Google Pixel Android 14 update rollout, bugs & issues tracker (cont. updated)

On this page, we are tracking the Android 14 update roll out as well as bugs and issues related to it. This tracker page went live when the Android 14 update was unveiled, so we’ve tried to maintain it in a way that the latest info remains on top. If you have any suggestions regarding this tracker, please don’t hesitate to drop a comment at the bottom of this page.

This tracker is currently divided into the following sections:

• An update roll out text section which has the details about release of Android 14 beta and stable builds
• A textual section containing info on bugs and issues

Google Pixel Update Rollout section

Google Pixel Bugs, Issues, Problems and related developments section

This section is regularly updated to reflect the most recent and relevant information about bugs and issues

Pixel 7 Android 14 update on T-Mobile and Google Fi still not available

Even though the Android 14 update has been available for a few days, it seems that T-Mobile and Google Fi users cannot upgrade to the latest OS. Those affected can fortunately swap their phone SIM for one from another carrier that has received the update and install it.

Pixel phones plagued with random crashes, significant slowdowns, and screen flickering issues

By glancing at the recent reports, it appears that Pixel owners are experiencing random crashes, freezes, and restarts, and that too when the phone is not in use. In addition, they experience a discernible lag when the phone is plugged in for charging. And this adversely impacts the device’s animations and smoothness of scrolling.

On the top of this, the display inconsistencies such as greenish tinge, distinct color lines, or conspicuous white lines in the notification area make the user experience even worse. Sadly, some have gotten their phones bricked in the upgrade process as well.

Pixel users unable to add ‘Google Home’ lock screen shortcut

According to reports, multiple Pixel users have been experiencing difficulties while trying to add the ‘Google Home’ lock screen shortcut. It appears that a glitch introduced with the latest OS has impacted this feature.

If you too are affected by this bug, then try uninstalling and reinstalling the Google Home app for a potential fix. If that doesn’t help solve your problem, then turn the screen off and on when adding the lock screen shortcut.

Google Pixel lock screen clock customization bugged

Reports indicate that Pixel owners are also unable to customize the lock-screen clock. Even if they select from the different available designs, only the default clock style appears on the lock screen.

Swipe gestures bugged or not working on Pixel phones

Several Pixel users have lately been complaining that the swipe gestures are not working correctly after installing the latest Android 14 update. Luckily, you can do a factory reset on your phone to get rid of this glitch.

Green screen flickering issue affecting Pixel phones updated to Android 14

After updating to Android 14, some Google Pixel owners are reporting ‘green screen flickering’, which manifests in two main forms: random flickering or a persistent green tone. Those who are facing this problem can try adjusting the color correction settings or factory resetting their device.

Luckily, this bug has been addressed in the recent November 2023 patch.

Black screen issues after Android 14 update

Numerous Google Pixel users have encountered black screen issues after updating their devices to Android 14. This problem has been reported across a number of Pixel variants, with the majority of the reports from Pixel 5a owners. Astonishingly, the display turns black randomly during routine usage of the Pixel phone.

In certain cases, the phones become totally unresponsive, and fail to respond to human inputs or physical buttons. Fortunately, you can try disabling the ‘multiprofile’ option to get rid of this glitch. If your smartphone is unresponsive, then you can forcefully restart it by holding the power button for 30 seconds.

Black camera viewfinder bug on Pixels

Several Pixel owners have been facing camera-related issues ever since they upgraded to the latest OS. There have been instances where the viewfinder shows a black screen or the application crashes abruptly. This bug mostly affects rear cameras. Some individuals keep getting a black screen on the viewfinder, while others experience application crashes shortly after the launch.

It’s noteworthy that similar camera-related issues were being faced on Pixel devices running Android 13. However, the Android 14 update seems to have exacerbated the problem.

Android 14 breaking popular third-party launchers for some

The Android 14 upgrade is leading to complications with third-party launchers on Pixels, particularly popular ones like Lawnchair and Nova Launcher. Users report various problems, like apps not functioning properly, erratic behavior, disappearing icons, and severe lag.

Various alternative launchers like Hyperion, Microsoft, and Niagara have been suggested, although they may not work perfectly either.

Pixel 8 Micro stutters or jitters when scrolling

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro owners are experiencing micro-stuttering and jitters during app scrolling despite the Tensor G3 SoC and Android 14 upgrade. The problem is most noticeable when scrolling up and down through apps like the Google Play Store, X, Reddit, and so on. Among the apps, Reddit seems to be the most affected. Sadly, this issue has been affecting Pixel 7 users as well.

Fortunately, the problem has been fixed with the recent November 2023 patch released by Google.

Android 14 update broke Android Auto on Google Pixel devices

According to recent reports, several Pixel owners are experiencing connectivity issues with Android Auto after upgrading to the latest OS. For some, the connection between the phone and the car is stuttering or unstable. For others, the connection cannot be established even after repeated attempts. People have tried to make the connection wirelessly and with the help of a USB cable, but to no avail.

Those who are lucky enough to establish the connection cannot use audio-related apps and services properly. As per the claims, choppy sound is produced during music playback or while navigating directions. A member of the Android Auto team has already escalated the issue.

Google Lens missing from the Pixel Camera app

Following the Android 14 upgrade, Pixel users have been unable to access the Google Lens feature from the camera app. With the rollout of the latest OS, Google renamed the classic Google Camera app to ‘Pixel Camera’. In addition to this, it also separated Google Lens features from the Camera app. This was done with the aim of transforming the app into one that is completely focused on taking photos and videos.

Understandably, this shift is surprising for those who are used to accessing the Lens capabilities directly via the app. People can now access the feature with the ‘Camera’ icon integrated into the Google Search Bar. The official Google Lens app can also be downloaded from the Play Store.

Android 14 update may have been halted by Google

Reports from various Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 7a owners indicate that Google might have halted the Android 14 upgrade. Even though some of them earlier got a notification to update to the latest OS, their devices failed to install it. As of now, the upgrade option is no longer available. One cannot get it back even after restarting the phone or factory resetting it.

It seems that Google might have halted the update roll out in order to prevent the gadgets from bricking.

Google’s severe battery drain issues persist in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

The latest Pixel series seems to be continuing the trend of poor battery life on Google’s smartphones. Even after using their phones for a few weeks, Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners are experiencing a significant battery drain. According to the reports, the main culprit seems to be the mobile network.

Some have even noted instances where the network alone ends up using 75% of the device’s battery, and that too in sleep mode.

Pixel 8 always on display keeps turning off for some users

Pixel 8 users have also been lately facing difficulties in keeping the always on display (AOD) function enabled. Reports suggest that the feature keeps turning off on its own after a few minutes, causing inconvenience to the owners. As of now, it’s unclear what triggers the problem.

However, there are claims that the always on display turns off when the device has been in sleep mode for some time, is kept inside the pocket, or is laying on a surface. If you too are facing this problem, please try the workarounds listed here.

Pixel 8 Face Unlock not working properly in low light conditions

According to recent reports, Pixel fans are encountering problems while using the Class 3-level Face Unlock system for making payments. They claim that the system struggles to identify their faces in low-light conditions, potentially due to inadequate screen brightness. The device’s system relies on the screen light to be able to identify people even in low-light conditions.

However, complaints indicate that the phone fails to adjust the screen brightness properly. As a workaround, you can try re-registering your face in a slightly darker room.

Android 14 storage media bug on Pixel devices

Those who have upgraded to Android 14 have also been experiencing issues such as inaccessibility to local files and continuous bootloops. Additionally, people were also facing problems while trying to use the phone’s camera or opening the downloaded files. Notably, the glitches were affecting Pixel 6, 6 Pro, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and 7a users.

Google eventually admitted that the root cause of the problem was the utilization of multiple user profiles on a single device. It recently released the November 2023 patch, which addressed the bug.

Pixel 8 Best Take feature keeps crashing Google Photos app

Recent reports on Reddit indicate that some Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users are unable to use the Best Take feature. The newly introduced functionality, for sure, makes it quite an easy task to replace faces in group photos. However, those who own the latest Pixels are encountering app crashes while trying to utilize it. Unfortunately, Google hasn’t made an official statement.

Luckily, some can overcome this problem by updating the Google Photos app to v.6.61.0.579687566. So, it is recommended that you do the same. There’s also a subset of users who are unable to find the ‘Best Take’ option on their new phones. If this feature is not visible to you as well, then try selecting the ’12MP’ option in the camera app’s Pro settings.

Pixel 8 users experiencing Wi-Fi issues on mesh network

According to the posts on the Google support forum and Reddit, Pixel 8 owners are facing problems with Wi-Fi connectivity when connected to a mesh network. It has been observed that the transmission speed is significantly slower as compared to other networks. And to make matters worse, users are experiencing frequent disconnections even in those areas where the network connectivity is good.

It’s worth mentioning that the previous generation of Pixels also had issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. However, it seems that this problem has only worsened with the latest phones. To get rid of such glitches, generally, manual reconnection or phone restarts are needed. You can also try disabling mesh connectivity or ‘randomized MAC Address’ and ‘Fast Roaming’ options for a potential fix.

In addition, some basic troubleshooting steps, like tweaking the modem settings, changing the Wi-Fi channel, and switching to a different mesh network, can be performed. Fortunately, this issue has been resolved with the latest December 2023 security patch.

Vodafone & O2 5G Plus (5G SA) German networks cannot be activated on Google Pixel

Vodafone and O2 5G Plus subscribers in Germany have lately been facing problems activating their devices on both of these networks. You would be disappointed to know that Google has removed support for standalone 5G networks from some older Pixel phones. Notably, it has removed this functionality from the Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a phones with the March 2023 update.

So, this could be one of the reasons that these networks fail to activate on your phones. Strangely, this issue is affecting a section of Pixel 8 users as well. However, as per the claims, one can use the 5G SA connectivity if the phone is upgraded to Android 14 QPR1 beta.

Google released specialized solution for Pixel phones

Google has recently released a specialized solution to address the Android 14-triggered reboot issues on Pixel phones. Those who are stuck in a repeated reboot cycle can use the Pixel Repair Tool to recover partial data as well as install the latest November system update. Based on the carrier and device model, users can install different variants of the fix released by Google.

Spotify audio bug on Android Auto after Android 14 update

Those who have upgraded to Android 14 are experiencing a persistent glitch where they are unable to hear any sound or music played via Spotify on Android Auto. Even though the track plays normally on the app, the audio fails to output. Fortunately, Google is currently investigating this bug, although an ETA for the fix has not been given.

There are two workarounds that you can try. The first way to get rid of this problem is by directly connecting the smartphone to your car’s infotainment system. The second option that you have is downgrade to Android 13.

Pixel 8 owners unable to get notifications from the old Nest app

As per the reports on Reddit and Nest Community, Pixel 8 owners have lately been unable to get notifications from the old Nest app. For sure, this is quite concerning, as the alerts fail to appear even when the smoke detector goes off. The worst part is that Google has not yet officially acknowledged it. Luckily, the notifications appear like they should on the app and the older Pixels.

As of now, you can only go through the troubleshooting steps shared by a ‘Community Specialist’.

5G connectivity issues might get fixed with Android 14 QPR2 beta update

According to the latest update’s changelog, Google has fixed an issue that prevented Pixels from connecting to a 5G network even in areas with a strong signal. If you too were facing this problem, then you can sigh in relief, as this patch will probably resolve it. However, it’s quite a possibility that the company might need some more time to address this issue completely from its 5G smartphones.

One can expect significant improvements with the rollout of the final upgrade next year. As this beta update is ‘suitable for general use’, those affected can join the beta upgrade.

Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 update removes Eufy Security app support

The Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 update has brought an issue that makes the Pixel phones uninstall the Eufy smart home app. Google’s official changelog does mention that a known issue stops the system from installing apps utilizing the meta-data element unconventionally. However, they haven’t admitted that the same bug is making the phone uninstall such clients as well.

For now, users can only try installing an older app, like the January 2023 version, for a potential fix.

Pixel 8 photos appear too bright in Google Photos app

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users have lately been facing an issue where the photos appear too bright or washed out in the Google Photos app. As of now, this issue only affects pictures taken with the camera. Luckily, one can still view downloaded photos or screenshots without any difficulties. If the reports on Reddit and XDA forums are anything to go by, then the problem lies with Pixel 8’s processing of Ultra HDR photography.

This contradicts Google’s claim that Ultra HDR enhances without altering the original quality. Interestingly, the image can be viewed normally when shared on a social networking platform or with a friend. The photos fail to appear properly when loaded in the Photos or Files app. Fortunately, this problem can be addressed by installing the v9.0.115.554144671.19 app.

Some Pixel users unable to opt out of the Android 14 beta program

Fresh reports suggest that some Pixel owners are facing challenges transitioning from Android 14 QPR2 beta 1 to the stable release. As per the claims, they are unable to opt out of the beta program. Despite opting out, the expected downgrade OTA with stable version does not arrive. If you too are facing this problem, then we recommend that you ignore this update and patiently wait until the public release of Android 14 QPR 1.

Although, you can also try workarounds like sideloading the OTA update, power cycling, factory resetting your device, and much more.

Android 14 users can no longer see app notifications by long pressing on icons

By looking at the recent reports, it appears that Android 14 users can no longer view the app notifications by pressing the icons. As of now, Google has not disclosed the specific reason for removing this option. This change was first implemented in the beta builds of the OS, and it seems that the company decided to extend it to the stable version after noticing some positive results.

Some people are unhappy as they used to access notifications with the help of this feature after they were accidentally cleared.

Google Assistant voice typing broken even after Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1.1 update

Even though Google introduced support for multilingual voice typing with the latest Pixels, it seems that users are unable to reap the benefits. Notably, Google Assistant’s voice typing feature cannot be used as the microphone icon on the Gboard app is grayed out. And to make things worse, there is no way to activate it.

This issue has been persistent ever since the Android 14 QPR2 beta update, and the situation remains the same even now. Currently, one can temporarily get rid of this problem by clearing the Google and Gboard apps’ cache or force-stopping them.

Pixel 8 Pro bags modem updates with Android 14 QPR2 beta 1.1

Recent reports indicate that Google has silently updated the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro modems in the latest Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1.1 update. Strangely, Google has not mentioned anything about the modem’s firmware update in the patch’s changelog. So, currently, it’s not possible to determine what exactly has been changed.

But it’s quite possible that the company may have introduced improvements to network compatibility and connectivity with new internet protocols.

Google Pixel ‘stuttering when scrolling’ issue persists even after November patch

Pixel owners have been experiencing stuttering issues when scrolling through the system UI or apps for the past few months. And sadly, the situation remains the same even after installing the latest November patch. What’s more, this problem is not limited to a single generation and is significantly impacting the user experience.

Additionally, people still face difficulties while trying to swipe or use swipe gestures while the device is charging. Understandably, they are very disappointed to be encountering these problems even on such powerful smartphones. However, it’s quite possible that noticeable improvements will be rolled out with the upcoming December update.

Google Pixel 7 series ‘call drop’ issue persists for some

According to the latest reports, Pixel 7 owners are experiencing a persistent call drop issue, causing sudden disconnections and voice loss during calls. The sad part is that Google has been unable to address this concern completely, even with the latest Android upgrade. There have also been some instances where the problem began after upgrading to Android 14.

Fortunately, a Platinum Diamond Product expert has responded that this issue will most likely be resolved with the upcoming December update. Those affected can temporarily overcome the situation by changing network types, disabling adaptive connectivity, and resetting the network.

Featured Image: Google.

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