April 16, 2026, 4:14 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

Since the update was released in March 2026, Pixel phone owners have reported several errors. Among them are lock screens that freeze. However, a more serious issue is that some devices enter a restart loop, making them unusable. Reports indicate that numerous models are affected—from the older Pixel 6 to the current Pixel 10. Whether there is already a reliable fix remains uncertain.

Indications of a Possible Cause

The Pixel feature drop is a quarterly update for the devices. This time, according to the article, it has serious consequences for some users. As heise.de reports, the number of affected smartphones is apparently not very high. However, for those affected, the error is severe because the device can become inaccessible due to the boot loop. Initial suspicions point to a nearly full memory as a possible trigger. Entries in the official support forum suggest this. Google has already acknowledged the problem there. Those who have not yet installed the update should first free up storage space before downloading it to their smartphone.

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April Update Offers No Clear Relief

In April 2026, Google released another update. According to the article, it is unclear whether this resolves the boot loop. This is an additional problem for many affected users, as the restart loop prevents them from easily installing the new update. The only measure mentioned so far is a factory reset, which restores the smartphone to its factory settings. This comes at a high cost, as all data on the device is lost. Additionally, the article mentions rumors that even this step does not end the boot loop in every case. Therefore, the possibility remains that the cause lies directly within the update package. Google continues to search for the trigger.

What Is Still Possible

The situation does not seem entirely hopeless. According to the online magazine Android Authority, some users have managed to interrupt the restart loop at least briefly. This allowed them to create a data backup before restoring their devices. They used safe mode for this. However, this is apparently not a secure solution. It seems to be more a matter of luck to even access this mode during the boot loop. Nevertheless, specific steps circulating online might help:

• Connect the affected device to a charger via cable for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Press the Pixel’s power button until the Google logo appears.
• Then press both volume buttons simultaneously until the boot animation is displayed.

If successful, the smartphone should start in safe mode. This would at least allow access to stored data and the creation of a backup, potentially avoiding complete data loss. However, this is not guaranteed. For those affected, the hope remains that Google will soon fix the error and provide a working solution.