SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 9, 2026, 02:06 (PST)
- Some Google Pixel owners say long-press volume controls no longer repeat, forcing tap-by-tap changes
- Workarounds center on rolling back Android Accessibility Suite updates or turning off certain shortcuts
- Similar complaints have surfaced on some Samsung and Asus phones, suggesting a wider Android issue
A growing number of Google Pixel users are reporting that holding the volume buttons no longer changes audio continuously after recent Android updates, with some saying the keys now act “stuck” at one-step adjustments. A report said uninstalling Android Accessibility Suite updates or disabling a Select to Speak shortcut has restored normal behavior for many users, but Google has not publicly acknowledged the issue.
The glitch matters because volume keys are one of the few hardware controls people use all day without thinking, across apps and on the lock screen. When that muscle memory breaks, it slows down everything from music playback to calls, and it is the sort of bug that users notice fast.
It also lands at an awkward moment for Android’s update machine. Monthly security patches — the routine fixes that close software holes — and Play Store app updates can arrive close together, leaving users guessing what changed and why.
Android Accessibility Suite is Google’s bundle of accessibility tools, including TalkBack (a screen reader) and Select to Speak (which reads selected text aloud). Android also supports a “volume key shortcut” that starts accessibility features when users press and hold both volume keys, a setup that can override normal button behavior.
In a Reddit thread, a Pixel 9 owner said the volume keys suddenly began adjusting “accessibility sliders” instead of media volume, and others reported the same behavior on devices ranging from Pixel 8 Pro to Samsung handsets and even a OnePlus model. Several commenters wrote that going to Settings, finding Android Accessibility Suite and choosing “Uninstall updates” fixed the problem, while others said force-stopping the app worked at least until the next restart.
But the fix comes with real downside for some people. Rolling back Accessibility Suite updates or turning off shortcuts can mean giving up newer accessibility functions, and that may not be practical for users who depend on TalkBack or Select to Speak to use a phone at all.
If the suspected trigger is an Accessibility Suite update, the path to a fix could be faster than a full operating system patch, since the suite is distributed through the Play Store. The uncertainty is whether the bug sits only in that app or in a deeper Android component shared across phone brands, which would likely take longer to unwind.
The volume-key reports come as Pixel owners have flagged other update-related oddities in recent days, including reports that some Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 phones turned sluggish after a Google Play system update.
