Google fixes Pixel no ringtone sound issue; Airtel/Vodafone users might get VoLTE support soon

It was around a year ago when we highlighted an annoying issue that cropped up on Pixel and Pixel XL after the Android 8.1 Oreo update. Basically, a large number of users were (and still are) complaining their first-gen Pixel phone doesn’t ring intermittently when an incoming call arrives.

Here are some reports:

After upgrading to 8.1 Oreo, I have an intermittent issue of no sound during incoming call or notification. I’ve been missing important calls because of this and isn’t this basic functionality?Have gone through similar threads and saw a default reply from folks asking to boot into safe mode and factory reset.I haven’t bought this Pixel XL for such a cozy price to do all this non sense every now and then there is a dirty update breaking things more than fixing bugs. Earlier in December I’ve spent whole lot of time identifying battery drain issue and had to manually turn Optimize toggle for all apps that are yet to be optimized to Oreo. Now within a month, I’m hit with basic issue of notifications

This problem is serious and needs to be fixed by Google at the earliest. I am missing important calls on my Pixel XL since the Android Oreo 8.1 . I do not here the notification ring. I have tried all the things suggested above.I cannot keep restarting the phone every time. A patch needs to be released immediately. What is the use of a phone if a basic call functionality does not work

I have the same issue with my phone and my wife’s phone – both are Pixel XL’s (1st version) running Android 8.1. Same symptoms. Call appears on screen, phone vibrates, no ringtone. Volume verified at 100%. Do not disturb verified off

It’s worth mentioning that aside from ‘incoming calls not ringing’ problem, there were also reports of app notification sounds going mute. A couple of workarounds had come to light which we shared in our previous coverage. One was to restart the device and the other one was to “to turn on Bluetooth restart turn off Bluetooth restart again.”

But none of these workarounds offered a permanent fix.

However, now we have a good news on this front. If your device has been affected with this problem, you’ll be happy to know that Google has fixed the issue. Here’s what the company said on an Issue Tracker thread discussing the problem:

The development team has fixed the issue that you have reported and it will be available in a future build

While this is definitely good news, comments that follow this announcement on the Issue Tracker thread indicate the fix hasn’t yet rolled out publicly. This was posted by a user on Jan 31:

I am still experiencing the bug, and still missing calls and messages as a result. When will the fix be shipped please?

And even if take a look at the chatter on the Feb security update over at the Google Pixel Reddit section, you’ll see no trace of this fix being included. Here’s hoping the fix arrives sooner than later.

All Pixels on Airtel and Vodafone could get VoLTE support soon

In other Google Pixel related news, many of you might remember Google confirming VoLTE support for Pixel 2 series phones on Vodafone in India.

Well, while that support is yet to arrive, a user last month updated the thread to share that Google support told them all Pixel phones – Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 series including XL models – on both Airtel and Vodafone network will get VoLTE support by the end of February.

Update:- Spoke to Google support executive, he’s confirmed Google is rolling out a software update to enable VOLTE on Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 devices for both Airtel and Vodafone in India, around end February

Let’s hope Google sticks to the schedule and Indian Pixel users on Airtel and Vodafone get VoLTE support sooner than later.

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