[Google Pixel Update📱] Android 16 QPR1 October software update is rolling out

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[iron2000]

Does first release Android 16 have the Material 3 Expressive UI revamp?
Saw that it was added in a QPR beta, so UI revamp coming in a later Pixel Drop?

 

[ThinkMe]

Does first release Android 16 have the Material 3 Expressive UI revamp?
Saw that it was added in a QPR beta, so UI revamp coming in a later Pixel Drop?

“So, the updates for Material Expressive are going to be available on Pixel devices first later this year, but it’s not going to be part of the public release in June,” confirmed Allen Huang, Google’s Director of Product Management for Pixel and Android system UI.

However, the company did say that Material 3 Expressive will be available “at the end of the month,” hinting at a possible beta build that’ll carry some of the new design elements. It’s likely Google was hinting at the first Android 16 QPR1 beta release, but we’ll have to wait and watch.


https://www.androidauthority.com/go...anges-availability-supported-devices-3556392/

 

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Android 16 is here​

Today is the day that Android 16 arrives as a stable update to all of the still-supported Pixel devices out there, plus it hits AOSP. It’s a big day, but we do need to point out that this is not the big Material 3 Expressive update you might be impatiently waiting for. Still, it’s that kind of day!

Android 16 update for Google Pixel devices: If you own a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 or 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, 9 Pro or 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, or Pixel 9a you are eligible for this update and it should be available to you immediately. For those who haven’t been running Android 16 Beta builds, you’ll just get it if you go check for updates. If you happen to be on Android 16 beta builds then you’ll likely just update to Android 16 QPR1 or you’ll have to back out of the beta program and potentially factory reset.
To check for updates on your Pixel device, head into Settings>System>Software updates.

What’s new in Android 16 that you should be aware of? Again, this isn’t the fun Material 3 Expressive update, but there are still a number of new items to talk through.

• Advanced Protection: This is probably the biggest feature because it gives your Pixel phone even more protection. Android’s Advanced Protection is a single switch that enables device theft features, protection from harmful apps, 2G network monitoring, safer browsing on the web, and all of Google’s top spam call features. Again, it’s a simple toggle and your device is protected. Find it by heading into Settings>Security & Privacy and scroll down to Advanced Protection. Enter that area and then toggle on “Device protection.”
• Bundled notifications: Your notifications should look less spammy now with forced bundling of notifications from the same app. Rather than 15 separate Uber notifications, they should show up as one grouped together.
• Adaptive Android apps: Have a device like a foldable or tablet? Android 16 is the beginning of Google forcing apps to be adaptive and actually spread to the corners of your screen. They are making it easier for apps to be adaptive, but in 2026, they are planning to just force it on everyone.
• Clearer calling with hearing devices: Google has improved support with hearing devices, letting you control their volume from your phone or switching to your phone’s microphone for clearer calls.
• Predictive back gesture: The predictive back gesture from Android 15 is now on by default to show you where the back gesture is about to take you. This has also been expanded to work with 3-button navigation.
• Live updates (more in a later update): Google is building in support for live notifications, which are ongoing notifications that can show the status of things like food deliveries or ride-sharing sessions.
• Desktop windowing (later this year): On tablets, Google is going to enable a desktop windowing (like Samsung DeX) later this year to enable more productivity on…Pixel tablets? Everyone else already has these features, mostly.
• Bonuses: HDR screenshots, adaptive refresh rates in more apps, identity check

So that’s mostly it and I know it doesn’t sound like much, just yet. That said, there is a small June Pixel Feature Drop to go with it and this is really just laying the groundwork for the fun update coming later this year. This fall will bring Material 3 Expressive and then we’ll get another bigger update at the end of the year too.
For this update, here is the build list for all of the Pixel devices receiving it today:

• Pixel 6: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 6 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 6a: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 7: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 7 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 7a: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel Tablet: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel Fold: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 8: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 8 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 8a: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9 Pro XL: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: BP2A.250605.031.A3
• Pixel 9a: BP2A.250605.031.A2

Also, for developers, there are even more items you need to dive into to get apps ready. Be sure to read the Android Developers Blog post on it here.

// Google

 

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After six major previews and betas, Google is ready to launch Android 16 for Pixel devices today. There are a handful of additions and changes, but it’s not a particularly big release once again. (However, you can expect the next quarterly update to bring the Material 3 Expressive redesign.) Today’s release also coincides with the June 2025 Pixel (Feature) Drop.

Compared to Google’s usual cadence, this update is 3-4 months early, with Google starting the preview cycle in November. This should be the new schedule going forward, with more sizable Android releases expected the next two quarters.

Android 16 introduces support for a new type of notification that apps can show called Live Updates. Appearing at the top of your lockscreen and notification shade, these alerts show activity progress with a prominent bar. In the status bar, you will get a pill next to the time that provides one-tap access to the app. Live
Updates are coming first to ride-share and food delivery apps.

One way to demo Live Updates is by enabling the Android 16 Easter egg and setting the spaceship to “Auto.” Go to Settings > About phone > Android version and rapidly tap the “16” to get started.

Android 16 will also force-group notifications that “come from a single app to help reduce information overload” and maintain organization.

Advanced Protection lets you enable additional security measures for your device. It helps guard against “online attacks, harmful apps, unsafe websites, scam calls and more.” Go to Settings > Security & privacy > Advanced Protection to enable.

After booting your device and PIN entry, Android 16 has a new Material 3 Expressive loading indicator that cycles through various shapes while there’s a lava lamp-esque glow effect before your homescreen loads.

Android 16 (on supported devices, like the Pixel 9) improves the hearing devices experience. For example, native controls let you simply adjust volume and switch microphones.

Health Connect is also adding support for showing medical records.

In the status bar, you’ll notice that the time is displayed in a different font with more spacing between the numbers. Meanwhile, some clocks on the always-on display (AOD) are now themed with Dynamic Color.

The media player in Quick Settings now darkens artwork.

In Recents, tapping the icon above the app card now shows shortcuts for Screenshot, Select, and Close. The first two already appear at the bottom of the multitasking view. Similarly, long-pressing the Pixel Launcher shows a new “Apps list” shortcut.

The Pixel 8a and newer support a Battery health (Settings > Battery) feature that provides an “estimated percentage of [the] charge the battery can currently hold compared to a new standard battery.” Google notes how “Battery capacity decreases over time,” while the Charging optimization setting (Adaptive Charging or Limit to 80%) has been moved to the bottom of this page).

Android 16 lets you set the “Double press power button” gesture to either open Camera or Google Wallet. Meanwhile, 3-button navigation now supports Predictive Back by long-pressing on the back button. In Gesture Navigation settings, you can also now “Try a demo.”
Other new Settings (with the app featuring a tweaked search bar) include:

• Apps > Contact storage: Lets you choose what Google Account contacts should be saved to by default. There’s also a “Device only” option.
• System > Languages & region: You can set a “Region” (country) and Measurement system
• Wallpaper & style > Home screen > Color contrast > Outline text: “Add a black or white background around text to increase contrast.”

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An upcoming Android 16 capability for tablets is desktop windowing that lets you freely resize app windows, just like on desktop operating systems. Android is also working on custom keyboard shortcuts and a taskbar overflow interface that lets you browse open apps.
Google “worked closely” with Samsung on this, and is rolling it out “later this year.” For more, read our article about it and how this experience will be further enhanced by “connected displays.”

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Android 16 Pixel launch​

Android 16 is launching and rolling out starting today for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and Pixel 9a.
Visit Settings > System > System update and click the “Check for update” button if the OTA hasn’t already appeared on your device. Android 16 Beta 4.1 users will get a small update to this final release.

The Android Beta Program will remain open and continue testing QPRs and feature drops. To get the stable version, those running Android 16 Beta 4+ have to opt out first. Devices will not be wiped by the stable OTA once that becomes widely available.

 

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The Android 16 update with the June 2025 security patch is rolling out today for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, and 9a. There are Pixel fixes across Biometrics, Bluetooth, Camera, Display & Graphics, Framework, Sensors, System, Telephony, and User Interface.

There are 18 security issues resolved in the Android 16 June patch dated 2025-06-01 and 18 for 2025-06-05.
The dedicated bulletin for Google devices lists 16 additional security fixes.
The OTAs are available for sideloading with just one build, while the OTA on a Pixel 9 Pro is 1.47 GB.

• Pixel 6: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 6 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 6a: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 7: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 7 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 7a: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel Tablet: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel Fold: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 8: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 8 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 8a: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9 Pro: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9 Pro XL: BP2A.250605.031.A2
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: BP2A.250605.031.A3
• Pixel 9a: BP2A.250605.031.A2

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Use the following device key to interpret the Pixel’s Android 16 June update changelog:

*[1] Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a
*[2] Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
*[3] Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a
*[4] Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a Pixel Fold
*[5] Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a
*[6] Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a

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Biometrics

• General improvements for fingerprint recognition and response in certain conditions*[3]

Bluetooth

• Fix for issue causing certain Bluetooth devices to disconnect under certain conditions*[1]

Camera

• Fix for improving camera stability under certain conditions*[1]

Display & Graphics

• General improvements to display stability*[5]

Framework

• Fix for issue with inconsistent light/dark theme notifications under certain conditions*[1]
• General improvements for performance and stability in certain UI transitions*[1]

Sensors

• Additional tuning for haptics intensity and response in certain conditions*[4]
• Fix for improving screen brightness transitions under certain conditions*[6]

System

• General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions*[1]

Telephony

• General improvements for network connection stability and performance in certain conditions*[3]

User Interface

• Fix for an issue where long screenshots would sometimes duplicate content, ensuring that the entire content is captured correctly*[1]
• Fix for an issue where notification symbols could overlap in the status bar under certain conditions*[5]
• Fix for an issue where the home button does not show from the lock screen under certain conditions*[5]
• Fix for an issue where the wrong wallpaper was sometimes displayed in the WallpaperPicker in certain conditions*[2]
• Fix for an issue with missing notifications under certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for improvement in weather tapping accuracy and experience when using At a Glance widget*[1]

 

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[limmk]

Today is the big day: Google just released Android 16 to the public. The update is rolling out now to the Pixel 6 and later, and the update’s source code is now available to developers on the Android Open Source Project.

While Android 16 is classified as a major update, it certainly doesn’t look or feel like one on the surface. That’s because this initial release lacks many of the marquee features Google announced last month, such as the Material 3 Expressive redesign and the new Desktop Mode experience.

However, the Android 16 update isn’t entirely devoid of exciting changes; many of them are simply not fully available in this initial release. That’s why it seems like a boring update at first glance. But under the hood, there’s a lot to get excited about, which I’ll be covering in this in-depth Android 16 review.

Before we begin, though, I need to address something important, and that’s Android 16’s atypical release schedule.

Why did Google release Android 16 so early?​

If you haven’t been following Android news, you may be surprised that Google released Android 16 today, June 10, 2025. For context, the source code for Android 15, the last major version, was released on September 3, 2024, while the actual update for Pixel devices didn’t arrive until October 15, 2024. Since most major Android versions are released in the August-October timeframe, Android 16’s June debut puts it roughly three months ahead of schedule.

Android Version	Code-name	Release Date
Android 16	Baklava	June 10, 2025
Android 15	Vanilla Ice Cream	September 3, 2024
Android 14	Upside Down Cake	October 4, 2023
Android 13	Tiramisu	August 15, 2022
Android 12	Snow Cone	October 4, 2021
Android 11	Red Velvet Cake	September 8, 2020
Android 10	Quince Tart	September 3, 2019

There are two reasons why Google released Android 16, codenamed ‘Baklava’, so early. First, the earlier release means that Android devices launching in the summer can ship with the latest version of the OS. For example, Samsung recently confirmed that its upcoming foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, will launch with its Android 16-based One UI 8 software. Without this early release, that would only have been possible if Samsung delayed the launch of the phones, which are expected to land next month.

In the past, Android devices launching during the summer would ship with the previous year’s OS and receive an update to the current one later. This even happened with Google’s own Pixel 9 series, which launched in August 2024 with Android 14 out of the box instead of Android 15. The upcoming Pixel 10 series is also expected to launch in August, but this time, Google will be able to ship it with Android 16 from day one.

The other major reason Google is speeding up Android’s release schedule is to roll out more substantial updates more frequently. In the past, there was typically only one version per year that brought new APIs for developers. Going forward, there will be two releases each year with new APIs: a major platform release in Q2 and a smaller API update in Q4. The major release (like Android 16) will bring new features, APIs, and behavior changes, while the Q4 update will bring new features and APIs but no behavior changes. The other two quarterly releases in Q1 and Q3 will only bring feature drops.

The release timeline for Android 16, Android 16 QPR1, and Android 16 QPR2

To see this new schedule in action, so far this year we’ve had Android 15 QPR2 in Q1 and now the full Android 16 update in Q2. We can expect Android 16 QPR1 in Q3 and Android 16 QPR2 in Q4. We don’t know what Google is planning for the Q4 update yet, but we do know that anticipated features like the Material 3 Expressive UI overhaul and the new Desktop Mode are slated to arrive with Android 16 QPR1.

What’s actually new in Android 16?​

Google’s decision to roll out the Material 3 Expressive redesign and Desktop Mode with QPR1 is a big reason why the initial Android 16 release feels lackluster, but it does mean the most exciting new features are only a few months away. Today’s stable Android 16 update lays the groundwork for more exciting features to come in future releases, like Live Updates and App Functions. The update also makes apps look and behave more consistently, brings some nice quality-of-life improvements, and beefs up protections against scammers and hackers.

Live Updates are Android’s version of iOS’ Live Activities, but they’re not actually live yet​

Rideshare, food delivery, and navigation apps have long shown the status of a ride or delivery in a notification. For example, if you’re waiting for an Uber, you can easily check your driver’s ETA from the app’s notification, letting you do other things on your phone while you wait.

While these notifications serve their purpose, they have two key issues. First, they’re entirely custom, so developers who want to add an Uber-style progress bar to their notifications have to build it themselves. More importantly, Android treats them like any other notification. This means users have to turn on the screen or pull down the notification panel to view them, and these important alerts can easily get buried under a deluge of others.

Google is solving this problem in two steps. First, in Android 16, it created a new class of notifications called “progress-style notifications.” This is a template that developers can use to show progress bars in their notifications. Developers can create these progress-style notifications using the APIs available in Android 16 today, but the OS doesn’t treat them any differently — at least, not yet.

In a future release of Android 16 for Pixels, Google will display progress-style notifications as Live Updates. They’ll appear at the top of the notification panel, above nearly all other alerts except for the media player. They also show up fully expanded on the always-on display (AOD), so you won’t have to turn on the screen to view them. Finally, Live Updates allow apps to share short messages in status bar chips, letting you quickly see an update while using other apps. Tapping the status bar chip expands the notification so you don’t even have to pull down the notification panel.

An example of Live Updates from the Uber Eats app on the AOD (left), lock screen (left middle), status bar (right middle), and heads-up notification (right).
Live Updates is one of the biggest new features of Android 16, but Google says the full experience will only roll out to Pixel phones later this year, likely with the Android 16 QPR1 or QPR2 update.

 

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Google Pixel phone users on Android 16 stable are reporting frustrating unresponsive navigation gestures and buttons. This bug causes controls to freeze for seconds, recurring throughout the day. Google is not yet officially aware. Users experiencing the issue are urged to submit bug reports from their Pixel phone settings to help Google identify and fix the problem.

Google officially rolled out Android 16 stable for eligible Pixel devices this week. The update offers fresh features, performance tweaks, and the first touches of Expressive Material Design 3 to the UI. However, it appears the ROM has delivered an unwelcome surprise to many, leaving them literally stuck in their tracks. Multiple users of Google Pixel devices running Android 16 are reporting a bug where gestures and navigation buttons are becoming unresponsive or getting stuck.

Google Pixel phones’ navigation gestures & buttons unresponsive or getting stuck in Android 16​

Reports are rapidly surfacing across social platforms like Reddit and X/Twitter about the frustrating issue that’s making basic phone navigation a real headache. Imagine trying to go back in an app, swipe home, or tap a navigation button, and absolutely nothing happens. That’s precisely the issue many Google Pixel owners are facing: their navigation gestures and buttons are becoming unresponsive or getting stuck, sometimes for several seconds, after updating to Android 16.

“[Navigation] buttons are completely unresponsive or there are delays of over 30 seconds. My 8 Pro has become almost unusable,” says a redditor. “Pixel 9 Pro. Not a 3-Button navigation issue, but swiping to go back stops working intermittently. It’s driving me crazy, especially with apps that no longer provide a back button in their UI,” reports another. “Swiping gestures are either not registered or behave super weirdly,” adds an affected user.

Delays of up to 30 seconds​

Users describe scenarios where a simple swipe to go back doesn’t register. There are also cases where the home button simply refuses to work. According to some Reddit reports, this lag can last for up to 30 seconds, turning everyday phone use into a test of patience. What makes it even more annoying is that the problem isn’t a one-off event. It can reappear multiple times throughout the day, disrupting your workflow and causing frustration.
While it doesn’t appear to be an issue affecting all Pixel phones, there are enough reports to make it notable. Even Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii is experiencing something similar. Whether you prefer gesture navigation or the classic three-button setup, this Android 16 navigation bug is causing a stir for many.

What’s next? Reporting the bug​

As of now, Google has not officially acknowledged this bug. This means it’s crucial for affected users to make their voices heard. If you’re experiencing these unresponsive or stuck navigation buttons and gestures on your Android 16-powered Pixel phone, the best course of action is to submit a bug report directly from your device’s Settings menu. This will help draw the attention of the Mountain View giant and speed up the arrival of a fix.

 

[limmk]

Google released Android 16 to Pixel users this week, an early release and a big milestone. But despite this update truly having a lot to offer in the long run, it has made an incredibly boring debut for users, and at a time where Android really has a chance to shine above its main competition.

Android 16 is a confusing release for a number of reasons, starting with its release timeline. Google usually launches new Android versions around September, but the first stable Android 16 release is taking place in June, way ahead of the usual schedule. We knew this was happening, but it’s still a strange change.

But the timeline really doesn’t matter.


What matter is that Android 16’s impact is being split in two.

This week’s initial stable release is, for lack of a better word, just boring.

Visually, it’s identical to Android 15, and there are very few meaningful functional changes either. As we detailed; Google now forces notifications from the same app to group together, Advanced Protection introduces further protection against unsafe websites, harmful apps, scam calls, and more, you can now double-tap the power button to open your wallet app, Pixel phones get a new “Battery health” feature and Bluetooth LE features, and Health Connect now supports medical records. In terms of user-facing changes, that’s effectively it in Android 16. Pixel owners get a bunch of new features courtesy of the June Feature Drop, but these aren’t technically a part of Android 16 itself.

All of the real fun stuff in Android 16 is either buried under the hood and yet to make an impact – like Live Notifications, which won’t roll out to apps for a while – or coming in the QPR1 update in a few months. The big Material 3 Expressive redesign of Android, the biggest change we’ve seen to the platform in years, simply doesn’t exist in the update that rolled out earlier this week. That doesn’t make the redesign any less exciting, but it just creates a sense of disappointment from user who are installing Android 16 this week, only to find that nothing has changed.

That’s a problem.

Android already suffers from misplaced expectations, and has for years. Users on one device are often missing features found on others, or get them far later than their peers. The F-word, “fragmentation,” doesn’t mean what it once did for Android users, but it can often still feel that way.

This hurts all the more because Android 16’s big redesign is really good.

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While there are still some polarizing aspects of Material 3 Expressive, Google has received almost universal praise for the revamp. That’s essentially the complete opposite of Apple’s current situation. The company showed off iOS 26 this week with its new “Liquid Glass” redesign and… let’s just say opinions are mixed. While there are some good aspects to this new design language, many have criticized Apple over the countless readability issues in the update, while plenty of other users simply don’t like the look. Having used it myself, I think “Liquid Glass” just looks like an expensive version of a cheap iOS knock-off. Comparisons to early 2010s Android icon packs are also incredibly apt. There’s potential here, but as I said earlier this week, I think Apple’s incredible attention to detail was just in the wrong place.

…it’s not like “Liquid Glass” is without its redeeming qualities. From real-time reflections and updates based on the position of the phone, plus just the skeumorphic look of how UI elements interact like real glass, Apple’s attention to detail is amazing. It’s just obvious that the attention may have been on the wrong details.

If Google can properly advertise Android 16’s redesign, it might stand a chance of actually attracting a handful of users away from iOS when this update rolls out. Pending Apple making any big changes to this design, I could see a lot of people looking elsewhere with their next phone once “Liquid Glass” rolls out to everyone. But by pushing Material 3 Expressive back to an unanmed quarterly update, Google has ruined its biggest built-in form of advertising, and that’s before we even consider that Google almost surely won’t talk about Material 3 Expressive when its new Pixels launch – that energy will almost certainly be used to talk about Gemini instead.

Months from now, Android 16’s first stable release will likely be but a distant memory as Material 3 Expressive becomes the norm, but I can’t help but feel like Google is missing a big oppurtunity here. An early Android 16 release just feels meaningless without this big change that, clearly, would have been ready in time for the usual schedule anyway.

What do you think?

 

[limmk]

Google officially rolled out Android 16 stable for eligible Pixel devices this week. The update offers fresh features, performance tweaks, and the first touches of Expressive Material Design 3 to the UI. However, it appears the ROM has delivered an unwelcome surprise to many, leaving them literally stuck in their tracks. Multiple users of Google Pixel devices running Android 16 are reporting a bug where gestures and navigation buttons are becoming unresponsive or getting stuck.

Google Pixel phones’ navigation gestures & buttons unresponsive or getting stuck in Android 16​

Reports are rapidly surfacing across social platforms like Reddit and X/Twitter about the frustrating issue that’s making basic phone navigation a real headache. Imagine trying to go back in an app, swipe home, or tap a navigation button, and absolutely nothing happens. That’s precisely the issue many Google Pixel owners are facing: their navigation gestures and buttons are becoming unresponsive or getting stuck, sometimes for several seconds, after updating to Android 16.

“[Navigation] buttons are completely unresponsive or there are delays of over 30 seconds. My 8 Pro has become almost unusable,” says a redditor. “Pixel 9 Pro. Not a 3-Button navigation issue, but swiping to go back stops working intermittently. It’s driving me crazy, especially with apps that no longer provide a back button in their UI,” reports another. “Swiping gestures are either not registered or behave super weirdly,” adds an affected user.

Delays of up to 30 seconds​

Users describe scenarios where a simple swipe to go back doesn’t register. There are also cases where the home button simply refuses to work. According to some Reddit reports, this lag can last for up to 30 seconds, turning everyday phone use into a test of patience. What makes it even more annoying is that the problem isn’t a one-off event. It can reappear multiple times throughout the day, disrupting your workflow and causing frustration.
While it doesn’t appear to be an issue affecting all Pixel phones, there are enough reports to make it notable. Even Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii is experiencing something similar. Whether you prefer gesture navigation or the classic three-button setup, this Android 16 navigation bug is causing a stir for many.

What’s next? Reporting the bug​

As of now, Google has not officially acknowledged this bug. This means it’s crucial for affected users to make their voices heard. If you’re experiencing these unresponsive or stuck navigation buttons and gestures on your Android 16-powered Pixel phone, the best course of action is to submit a bug report directly from your device’s Settings menu. This will help draw the attention of the Mountain View giant and speed up the arrival of a fix.

 

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