Buggy lockscreen experience troubling Pixel users on Android 16

Google Pixel users who have updated to Android 16 are reporting a frustrating array of lock screen issues. Many are finding their devices slow to wake, unresponsive, or experiencing significant lag when trying to get past the lock screen. This is happening across various Pixel models running the stable Android 16 release.

The problems range from tap-to-wake not working consistently to the power button failing to bring the screen to life. When the screen eventually does turn on, users are often met with a sluggish lock screen that delays access to the phone.

Some have even reported extreme brightness variations and issues with the fingerprint scanner. This isn’t just about minor inconveniences. For some, the phone won’t wake up at all, requiring a full restart to regain access to the lock screen, as noted in discussions on Google’s own forums and Reddit.

It’s unclear how widespread the problem is because not everyone is facing the issues, at least not to the extent as some users claim. I personally haven’t been bugged with this problem apart from the one time where tap to wake didn’t work roughly a week ago. Apart from that, I cannot reproduce the issue on a Pixel 7a with the latest Android 16 build. Nor can I replicate it on a Pixel 8 with the Android 16 QPR1 beta 2.1. However, reports from numerous users indicate this is a real headache. The folks over at 9to5Google were the first to highlight this.

While a quick reboot might offer temporary relief, affected users say the issues often return within hours. Google, through product experts on their forums, has acknowledged these lock screen problems and stated they are working on a fix. However, a timeline for the solution remains unclear.

These lock screen woes add to a growing list of glitches Pixel users have encountered following the Android 16 update. We previously covered a bunch of these frustrating Android 16 glitches, and it seems the lock screen is now a prominent addition to that list. Hopefully, a permanent fix arrives swiftly to bring back the smooth, reliable experience Pixel users expect.

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