ANDROID owners have been warned not to use a simple setting on their phones after users of three popular Google devices say they’ve been locked out.
Those with Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6A phones have been taking the internet by storm to complain of the highly inconvenient issue.
Many have reported that their phones are “bricking” after attempting a factory reset, rendering them completely unusable.
After taking the latest system update, affected users encounter an error message during the reset process, often mentioning “Unable to enable ext4 verity” and a missing “tune2fs” file.
The phone then either gets stuck in Android Recovery mode or enters a bootloop, leaving Pixel 6, 6 Pro and PA users utterly helpless.
Forums and support groups online have since been flooded with customers experiencing the same issues, with some saying they can’t even recover the phone using Google’s official tools for doing so.
However, Google have now released a statement following the online meltdown and have advised Android users on what to do to avoid the recurring problem.
Taking to the Pixel Phone Help community group, they said: “To avoid this issue, we recommend leaving your device powered on and idle for 15 minutes after it has rebooted following a system update.
“After that time you may factory reset your device.
“Alternatively, you can factory reset your device before taking the latest system update.”
They added: “If you’ve already factory reset your Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6a and are experiencing issues, stay tuned to this thread for further information and updates.
“The team has identified the root cause of the issue and is working on developing the best possible solution.”
With complaints coming from users across the entire Pixel 6 lineup and various Android updates, it’s believed that a recent software or firmware update might be the root cause of the “bricking” issue.
Many affected users have now found themselves facing costly paid repairs or replacements offered by Google, sparking further outrage online.
A factory reset is a process that clears all data and settings from a device and returns it to its default settings, a common occurrence following a software update.
But following Google’s advice, Pixel 6 users should avoid factory resetting their phones until further notice.
It comes just weeks after Google Pixel users were left scratching their heads after a big update didn’t land on their phones as expected.
The June Pixel Feature Drop started rolling out on June 11 but a number of users claim they didn’t receive it.
And a faulty new feature sparked reactions from Google customers who feared their private data may be compromised.
Earlier this year, the tech giant announced that it would be shut down its VPN By Google One service on June 20 – but it didn’t take long for issues to start cropping up.
Although other users have tried manually downloading the update with no success, you may get lucky - here's what you need to do:
