It’s a nightmare scenario for many users. Google’s latest monthly security update, rolled out in early January 2026 on Pixel smartphones, is reportedly causing the complete shutdown of key features on some models, especially the recent Pixel 10. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sometimes even the camera suddenly stop working.
A patch that breaks things
Every month, Google releases a security patch for Android. The January update was meant to fix a critical vulnerability in the Dolby Digital Plus codec. But on Reddit forums and user communities, reports are piling up. After installing it, Wi-Fi refuses to turn on, Bluetooth connections fail and the Camera app crashes. Models like the Pixel 8 also appear to be affected.
“After the update, I can’t connect to the internet anymore, my Bluetooth speaker is not detected and the camera app shows a black error screen,” one Reddit user reported. A multi-function failure that makes the phone extremely difficult to use day to day.
While Google has not issued an official statement yet, the leading theory in the tech community points to Google Play Services. This core software layer, which is essential to how Android works, may be conflicting with the latest patch, opening too many background processes and overloading certain system resources.
A growing pile of bugs is frustrating users
This new incident adds to a growing list of unresolved bugs since December, including phantom touch issues, broken gesture recognition and an unstable interface. The Pixel line’s reputation for stability, long a selling point against Android fragmentation, is taking a hit.
“You install a security update to stay protected, not to end up with a crippled phone,” complained a Pixel 10 Pro owner. In the absence of a quick fix, workarounds are limited. A reboot or a reset of network settings does not solve the problem.
Google, usually quick to react to this kind of major malfunction, has so far remained quiet. The ball is now in its court: acknowledge the issue, roll out an emergency fix and, above all, reassure users about the reliability of its updates.
For affected Pixel owners, the wait is painful. And for Google, the stakes go beyond a simple technical bug. It is about the credibility of its promise to deliver a fully controlled Android experience. More to come.
