[Updated] Google investigating random volume drop issues on Pixel/Pixel 2

While the erratic volume descends on Pixel phones is being reported for more than a year now, it has finally struck the cord of Google’s attention. For the issue has been chimed by hundreds, the American multinational tech company is now looking into what could have caused the glitch.

This morning, Google employee Orrin (who is also the Community Manager at Pixel User Community) asked the affected users on the relevant thread discussing the matter in question for more details to debug what’s broken.

If you are currently experiencing volume issues being turned down randomly/automatically, please post here as well and I’ll be reaching out for a bug report and some other information

Here’s Orrin’s complete statement:

That said, lets give you an idea of what’s the actual problem in question here.

According to the reports, the volume of Pixel devices keeps turning down itself, mostly with wired headphones plugged in while listening to music using apps like Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, and even during calls. All efforts to increase the volume are in vain, as nothing helps.

Multiple observations have been shared by those affected, and following are some of the relevant ones:

My volume will go down by itself, and will even fight against me pressing the volume back up, almost like someone had a remote across the room pressing it down. Safe mode and factory reset only helps for awhile

Same issue and not connected to an app. Wasn’t hearing calls so checked volume and it was down. Raised volume, made a call and when I hung up and checked volume again, it was all the way down

To clarify, my volume is turning down on its own (both the ringer and media volume) when I have my headphones plugged in and only then. We tried safe mode and a factory reset to no avail

While for most of the users the volume goes all the way down, some have mentioned fluctuations too, i.e. volume drops first and then gets back to normal.

It’ll turn itself down for a moment and then go back to where it was. Only a couple of times has it stayed down. Has done it with headphones in listening to Spotify and also Youtube with no headphones. It is very random when it happens.

My Pixel just started doing this. Yesterday, the sound wouldn’t work at all and now today, as I am sitting here watching, the volume keeps going up and down by itself. If I try to turn it up or down, it fights me, like someone else has remote access and is controlling

Adding to it, this frequent volume issue even triggers Google Assistant in some cases.

The volume goes down google assistant comes on and do not disturb comes on.

Happens as soon as I plug headphones in – regardless of the app that’s open (or none at all). it will also open Google Assistant

Not only the help forums, similar reports can be seen even on micro-blogging site Twitter. Here’s a selection:

https://twitter.com/Greebli/status/957728732193677312
https://twitter.com/SimonMathonnet/status/941044673254010880
https://twitter.com/ReidHJOlsen/status/927643492062584833
https://twitter.com/Phil_Damerell/status/907504374607253504
https://twitter.com/ClayK47USA/status/878302190929981440

Some of the users who got in touch with Google support for repair/replacement also shared what they got to hear from them.

Mine became unusable. Started with the volume turning down etc and after a couple of days I couldn’t use the phone at all. Not even to call. They sent it off for repair. Got it back last week. Works great now. When I asked what the issue was and they checked the repair report all it said was. ‘dault detected – fault corrected’….. Great info and feedback there! But at least the phone works.

It’s a Hardware issue, go to 1:1 support center, they will suggest for a hardware replacement (that’s what I have been told for my phone and i am awaiting for the phone, it’s almost 4 days). Please ask them the reason for hardware failure, the reply they gave me was the “Recent software update might have corrupted the hardware” and when I asked them “what is the assurance, that after hardware replacement and software update the problem will not re occur as the software update will bound to happen” for which they replied the replaced hardware will be compatible with the current software update and it will not cause issue. Am not convinced with their reply anyhow will update once I receive the phone in hand test for few days.

And a few of them were even provided replacements.

I contacted Google and they are sending a replacement.

This is a hardware issue. Please reach out to local support center and get it replaced. I had the same issue and got the entire board replaced

But sadly, even the replaced unit had the same glitch.

I got a new Pixel 2 free of charge to have the same issue reoccur almost immediately

It’s worth mentioning that the problem was initially put across by first-gen Pixel users, but lately many Pixel 2 users are also chiming the same. Changing the headphones did the trick, but not for all. Also there are stray reports about the aforementioned issue even when the phone is kept idle.

As already mentioned in the beginning, Google is now investigating these random volume drops on Pixel. In case you have been encountering the same on your Pixel unit, reach out to Google (here) and share all possible information, including bug reports.

We hope they catch hold of the actual root cause, and fix whatever’s broken sooner than later. Rest assured, we will update all relevant developments as and when they occur.

Update (May 18):

Repeating what they earlier said, another Google employee updated the complainants of volume drop issues on Pixel/Pixel 2 a few hours ago, saying the matter is being looked into.

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