According to recent reports, one of the reasons people buy Google Pixel phones is to receive software updates first, from new versions of Android to important security patches. However, the latest update from Google is causing problems for some Pixel models.
Over the weekend, a Reddit user in the r/GooglePixel forum compiled a list of threads from nearly a dozen Pixel owners who reported issues after downloading the latest January 2024 update for Google Play System.
What’s wrong? Well, the January 2024 update seems to be causing issues with accessing the devices’ internal memory. This includes file loss, missing screenshots, camera malfunctions, and more. A similar situation occurred in October of last year.
Based on various complaints on Reddit, the January 2024 update may not be very successful. Some of the reported problems include:
- Lack of file access
- Disappearing photos and screenshots
- Websites not loading
- App freezing or malfunctioning
- Cyclic restarting
- Damaged phones
To make matters worse, it seems that the January 2024 update has affected many Pixel models. Problems have been reported for Google Pixel 5, Pixel 6, and Pixel 7. Even Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are vulnerable.
Unfortunately, the Google support team has not been very helpful so far. One user writes, “Pixel support has been completely unhelpful,” while another adds, “Pixel support’s questions are about basic issues and they don’t realize it’s a widespread problem caused by the January update.”
So, what is the solution here? Until Google acknowledges this issue and releases a fix, it is recommended to reset the phone to factory settings. Numerous reports on Reddit indicate that restoring factory settings resolves the problems. However, before doing so, make sure you have an up-to-date backup in the cloud to avoid losing any data.
It’s important to note that these issues only affect Pixel users with the January 2024 update for Google Play System. To check which version is on your Pixel, open the Settings app, tap on Security & Privacy, then System and updates. My Pixel 8 Pro is still running the November 1, 2023 update for Google Play System, which may be the case for you as well. If so, avoid downloading any new updates until Google figures out what’s happening.
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