One of many options I used to be excited to check out on my new Pixel 11 phones is the brand new Excessive charging mode. Google did not say a lot about this besides that it ought to “focus your telephone’s efficiency fully on powering up” to present you “an ultra-fast increase if you want it most.”
Given how sluggish Pixels are at charging generally, I used to be actually wanting ahead to giving this a go and testing it in opposition to the great ol’ fast-charging speeds, to see how nicely it performs and what number of minutes it shaves off a full cost.
The issue? I am unable to get this feature to activate. It doesn’t matter what I strive, it is greyed out and stays greyed out. And I’m not alone, other Pixel 11 users are complaining about it too.
The toggle for Excessive Charging exists, however will not activate
At the least for some folks
Excessive Charging would not present up within the Pixel’s most important settings web page. You need to drag down the notifications space, faucet the pencil to edit your Fast Settings toggles, and scroll all the way down to the Utilities part, and discover Excessive Charging Mode there.
Drag the toggle as much as your most important switches, and it will be there, straightforward to succeed in, every time you want it. The issue, although, as I mentioned earlier, is that it stays gray and says it is Unavailable for a few of us.
Earlier than you ask me whether or not I do know what I am doing, here is what I’ve tried:
- I first tried this on my Pixel 11, and when it did not work, I believed I might misunderstood and it is likely to be a Professional-only function. So I attempted it on the Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Professional XL. It nonetheless did not work.
- All telephones are on the newest software program construct CD1A.260714.001.A9 from August 5, 2026.
- All of them are on the newest August 1, 2026 Play System replace.
- All of them have all of their apps up to date, together with all of the little Google issues like Google Play Providers.
- I began with fully empty batteries. I attempted at 10% battery, 20%, 40%. Technically, it ought to work beneath 50%, nevertheless it by no means did.
- I’ve so much of chargers — Baseus, Ugreen, Anker, and Satechi ones that go from 45W (from one port) like Google recommends in its documentation, all the best way as much as 100W and extra. I attempted all of them. None of them labored.
- I modified cables. I’ve a bunch of USB-C cables, from the official Google cable to some Baseus and Ugreen cables that go as much as 100W and 240W.
None of this made any distinction to the toggle. It remained Unavailable via all of it. The few customers on Reddit complaining about this are mentioning attempting every thing too, to no avail.
It should not be this difficult
In my battle in opposition to the gray Excessive Charging toggle, I made a decision to unearth each software and bit of data I’ve about Pixel charging, to see if something may set off it to indicate up.
See, because the Pixel 9 collection, Pixel telephones have required a really particular taste of USB-C Energy Supply PPS to go all the best way as much as their most 37W of quick charging. They solely obtain that if the charger can ship its present at 18V, not at 9V.
Most different telephones are pleased with ~9V and no matter amperes are essential to get them as much as the specified wattage. Pixels do not let the amperage go that top (they high at 9V/3A, i.e. 27W). As a substitute, they want a low-amp high-volt present (18V/2A), which just some chargers can negotiate.
So, I took out my Satechi charging meter and I began testing once more. I’ve a couple of chargers that ship that particular 18V taste energy to my older Pixel 10 Professional telephones, however I verified that in addition they labored on my Pixel 11 Professional and Professional XL. They did. A number of of them, actually.
But, regardless of all of the situations being there for Excessive Charging — a robust charger that understands the Pixel, a robust cable, a battery round 25%, a telephone with each replace put in — the toggle remained… you guessed it… Unavailable.
I even went on and turned off every kind of optimizations associated to the battery. Adaptive battery? Off. Adaptive charging? Off. Restrict to 80%? Off. I toggled them on and off in numerous combos, too, to make certain. Nothing.
I do know the function works as a result of my colleagues Steven and Andy are ready to make use of Excessive Charging on their Pixel 11 Professional and Pixel 11 Professional Fold models, however one thing, someplace, is making it unavailable for me and for the Reddit customers who’re already complaining about it.
I simply need sooner charging, Google
Excessive Charging, when it is obtainable, ought to replenish the Pixel 11 and 11 Professional to 55% in half-hour, the Pixel 11 Professional XL to 75% in the identical time, and the Pixel 11 Professional Fold to 50%. It is supposed to hurry up and prioritize the charging course of once we want them most.
I might wish to see it working, although, and shortly, as a result of it is the type of function I have been wanting for years on my Pixel telephones. I do know I would not use it most days, however once I’m in a rush and I forgot to high off my telephone, it might be a game-changer.
I’ve reached out to Google to see if there is a identified bug round Excessive Charging Mode, a geo-restriction, or some requirement I am not conscious of. In the meantime, I will proceed having fun with the cool new camera features which do work, fortunately.
