Waited desperately for the official Android flagship but unexpected Google Pixel problems got you down? Save yourself the time of sifting through the internet with this guide on how to fix the common Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL problems.Google had a vested interest in the mobile world ever since it took over Android all the way back in 2007. Despite taking almost a decade to release the first Google-brand Android phone, Google finally puts a halt to being the software vendor for Nexus devices and took over the hardware to create the Google Pixel phone.The poster boy for Android had a flying start last year, which compelled Google to keep the ball rolling and bring out the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. Built with the tender loving touch of Google, the hardware is at par with the flagship devices of 2017, while the stock Android software with the flavor of Android 8.0 Oreo is just what you’d expect.

Google Pixel problems – they’re very real

Google-branded devices like Nexus and Pixel are the standard by which all Android devices are measured, which puts them on a pedestal. While the Google Pixel problems are not enough to disregard it as the king of Android smartphones, it certainly opens it up to criticism from millions of Google fans all over.Despite the robust performance of the Pixel 2 and the larger-than-life display of the Pixel 2 XL, no Android phone is perfect. Unfortunately for Google, users have been reporting multiple software (and even hardware!) issues just days after unwrapping their brand new official Android flagship device.Whether you’re looking to find an easy solution to fix your Google Pixel problems or simply being an informed consumer, here’s all the common Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL problems and the simplest ways to resolve them.

Problem No. 1: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL display issues

Even before most people could finish reading the full reviews of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and how fantastic they are, the grave news broke in. Apparently, the OLED panel on the larger Pixel 2 XL is not as impressive as it would’ve seemed, despite the mesmerizing 18:9 aspect ratio, while the display on the smaller variant looks just fine.This seems to be more on the hardware side of things rather than software, since the Pixel 2 XL comes with OLED panels developed by LG, while the Pixel 2 is fitted with OLED panels from Samsung. The seemingly inferior pOLED panel of the Pixel 2 XL has received quite a bit of bad press, thanks to multiple display issues.

Screen burn-in problem

The Google Pixel 2 XL is not even a month old and it is already being brought down by the news of screen burn-in issues. Users have noticed that certain parts of the screen, such as the navigation bar give off a “ghost image” even when the navigation buttons are not active. This issue is typically common with mid-range LED panels across the tech world, but mostly unheard of on mobile devices, especially brand new ones.

Solution – get it replaced

Google has already responded to the woes of its users and addressed the hardware issue with an extended one-year warranty. While addressing the concerns that the screen is not as vibrant as others, Google was quick to claim that the “differential aging” of its pOLED display was on par with that of other premium smartphones.“Our current investigation of burn-in, which started as soon as we received the first user report on October 22, confirms that the differential aging is in line with that of other premium smartphones and should not affect the normal, day-to-day user experience of the Pixel 2 XL. Regardless, we use software to safeguard the user experience and maximize the life of the OLED display, and we’ll make ongoing software updates to optimize further.”Since your Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL now comes with a 2-year warranty, you can wait and see if you’re among the minority to be affected by the issue. If you notice the effects of screen burn-in and just can’t ignore the Google Pixel problems any longer, get your smartphone replaced for free!

Dull colors and low contrast

Even under the same market standards, no two OLED displays are built the same, which is why the Pixel 2 display looks much more vibrant than its larger cousin. Sharp-eyed users have been quick to notice that the pOLED display of the Pixel 2 XL comes with a bluish tint every time the viewing angle is tilted, while the warmer colors seem to be duller.

Solution #1

In the same statement, Google has addressed these concerns and added an option in the phone’s Settings app to improve saturation by 10 percent. Promising to add even more display color options with the future software updates, you can resolve the Google Pixel problems by heading over to Settings – Display – Advanced and toggle on the Vivid display option.

Solution #2

The Vivid mode in the Settings app is not going to cut it for most of you, so you might want to take matters into your own hands. The only way to fix these Google Pixel problems is to install an app called Oreo Colorizer.Without getting into the technical jargon, the app allows you to take control of the color gamut of your Pixel 2 XL device. However, the app isn’t available on the Google Play Store, so you will have to download the .APK file for Oreo Colorizer and install it manually.
  • Download Oreo Colorizer .APK file using the link given here.
  • From your Google Pixel device, head over to Settings – Security – Unknown Sources and enable the option.
  • Now go ahead and tap on the downloaded .APK file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Oreo Colorizer.
There’s not much to the app when it comes to the user interface since all you need to do is open the app and hit the Start button. You’ll find that the rainbow icon shows a subtle change in color as it becomes more vibrant.

Problem No. 2: Clicking and high pitched frequency sounds

Another odd issue has been plaguing quite a number of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users that Google just could not let go unnoticed. One of the Google Pixel problems seems to be a clicking and faint, high-pitched noise emitting from the phone. The annoying sound isn’t specific, as it seems to be coming from the phone when the screen on while making phone calls and during regular usage.

Solution #1

After the issue was brought up by multiple users, Google addressed it on the Pixel User Community forum. The company is working on bringing a fix to this issue in the upcoming update for both the devices in a few weeks. Your first option is to wait out this annoyance as it does not affect the device’s performance.

Solution #2

The issue seems to be caused by the NFC chip inside the phone, which is responsible for the clicking and high-pitched sounds. All you need to do is disable the NFC feature on your Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL when not in use.
  • On your Pixel device, head over to Settings – Connected devices – NFC and press the toggle switch to turn it off.
  • Another option you could try out is enabling the Wi-Fi calling feature from Settings – Calls – Configure Wi-Fi Calling.
The option will only be visible if the feature is supported by your network carrier. However, disabling the NFC chip on your phone should be enough to resolve this problem.

Problem No. 3: Device randomly reboots

Even before the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL was released, Google Pixel problems related to the device randomly rebooting were a common sight. The issue continues to exist on the new devices, which leads us to believe that the issue has more to do with Android 8.0 Oreo and not the devices. If you’re facing the issue of random reboots throughout the day, rest assured that it’s a software issue and there’s nothing wrong with the hardware.

Solution – use Safe Mode

 The reason behind the random reboots could be an app that is either causing the system to crash or is yet to become compatible with the latest Android version. The best way to counter this problem is finding the culprit app behind all of it by enabling the Safe Mode feature and checking if the issue still persists.
  • To enter the Safe Mode on your Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, press and hold the Power button after making sure that the screen is turned on.
  • When the Power menu shows up, tap and hold the Power off option until you see the Safe Mode window pop up.
  • Once you see the Safe Mode pop-up window show on the screen, tap OK to reboot your Pixel device into Safe Mode and do your due diligence.
If you’re not sure which specific app is behind the random reboots, you can be extra safe and uninstall all the apps you have recently installed. If this still doesn’t solve your Google Pixel problems, you might need to just go ahead with a factory reset or wait it out until the new update from Google arrives.

Problem No. 4: Google Pixel problems with camera

When you’ve got a phone with the highest DxOMark Score of any smartphone ever, camera issues can seem like the end of the world. This is exactly what some Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users have been going through, as they’re constantly facing the “Camera has a fatal error” on their mobile phones. The problem once again seems to be related to the software, and here’s what you can do to fix it.

Solution #1

The first step you can take to resolve the camera errors and the “Camera has a fatal error” message is clear data and cache.
  • From the home screen on your Google Pixel device, swipe down to open the notification window and tap on the gear icon in the Settings
  • In the Settings app menu, find the Device tab and scroll down to find the Storage
  • Tap on the Apps menu and scroll down to find the Camera app and open it.
  • Now go ahead and tap on Clear data, confirm your action and follow the same to Clear cache and exit the Settings app.
This is the quickest way to get past most of the Camera app related errors on any Android device. However, if this does not get your gears going, you might need to take a more serious stance.

Solution #2 

After assessing the Pixel User Community forums and taking the best advice of experts, the final fix to Google Pixel problems related to the camera is a factory reset.
  • From the home screen of your Android device, navigate to the Settings app through the app drawer or the notification window.
  • In the Settings app, scroll down to find the System tab and then tap on the Reset menu button.
  • Using the same menu go ahead and navigate to Factory data reset – Reset phone, enter your password, PIN or pattern when prompted and select Erase everything.
Make sure that all of your data is synced and saved with your Google account before you factory reset your Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL phone.

Problem No. 5: Bluetooth connectivity issues

The latest Pixel phones come with the gold standard in wireless audio connectivity – Bluetooth 5.0. While the ability to connect to multiple Bluetooth devices at once and the range of connectivity increased by folds is a bonus, Android 8.0 Oreo on the Pixel isn’t making things easier. Users have reported connectivity issues when paired with Bluetooth headphones, connecting with Android Auto on the road, and issues with Google Assistant.

Solution – Wait it out

Google has been quick to address most Google Pixel problems right away, as the company “is aware of this issue and additional fixes are coming soon”. The next software update for the two devices is expected to address dozens of software and hardware issues, Bluetooth is one of them. But since we like to keep kicking and fixing things by ourselves, here are a few tricks you can try out in the meantime.
  • If you have synced the Bluetooth devices over from an older Android device, you might need to perform the pairing process again. Head over to Settings – Connected devices – Bluetooth and tap on the gear icon next to the device you’re trying to connect and select Forget. You can then go ahead and begin the pairing process again and see if that fixes the Bluetooth connectivity issue.
  • Some users have reported that they are unable to hear music when paired with Bluetooth headphones or can’t use their Bluetooth earpiece for calling. Head back to Settings – Connected devices – Bluetooth and tap the gear icon next to the Bluetooth device you’re having connectivity problems with. In the settings, make sure that you enable the Media audio and Phone audio checkbox according to the device.
After a world of Google Pixel problems that loyal users have faced in less than a month’s since its launch, can Google still stay at the top? Are there any other serious Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL issues that you want answers to? Be sure to drop in something for us in the comments section or start a new thread on the Updato Forum right now.

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Google Pixel problems bothering you? Fixing 5 common Pixel 2 and XL issues

Google Pixel problems bothering you? Fixing 5 common Pixel 2 and XL issues

Google Pixel problems bothering you? Fixing 5 common Pixel 2 and XL issues

What's my model number?

There are several ways to locate your model number:

Option 1
On your device, go to Settings, then "About device" and scroll down to "Model number"
Option 2
Often times you can view the model number inside the device, by removing the battery
Option 3
Using Samsung's model/serial number location tool

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