Google has released its January 2026 software update for Pixel smartphones a little later than usual, rolling it out to devices starting from the Pixel 7a. While the update was meant to fix several long-standing issues, including battery drain, always-on display flickering, and a wallpaper-related reboot bug, it has instead triggered a new wave of problems for many users.
Soon after installing the update, Pixel owners began reporting serious connectivity issues involving Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile networks. Complaints have surfaced across Google’s official support forums, Reddit, and X, suggesting the problem is widespread rather than isolated.
Several users say Bluetooth cannot be turned on at all, cutting off access to earbuds, smartwatches, and car systems. Others report that opening Wi-Fi settings leads to a blank screen followed by a crash, or that the Wi-Fi toggle switches itself off automatically. Some users are also facing mobile data issues, noting that even toggling airplane mode fails to restore connectivity.
A smaller group of users has reported camera-related bugs, claiming the camera app continues running in the background and prevents the flashlight from working properly.
Standard troubleshooting methods have largely failed. Users say booting into safe mode, resetting network settings, and even performing factory resets have not fixed the issues. In some cases, Google support has reportedly offered replacement devices, though it remains unclear whether the problem is hardware-related or caused by a software bug introduced in the update.
The connectivity issues appear to affect multiple generations, including the Pixel 8, Pixel 9, and Pixel 10 series, though not every device is impacted. Some users report their phones are working normally, indicating the bug does not affect all units.
So far, Google has not officially acknowledged the issue or announced a fix. However, users have shared a few temporary workarounds. One Pixel 8 Pro owner said disabling Google Play Services restored connectivity, while others reported success by manually sideloading the January 2026 OTA update instead of installing it through the standard update process.
Google has made the OTA images available through its support hub. While sideloading does not require unlocking the bootloader or wiping data, it is a technical process and not recommended for users unfamiliar with manual flashing. Google also advises backing up data before attempting it.
For now, affected Pixel users remain in limbo, waiting for an official response or corrective update from Google as the rollout continues.
