Google Owes Android Users $135M. Do This to Get Your Cut of the Settlement

In 2020, a group of consumers sued Google over the Android OS draining cellular data, and the search giant finally reached a $135 million class-action settlement this year. If you used an Android phone connected to a cellular carrier anytime since November 2017, you could be due for a payout. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Get Paid

As outlined on the settlement site, federalcellularclassaction.com, those who do nothing will still be eligible for a payment. However, “if you do not select a payment method, you may not receive it,” it notes. On the site, click “Select a Payment Method.” You will then be asked to provide a notice ID and confirmation code, which can only be obtained from an official settlement email or snail mail notice. That said, the site has contact information for those who didn’t get anything but believe they are eligible for a payout.

Who’s Eligible for a Payout?

The settlement is supposed to apply to US users who used an Android device with a cellular data plan at any time since Nov. 17, 2017. However, California residents appear to be excluded due to a separate class-action lawsuit involving an even larger $314 million settlement.

How Much Can I Get?

A court document notes that “individual settlement payments are capped at $100 per class member,” but lawyers don’t expect the actual payments to be that much. That’s probably because about $40 million of the funds will be used to cover attorneys’ fees. The bulk of the remaining funds will then cover an estimated 100 million eligible users, suggesting the actual payout could be quite small if all affected consumers file claims.

What Comes Next?

The settlement site notes that eligible users can exclude or object to the settlement, but must do so by May 29. A final hearing to potentially approve the settlement is scheduled for June 23, which could then pave the way for the funds to be distributed. 

Is This Legit?

Some users are questioning whether the settlement site is legitimate, concerned that a scammer might be exploiting the class-action lawsuit. Court documents note that the settlement’s administrator is Angeion Group, which has handled many class-action cases. But court documents don’t mention federalcellularclassaction.com. A domain lookup of the site also doesn’t reveal the exact owner. However, a lawyer for the case, Glen Summers, confirmed via email that the site is legitimate.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

---

Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

Read Full Bio