Google Pixel 10 users report widespread app freezes and crashes after October update [U: Fixed]

Update 14/10/25 – 03:26 pm (IST): Google has now resolved the widespread app freezing and crashing issue that has been plaguing Pixel users. According to a series of updates from Artem Russakovskii, Google had officially declared the problem an “incident,” escalating it to a high-priority issue that required multiple teams to address.

Shortly after, Russakovskii confirmed that Google believes the bug is fixed. Crucially, the fix is server-side, meaning no system update or app update is required from users. Your device should return to normal operation automatically without any intervention.

While the main app hanging/crashing bug is resolved, the related issue with ‘Android System Intelligence’ is reportedly still being worked on. Google will conduct an internal post-mortem to investigate the cause of the widespread failure, though it is not yet known if those findings will be made public.

Original article published on October 13, 2025, follows:

Google Pixel 10 owners are dealing with a major headache right now. Apps on their brand-new flagship devices are randomly freezing at splash screens, crashing without warning, and sometimes refusing to open altogether. The issue seems to have kicked off shortly after the October update rolled out, leaving users frustrated with devices that are barely usable.

Multiple users on Reddit have reported identical symptoms across both the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL models. Though it’s possible that the problem affects the standard Pixel 10 models too, but reports online are limited.

One user on the r/GooglePixel subreddit described apps crashing randomly or getting stuck during launch, even after trying multiple reboots. The thread quickly filled with similar complaints from other users experiencing the same problems.

The bug appears to be connected to Google Play Services, specifically the October update that rolled out ahead of the monthly Android OS update. Several users noted they were still running the September stable release when the crashes began, but had received the October Play system update.

Temporary fixes have emerged from the community, though none seem to stick for long. One user found that uninstalling updates for both Google Play Services and the Google Play Store appeared to resolve the issue. But there’s a catch — doing this signs users out of all their Google accounts, unpairs smartwatches, removes Google Wallet cards, and disables system backups. It’s a messy workaround that disrupts a lot of functionality.

Even that fix isn’t permanent. Artem Russakovskii, founder of Android Police, reported on X that the freezes returned just a few hours after wiping Play Services data. He’s since reported the issue directly to his Google contacts, calling it a high-priority bug that needs immediate attention. According to his posts, Android System Intelligence has also started throwing background crashes that interrupt other apps, making the situation even worse.

The problem isn’t limited to just one Reddit thread either. Another discussion from two days ago shows similar complaints from Pixel 10 Pro XL owners, with users describing their phones as “running like dog water.” Multiple restarts did nothing to fix the crashes, and apps continued hanging or freezing regardless of what users tried.

Some Pixel 9 users have also chimed in, reporting occasional app hangs on their devices as well. This indicates the issue might extend beyond just the Pixel 10 series, though reports from those models remain the most consistent.

Google hasn’t issued an official statement yet, but with the bug spreading quickly and affecting brand-new flagship devices, a fix should hopefully arrive soon. We’ll post an update if and when there are any further developments.