The Latest Pixel Update Is Full of Glitches, but There’s a Fix for at Least One of Them
Software updates should add new features while improving the stability of the operating system. However, sometimes additional bugs and glitches can slip through the cracks. That’s the case with the latest Pixel update : although Google has added a number of new features and patched 43 security vulnerabilities to Android, users who installed it are complaining about strange glitches on their Pixel phones.
March 2025 Pixel drop glitches: brightness, vibration, and more.
First, as 9to5Google noted , some Pixel users are experiencing brightness changes when using their phones without affecting the brightness settings themselves. The problem seems to be limited to video playback where the brightness drops or flickers randomly. This user reports that this happens in almost every video app he uses, including Netflix, Prime Video, VLC, or Google’s built-in player. 9to5Google confirmed the bug on the Pixel 9, although the brightness glitch was inconsistent.
Apart from this brightness glitch, you may also experience changes in your device’s vibration . This thread provides a wide range of case studies for this issue : Some users have complained that the tactile sensation is much stronger than before the update, with one user describing the change as “a spring instead of a shock.” On the other hand, another user says that his Pixel’s vibrations are now weaker than they were before. Despite this, many believe that after the update the vibrations became “different”.
These are the bugs that have caused the most noise on the forums since Pixel Drop. However, there may be other problems that are not as widespread. One r/GooglePixel user has shared the bugs he’s encountered so far , and in addition to the brightness bug, he’s also having issues with audio, including problems with equalizer settings and an issue where the volume of the song is much higher than the volume of the video. Because of this last point, it will be quite annoying to switch between, say, Spotify and Netflix: Stranger Things will start too quietly and will drive your brightness crazy.
How to fix brightness issue on Pixel phones
While Google is likely working on fixes to address the worst bugs from the latest Pixel, there is currently a workaround for the brightness issue: reduce your phone’s refresh rate. The flickering and dimming issues only seem to occur when watching videos at 120Hz. Reduce the refresh rate to 60Hz and the brightness problems will disappear.
To change the refresh rate, go to Settings > Display , then turn off the switch next to Display smoothing .