Google Pixel phones unusable after January 2024 system update

fne8w2ah@lemmy.world to Android@lemmy.world – 168 points –
bleepingcomputer.com
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I'm reading this right now on pixel with latest play services update and have no problems using the phone. I'm not saying no one is having problems, but I wonder what the statistics are.

This is for the Google play system updates. Not the Play services app.

You can check your version in settings, security and privacy, Google play system updates. It should say November 2023 as the latest. Those on January recived the bad update.

Ahhh november 1st update

I have the January update and no problems. It must be a driver bug that an app is leaving in a bad state. I don't have any apps that access the camera other than the official Google camera app.

Yep, same here.

Pixel 8 Pro
Security update January 5, 2024 (14 UQ1A.240105.004)
Google Play system update on January 1, 2024

No issues that I can see. My camera works fine, I can open all my apps that I use daily,

Do you have a work profile or multiple user profiles set up on your device? This is similar to another issues they had a couple months ago, where my phone would fail to boot even into recovery to try to factory reset it.

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Come on Google. Did you fire somebody important with all those layoffs? I depend on my phone you know.

This only applies to people on the stock rom? Or?

I'm using graphene and not having any problems with my device.

Same here. No play services, no problem.

I have play services on one profile on mine. It's working fine for me too. Must not apply to everyone. Not sure why but I'm not complaining lol

No problems for me, Pixel 7 Pro

I have the same hardware model with the same OS version and no problems.

There has to be a difference between our phones. I do have developer options enabled but aren't using any of the options right now.

I also have very few apps. No X, Facebook, Instagram or any app that might use the camera driver. (Which might leave it in a bad state.)

I'm in the same boat, same level of updates etc but with no xitter, Facebook, or Instagram etc, and a pixel 8. Not sure if that's got anything to do with it but I take photos for work all the time and have had no issues.

Edit: Turns out it's not the android 14 update for January, but the Google Play System Update that's breaking things. Settings/Security & Privacy/System & Updates/Google Play System Update.

Yes I have that Play update people claim is causing the problem but I have no problems.

The picture you posted is not that update though.

I didn't post that picture. Others elsewhere in this thread mentioned the Google Play update so I had already checked that too.

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Well wish I saw this first. My camera on my pixel 6 stopped working after the update. Couldn't get the app to open. Other camera apps didn't work. Flashlight couldn't be used. I think the phone thought it was in use. I factory reset and it still didn't work. So I assumed I did something to the phone and upgraded (before I wanted too...)

I think the play store update always breaks something which is why it's always months behind for pixels. I'm also on November Pixel 7.

On the latest update and haven't noticed anything strange at all 🤷‍♂️ Pixel 6

What version is the January 2024 update? I have the 24.02.13 on GrapheneOS but I'm not sure if it's the one that the different articles are talking about.

It's under Settings > About Phone > Android Version > Android Security Update.

Mine, also with GrapheneOS, is on January 2024 with no issues.

Thank you! I thought they were talking about the Play Services and I was like "why isn't the version numbering the same 🤨". So yeah, same for me, no issues with the Jan 2024 version.

It's a different thing. Not sure how it looks in graphene. But, search for "play system update" one of the results should be what you want to look for. You are not experiencing any issues so you should be fine.

Anyone know the way to get the "OEM unlock" setting ungreyed out? Even though I haven't finished paying for the phone? I stopped rooting and flashing back when the thunderbolt came out so I should've realized they got wise to these kinds of shenanigans

I would imagine you have to pay it off first then contact the carrier about unlocking.

Thankfully, I don't have this update yet. Not sure if because my region is Japan or if that's not how they decided upon the staged rollout.

Is this why I suddenly can't group chat with iPhone users? I've had zero issues and then a few days ago I suddenly can't receive any messages from a specific chat with two iOS users.

Good thing I don't update for this exact reason. I hate when things break through no fault of my own

Maybe I should turn automatic updates off.

I just checked and it turns up to date on the November patch so they likely pulled it once shit started hitting the fan.

Working for me on the latest (2024012600) GrapheneOS with January 2024 security update.