You can now buy Pixel Care+ for older Google Pixel phones

If you want to insure your Pixel smartphone directly from Google, you often have to get it directly at checkout when purchasing the phone. Typically, Google locks its Pixel Care+ signup window just 60 days after purchase, leaving anyone with buyer’s remorse completely out of luck. However, the tech giant is currently skirting its rigid rules, offering a rare open enrollment period that allows existing Pixel owners to purchase the plan long after the original deadline. It’s a surprising decision that can give you a well-deserved second chance with peace of mind… if you can navigate the caveats.

To benefit from this unusual second chance, you must be a US customer, your phone must be in the Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 range, and it must be in what Google calls “good working condition.” Depending on your specific model, you can expect to pay around $6 to $15 per month for this coverage.

Pixel Care+ is Google’s new premium device insurance program and is a major upgrade over its old device protection program. It’s essentially a comprehensive safety net that covers unlimited damages, including breathtaking accidental falls onto concrete and coffee spills. It also gives you $0 repairs for front screens, rear glass, and degraded batteries that refuse to hold a charge. Beyond physical damage, Pixel Care+ also includes priority access to Google Pixel experts and guarantees next-day replacement phone shipping for any out-of-warranty issues.

When Google says “good condition,” they aren’t kidding. According to the official support settings, the device should be fully functional. This means no cracked or broken glass on the front screen or back panel. Beyond that, your phone should be free of mechanical failures, meaning the physical buttons, sensors, and charging ports should all work perfectly. Additionally, there can be no signs of liquid damage and the internal battery cannot be inflated. In short, Google isn’t offering this as a loophole to cheaply repair an already broken phone, and the company will employ verification and fraud prevention measures, so don’t expect to sneak a badly damaged device through this.

Here’s the inevitable catch: your phone must be in Google’s Pixel 9 or 10 lines. This includes the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9a, 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and 10a (Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold and 10 Pro Fold are excluded, as are the Pixel 8 series and anything older). Additionally, the window to add this insurance will not be open forever. If you are eligible, you only have until August 2, 2026 to register. This might also be a good time to pick up some useful accessories for Pixel phones.

So who should actually buy this protection plan? This is a great buffer to have if you’re naturally accident-prone and use your phone without a protective case (and it’s a rare second chance to step in and protect your smartphone). If you’re not sure if your new Google Pixel phone will actually last 7 years, adding protection is a great way to ensure that.