Google has released another update for its Pixel phones after numerous reports of users being locked out of their phone’s storage. The issue, which resulted in unusable phones, was associated with the January 2024 Google Play update. While Google acknowledged the problem and provided a solution on the Pixel Community Forums, the fix is not user-friendly. It requires manual intervention, including downloading tools, installing drivers, adjusting settings, connecting the phones, and deleting files through a command-line interface. The process ensures that users won’t lose any data if their phone has been inactive for a week or two. However, many users found it unacceptable to have their device nonfunctional for that period. Some had already wiped their device, resulting in data loss, as Android’s backup system doesn’t always work. The specific steps outlined by Google, including accessing Android Build Options, downloading the “SDK Platform-Tools” zip file, and using “ADB” (Android Debug Bridge), might be challenging for average users to follow. Additionally, issues with ADB drivers in Windows could further complicate the process, potentially leading to incorrect device detection and the inability to run commands. This complexity may pose a challenge for many users attempting to resolve the storage issue on their Pixel devices.
