After weeks of mounting complaints from Android users, Google has officially confirmed that the Instagram app was responsible for significant battery drain on many devices, particularly its own Pixel lineup. The tech giant has now advised all Android users to update Instagram to the latest version, which contains a fix for the issue.
Over the past month, Android users across various brands including Google Pixel and Samsung have noticed their phone batteries depleting rapidly, even when Instagram was not actively in use. Many reported that Instagram was consuming far more battery than other apps with similar screen-on times. For example, a Samsung Galaxy A53 user found Instagram using 12.4% of their battery in under an hour, while WhatsApp used just 2.4% in a comparable period.
The issue was not limited to a single device or brand. Reports flooded Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and tech forums, with users also noting that their phones would overheat when Instagram was installed and running in the background.
Google, in an official advisory, acknowledged the problem and traced it to a recent version of the Instagram app. The company urged users to update to Instagram build 382.0.0.49.84, which is now rolling out via the Google Play Store. According to Google, this update "should fix a battery drain issue on Android devices," and users are encouraged to check their app version and update immediately.
To verify the update, users can long-press the Instagram app icon, tap 'App info,' and scroll to see the version number. If the update is not yet available, it may be rolling out gradually across devices and regions.
Before the official fix, some users attempted to downgrade to older versions of Instagram or switched to Instagram Lite, which reportedly improved battery life. However, downgrading sometimes led to device overheating, further confirming the main app as the root cause.
The battery drain issue was particularly pronounced on Google Pixel devices following the May software update, but Google has not specified whether other brands or Android versions were equally affected. Nonetheless, the problem appeared widespread, with Samsung, OnePlus, and other Android brands also seeing user complaints.
Neither Google nor Instagram has provided detailed technical reasons for the battery drain. However, user reports indicate that the app was consuming power even when running in the background, suggesting a possible bug in background processes or resource management.
