds in my case to charge up and sync. Did you have to leave your case on the charger though?

I still think we need an update to the phone app for it to work completely.

Oh interesting. Well I keep on trying to update the firmware on mine right now.

Originally Posted by eric002

so you have all the new features then? I'm still trying to update mine. I keep on leaving my buds in my case to charge up and sync. Did you have to leave your case on the charger though?

I have the Contact Sharing toggle, and I can ask Google for battery level, and it'll tell me that for each bud.

Here's what I found in Google Support about getting the update.

Get firmware updates

When you pair your Google Pixel Buds with a Pixel phone using Android 10+, or an Android 6.0+ device with the Pixel Bud app installed, automatic updates are enabled by default.

Here's how it works:

When an update is available, it will be transferred to your earbuds the next time you use them with your Pixel or Android 6.0+ device. This takes about 10 minutes, and during this time you can continue using your Pixel Buds.

The update is then installed the next time you return your earbuds to the charging case. This also takes about 10 minutes.

Updates will only be installed if your earbuds and charging case have sufficient charge. If they're running low on power, plug them in.

It may take multiple attempts for the update to complete. For example, taking your earbuds out of the charging case while it’s being installed may pause the update. However, if any part of the process is interrupted, don’t worry—it will resume at the next opportunity.

(I didn't have to be charging the case.)

Originally Posted by jhilker

I have the Contact Sharing toggle, and I can ask Google for battery level, and it'll tell me that for each bud.

Here's what I found in Google Support about getting the update.

Get firmware updates

When you pair your Google Pixel Buds with a Pixel phone using Android 10+, or an Android 6.0+ device with the Pixel Bud app installed, automatic updates are enabled by default.

Here's how it works:

When an update is available, it will be transferred to your earbuds the next time you use them with your Pixel or Android 6.0+ device. This takes about 10 minutes, and during this time you can continue using your Pixel Buds.

The update is then installed the next time you return your earbuds to the charging case. This also takes about 10 minutes.

Updates will only be installed if your earbuds and charging case have sufficient charge. If they're running low on power, plug them in.

It may take multiple attempts for the update to complete. For example, taking your earbuds out of the charging case while it’s being installed may pause the update. However, if any part of the process is interrupted, don’t worry—it will resume at the next opportunity.

(I didn't have to be charging the case.)

Haha yep yep I read that on the Google support page as well. I have them in their 100% charge and they're Charging right now so I hope I get the update soon. So you don't have the bass boost yet then?

Originally Posted by eric002

Haha yep yep I read that on the Google support page as well. I have them in their 100% charge and they're Charging right now so I hope I get the update soon. So you don't have the bass boost yet then?

Nope, not yet.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Nope, not yet.

Oh wow well then I hope it comes soon.

If it fixed the drop outs, I don't mind waiting for Bass Boost.

Yeah, trust me, I hear you! I mean for me, the only thing I really wanted to see was an easier fasting way of checking better life, so for me if Google Assistant is able to do that for me now I'm more than happy!

Found the updated app on APK Mirror, installed, and the Bass Boost is there.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google...68352-release/

Took a long walk today, and my first phone call was pretty disappointing. Lots of cutouts for the other party. Hope it was just a fluke.

On the positive side, I had no cutouts while listening to my podcast, and the Bass Boost works as advertised.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Found the updated app on APK Mirror, installed, and the Bass Boost is there.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google...68352-release/

Took a long walk today, and my first phone call was pretty disappointing. Lots of cutouts for the other party. Hope it was just a fluke.

On the positive side, I had no cutouts while listening to my podcast, and the Bass Boost works as advertised.

So , officially, this is what you've got to do leave a pixel buds in your charging case closed next to your phone for quite a few minutes, then the software updates you can't leave them with the case clips open the family. I just updated mine successfully finally! So excited!

All right, so Google Assistant now tells us the battery life of our earbuds is absolutely awesome and that's the one feature I was really needing! and you can tell very quickly that it's on or off! So, I tried it with Pandora which the audio quality out of Pandora music app sucks. with the EQ bass boost on, it's a little bit better in Pandora but it's still not good enough for me. But in YouTube music it's that much better!

Maybe it's just a placebo affect, but I swear that Google Assistant is faster And more reliable now as well.

Just realized if you ask "what's my battery life," you're told battery life for both headset and phone. If you ask "what's the battery life in my earbuds," it gives you the breakdown for each bud.

Originally Posted by jhilker

Just realized if you ask "what's my battery life," you're told battery life for both headset and phone. If you ask "what's the battery life in my earbuds," it gives you the breakdown for each bud.

It's weird, I realize that if I ask what's the battery life my buds, in a literally do a Google search for me. Lol. If I ask what's the battery life for my pixel buds, then it'll break down the battery life from me which I love.