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Google pushes a fix for Pixel 6 phones' random calling bug (Update)
- Some Pixel 6 series owners are reporting that their phones are randomly calling contacts.
- The bug seems to be related to Google Assistant, although the glitch happened while some users were asleep.
- Google has now issued an update to the Google app which should remedy the issue.
Update: November 15, 2021 (12:25 AM ET): The end to Pixel 6 series users’ suffering is now in sight. As spotted by Android Police, a Google Pixel Community manager has now confirmed that the company has rolled out a fix for the random calling bug. Taking to Reddit, the manager noted that those affected by the issue should “update to the latest version of Google App (12.43.18 or higher) in the Play Store.”
Original article: November 5, 2021 (4:26 AM ET): Google’s Pixel 6 phones are arguably the best devices ever produced by the search giant, featuring top-notch specs and competitive price tags. The phones seem to have a couple of bugs at this point, and we can apparently add another glitch to the list.
A Reddit thread (h/t: Twitter user @erivaldoff) has detailed a Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro bug that sees the phones accidentally calling random contacts. The thread features a number of people complaining about the glitch, with many noting that their phone was left alone or in their pocket when the call occurred.
The culprit seems to be Google Assistant, which is apparently registering phone call commands. But some Redditors noted that the calling bug occurred while they were sleeping or while their environment was completely quiet. So it doesn’t seem like Assistant could’ve simply misinterpreted background noise or a conversation.
Users on Google’s Pixel Community forum have also reported the issue, saying the butt dials occurred while the phone was in their pocket. A couple of users on this forum also noted that the phones would dial the same contact rather than a random contact each time, forcing them to delete said phone number as a workaround. Some Redditors also said that they’ve disabled Assistant’s lock screen functionality to address the bug.
We’ve contacted Google’s representatives to find out more about this issue and if the company is working on a fix. We’ll update the article if/when the company gets back to us.
Are you suffering from this issue? Let us know in the comments section.