Google Pixel users are once again grappling with critical issues such as storage lockouts, camera malfunctions, screenshot failures, and app crashes after the rollout of the January 2024 Google Play system update.
Numerous reports flood forums and social media, with users across various models, including the Google Pixel 5, 6, 6a, 7, 7a, 8, and 8 Pro.
This recurrence echoes an October 2023 bug that left Pixel devices inaccessible due to a peculiar permissions problem. Google eventually resolved that issue with a November 7, 2023 update, but many users had already faced the brunt of data loss through factory resets.
The current problem appears to be rooted in the January 2024 Play system update, a crucial component delivered directly by Google to enhance security and system functionality. The cause remains elusive, with affected users left in the dark about potential solutions.
Google acknowledges the issue, stating, “We are aware of this issue and are looking into it.”
It also seems that the problem isn’t limited to specific user profiles, with some mentioning the use of work profiles, while others report having disabled them. The lack of clarity on user susceptibility raises concerns about the update’s indiscriminate impact.
According to Ars Technica, the January 2024 Play system update is not the typical over-the-air update but a Project Mainline or APEX module, distributed through the Play Store. This poses a challenge for users trying to avoid the update manually, as Google Play System updates lack user controls.
For Pixel users caught in this tech turbulence, options are limited. While the factory reset seems to resolve the issue for some, it comes at the cost of data loss. Google’s advice to ensure backups and consider disabling work profiles offers little comfort for those already facing device malfunctions.
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