San Francisco, Jan 27, 2026, 00:57 PST
- Some Pixel owners report Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth failures after installing Google’s January update
- Reports mention Pixel 10 models and Pixel 8 Pro, with scattered camera glitches
- No public fix yet; users say common troubleshooting steps have not worked for some
Google’s January 2026 software update for Pixel phones is triggering complaints that Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth have stopped working on some devices, according to reports tracked by 9to5Google. The outlet said posts on Google forums and Reddit describe phones that cannot search for Wi‑Fi networks or turn Bluetooth on, with some users also reporting camera problems. (9to5Google)
The timing matters because the update is still spreading. When wireless radios fail, the phone turns into a brick for a lot of daily tasks—home internet, cars, earbuds, even smartwatches—and that tends to spook people off installing patches quickly.
It also puts security in the middle of a product headache. Google’s Pixel Update Bulletin for January 2026 said supported Pixel devices would receive the 2026-01-05 security patch level and urged users to install it. (Android Open Source Project)
Android Authority said Pixel 10-series devices appeared most often in the reports it reviewed, though it also saw mentions of Pixel 8 models, with users reporting failures across Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth and camera functions. It highlighted a Pixel community forum post suggesting Google Play Services could be involved, leaving phones in a state where background processes open too many files at once and interfere with other systems. (Android Authority)
Google Play Services is the background software layer that keeps core Google apps and sign-in working across Android. A “too many open files” state is a basic system resource limit being hit—usually a sign of a runaway process, not something a user can easily fix from settings.
Users have tried the usual playbook: rebooting, resetting network settings, and starting in safe mode, which runs the phone with only core apps. Some posts described the problem persisting after deeper resets, leaving owners stuck on cellular data or without wireless accessories.
Google has not published a public advisory or a software patch specifically addressing the Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth complaints. The reports have instead pointed users toward support channels while the discussion continues in community forums.
The episode lands as Google tries to sell Pixels as the “first in line” Android phone—fast updates, clean software, tight hardware integration—against Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy devices. That pitch gets harder when a monthly update knocks out basic connectivity, even for a small slice of users.
But the scope remains murky. Many Pixel owners report no issues, and the failures could end up tied to a specific combination of model, build or installed services; the downside is a wider spread as the rollout reaches more phones, forcing Google to pause distribution or leaving some users without wireless connectivity until a fix arrives.
Carrier update pages show the patch is already moving through distribution channels. Verizon’s support listing for Pixel 10 software updates shows a January 2026 release dated Jan. 12 and identifies the build as BP4A.260105.004.E1. (Verizon)
