Instagram may be the cause of your Pixel phone’s strange power depletion problems in recent months. Google claims in a recent support post that Instagram has fixed the problem by updating its app and this made the Google team to instruct users to update Instagram in an odd notification on Wednesday morning in order to “fix a battery drain issue on Android devices.”
The following is a brief post from the Android Help Community about “Battery drain on Android devices“: Instagram is releasing an upgraded app today that should address a problem with Android devices draining their batteries. To fix this problem, please make sure you have the most recent version of the Instagram app (build 382.0.0.49.84).
It gives no additional information about the issue, such as whether a specific Android OS version or manufacturer (such as Pixel, Samsung, etc.) is affected. Google just notes that the patch is in Instagram version 382.0.0.49.84, which was released through the Play Store today.
Instagram version 382.0.0.49.84, which you can currently get from Google Play, has the patch. It’s possible that you already have it if you don’t see the update option. To find the version number, long-press the Instagram app, select “App info,” and then scroll to the bottom.
Since a Pixel software upgrade earlier this month, complaints regarding battery depletion on Pixel smartphones appear to have been caused by Instagram. According to 9to5Google, Google cited the support post announcing the Instagram update when questioned about the battery depletion issues with Pixel battery consumption with the May 2025 OTA. In mid-May, the source reported that the problem appeared to affect all Pixel models from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 9 that received the May update. It’s unclear if Instagram was the primary offender or if other Android phones experienced the same problem.
Google is yet to disclose if the flaw was more prevalent in any particular manufacturer (such as Samsung or OnePlus) or Android version, it is possible that the problem was somewhat broad. In any case, it’s wonderful to know that Instagram has already fixed the issue and is updating all Android smartphones.
The 9to5Google team hasn’t observed or heard of any specific issues with Instagram’s battery depletion in recent days. Despite being a significant application, Google must believe that this problem is prevalent enough to justify such a prominent disclosure. Generally speaking, Instagram is one of those apps that people blame for battery drain, whether correctly or incorrectly. Remember that it’s a camera app as well as a video consumption app.
From Sanuj Bhatia’s perspective, a writer with the Android Police hasn’t experienced any significant battery problems with the Realme GT7 or Google Pixel 9 Pro, which are my current daily drivers. However, it’s evident that the issue was significant enough for Google to openly address it.
Generally speaking, updating your apps is usually a smart thing. Since Instagram is one of the most downloaded apps on Android, it’s a good idea to stay up to speed with the frequent performance enhancements and bug fixes that developers provide.
If you’ve been experiencing problems with battery depletion recently, please leave a comment below mentioning the device and operating system version.
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