Old Pixel Confuses, The SOS Satellite Feature Appears That Actually Can't Be Used

There is a bug in Google Pixel 6 (photo: x @sondesix)

JAKARTA - Google Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 users are confused after finding a new feature called Pixel Satellite SOS in their phone settings menu. The problem is, this feature should only be available on Pixel 9 and Pixel 10.

This incident began after the Google Play system update in September 2025. A number of users reported on Reddit that they found the Settings Safety & emergency menu including the SOS Satellite just appeared. In fact, technically their cellphones do not support the service.

The feature that appears is not just empty text. It even explains how the SOS Satellite works, including the option to set Sharing preferences with emergency contacts. There is also a description that this service is free for two years. However, in contrast to the latest Pixel, the Try a demo' button is missing from the screen, signaling that the feature is not really usable.

Google then spoke up and confirmed that all of this was just a bug. If you see the page in Pixel 8 or a longer device, just ignore it, "explained the company's spokesperson.

For information, the Pixel Satellite SOS is an emergency feature that allows users to contact emergency services and share locations even if they are in an area without cellular signal or Wi-Fi. This technology is only available on the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 because both use the Exynos 5400 modem, while the Pixel 6'8 still uses old modems such as the Exynos 5123 and 5300 which do not support these capabilities.

In short, for the old Pixel owners who had been excited to see the SOS Satellite menu, the bad news: it was just a 'ghost feature' that was a bug, not a free upgrade from Google.