This effectively means that the Feb 2022 SMR will reach all compatible Pixel devices on the same day. Pixel 6 owners would be aware that Google has been late with the release of the December 2021 and January 2022 security updates for the Pixel 6. That could finally change with next month’s SMR as per Fido (via 9to5Google). Google usually rolls out the monthly security updates on the first Monday of every month. But since February 1 happens to be a Tuesday, the company has seemingly decided to issue the update the following Monday. Bear in mind that the update could take a few days to reach your device, depending on your geographic location. But based on this new information, Google could make the factory images available on Monday (Feb 7). So device owners should be able to get the latest update right away.
The December 2021 Pixel 6 security update was paused after customers in Europe reported connectivity problems
Google has faced numerous challenges with updates for the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro. The company is yet to release the carrier versions of its latest Pixel 6 update. Meanwhile, the company has only offered one global build of the most recent update. The Pixel 6 series started receiving the November 2021 security patch shortly after the device was available in late October. However, the company didn’t offer release notes or a changelog until other Pixel devices received the OTA update. While the December 2021 update saw a week’s delay, customers encountered network connectivity-related issues. This led to Google pausing the update and eventually removing the factory images from its site. Google veered off the usual Monday launch timeline for the January 2022 security update, officially launching the update on January 4. However, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro had to wait until January 14 to get this security release. There’s optimism that things will be different in February, though recent events don’t inspire much confidence.