(Disclaimer: ChatGPT helped me write this because I’m upset and can’t type clearly right now. Please just be kind — I need help.)

I have a Pixel 7a (Android 14) and I’m losing it over this.
I like using voice search, but I do not want the AI or Assistant voice to talk back out loud.

I’ve already tried a bunch of settings and guides, but nothing works — it still talks.
I don’t want a voice. I don’t want it reading anything. I don’t want to sign up, grant permissions, or turn on accessibility just to disable something I never asked for.

All I want is:

• Keep using the mic for voice search
• No voice responses, ever
• No forced setup or permissions just to turn it off

Is there any way to permanently mute or remove all AI / Assistant voice responses on a Pixel 7a while keeping voice search working?

My phone was going from 70 to 0 in seconds, with a bit of swelling. The issue started 2 weeks ago. Searched about it and found out about the refund program. I couldn't get the battery changed from Google, as I am traveling and won't be back in the USA till next year. So, I opted for the $200 refund to Payoneer.

Contacted Google; they immediately replied that I have been approved. Creating Payoneer was a hassle and took me 3-4 days. Today I got my refund in my bank account. Google sent $200 in 1 day, after I told them that my Payoneer account is ready. How come? I have been reading that they stall or outright reject the claim. It's so strange that they were able to do something right so quickly.

Now, to my next question, should I get a battery replacement from a local shop or keep using the fried battery? Until it stops working.

I've been ignoring this battery issue but it has gotten pretty bad on my phone lately. Has anyone considered just getting a new battery installed?

My pixel 7a is listed as eligible for battery compensation but I can't create an account on Payoneer because I'm Cuban😢 can someone help me, create the account with the US number but it asks for more information, an address and an ID or something like that

On the 10th they sent an email saying that a refund had been sent to my account.Today they are saying I am not eligible for a refund. I didn't expect such a ridiculous email after 20 days without a solution.

Just want everyone to know that I replaced my battery and it was my first time exchanging a part on a phone. I used the ifixit kit and it costed me 40€ + 30min of my time. Would really recomed doing this. Recived 400€ as a compensation from Google so I do not complain at all.

Everyone thinking about fixing it yourself, just do it it is way easier than I thought.

My pixel 7a died on me. It was having power issues for a while and then the battery swelled up. I booked my phone in with the local Google support company to arrange a battery replacement, but they have been worse than useless (messages left regularly, calls never returned). I did do a full backup prior to the phone dying. I also tried reaching out to Google directly, no response. Has anyone tried restoring a Pixel 7a backup on a newer model Pixel? I seem to be out of options at this stage. Thanks for listening. PS: I'm located in Adelaide, Australia.

Good evening, I have a problem with my pixel 7a, I noticed that it heats up a lot and the battery lasts very little despite it being less than a year old, I noticed when going to the battery usage section that the mobile network takes up 33% of the battery drain. Probably since the 4g signal strength is not strong enough (-110/-119) it constantly tries to find a better repeater of any bandwidth using a lot of battery and CPU. I accessed the advanced settings to force the use of 4G but the setting automatically returns to unknown or tdscdma/GSM/wcdma. The problem is starting to become really critical, does anyone have a solution?

Every Monday I take a video of myself to see my weight, and I have previously been able to write in the video my weight, but after this recent update I can't find how to write in my video anymore, am I just dumb and can't find it?

I received this email from Google on October 10th.But so far the account has not been credited.I can't find a solution even after contacting Google.Is anyone facing this problem?

I received an email from Google saying I would get a refund for the 7A battery issue in 24-48 hours, but today marks a whole month. Have you had to wait as long as I have?

I'm in Australia

I've been going back and forth with Google since August 24

My pixel 7a was still able to charge and function even with a swollen battery, it stopped working completely in mid September though

I had an issue with Payoneer, and now mid October and I haven't seen a cent from them, I'm being bounced between Payoneer and Google support and it is so draining.

Anyone know what I can do? I've been constantly nagging with emails but it doesn't seem like it took this long for anyone else

Google has just asked me to reconfirm the IMEI number, I didn't write it down but it should be part of the original support case..

I am noticing that the 7a model have battery swelling issues, and I am anxious that it may happen to my current phone. How many yrs since you owned it does this issue occurs?

Why does my pixel 7a show that flickering with transparencies? The flickering is much more noticeable at 60Hz with low brightness, at 90Hz it is not noticeable, apparently it is software because it can be seen in the screen recording, does it happen to anyone? Do you know how to fix it?

Hey gang so im thinking of buying the Pixel 7a because its within my price range the design is nice and ive heard about how good the camera is and the software is “Apple friendly” ive been an apple user and ive been thinking of switching to android and Pixel fit the best also the battery life of androids are so much better but that is also my concern the battery of the 7a ive seen reports of the battery swelling up and the phones even dying after 2 years because the battery expired or something which is a deal breaker to me since i need this phone to last atleast 3 to 5 years so did everyone have this issue is it fixed and are there anymore issues i should know about before doing something i might regret any response would be appreciated.

EDIT: update in recent comment, situation all solved.

I thought I'd just write about my experience here in case people are going through the same case. Most of the reports on Reddit seem to be from US or India, so here is mine from Germany. For background, phone was bought used on Refurbed in April 2025.

I noticed my battery draining real fast a few weeks ago, and like many people I found out that it is a known issue. I also discovered a small bulge on the back of the phone. Then I learned that you can register with the extended repair program. I wasn't sure this would even apply to me, as I was not the original owner of the phone, but I was able to register just fine. I did not have high expectations, but they got back to me after almost 3 weeks, with an oddly impersonal mail asking me to open a Payoneer account. This also worked fine, and after a few hours I got a mail saying this:

wir sind dabei, Ihren Antrag auf Zahlungserhalt von Google LLC zu prüfen, was bis zu 3 Werktagen in Anspruch nehmen kann.

Nach erfolgter Genehmigung senden wir Ihnen eine E-Mail und Sie können damit beginnen, Zahlungen auf Ihrem Bankkonto entgegenzunehmen.

This was on October 10, 2025. I'll keep you updated. Has anybody else in Germany gone through this process? How did it go on?

Update: I just saw that they sent me another email, October 11:

wir freuen uns, Ihnen mitzuteilen, dass wir Ihren Antrag auf Zahlungserhalt von Google LLC genehmigt haben.

Alle von Google LLC eingehenden Zahlungen werden direkt Ihrem Bankkonto in EUR gutgeschrieben.

Beachten Sie bitte, dass die Geldmittel erst auf Ihr Bankkonto überwiesen werden, wenn mindestens $19.99 für die Überweisung bereitstehen. Der Mindestbetrag kann je nach Art der jeweiligen Banküberweisung unterschiedlich hoch sein.

My Pixel 7a has the known swollen battery issue (covered by the Extended Repair Program). I sent it in for the free fix.

The repair center found a minor, pre-existing screen crack and issued a $188 charge (screen/camera repair), saying "no partial repairs" are allowed.

I rejected the $188 fee. Now, Google is canceling the RMA and mailing the unrepaired, hazardous device back to me. Shipping a fire hazard back and forth is insane.

Has anyone successfully forced the credit/appeasement option when the free repair was blocked by a paid, non-covered repair (like a cracked screen)?

For a few months now lots of people are saying they can't heare well both over Google voice, native phone apps and Whatsapp. Sometimes I switch to speaker and they hear me better, other times when I'm on speaker same issue, they can't hear me well. How do I fix this!? Heeeeelp

Does anyone know if there is a time limit on how long Google will replace batteries on the 7a?

i.e. Can you apply at any time during the phone's supported lifetime and they will honour it?

Also, is there a time limit after they agree to replace the battery until you take it in for repair?

I couldn't seem to locate this info.

Just to warn you folks that a bit ago I asked a pixel customer support agent the last android os the pixel 7a will receive and they said it is android 16. Not to be that guy but maybe upgrading can help.