Pixel users are sometimes unable to access internal storage after Android update

Users of Google Pixel smartphones say on social media that they can no longer access their internal storage after an Android update. That causes important apps to not work. In some cases, smartphones even become completely unusable.

The issues affect a large number of users. Reddit user Liv-Lyf posted on the site a compilation of complaints. Some users can no longer use their camera, take screenshots or find files. Other users cannot even start their smartphones, despite a charged battery. The problems would arise after the Android January update.

It is not the first time that a similar problem has arisen. This also happened in October 2023 with the rollout of Android 14. That problem only affected users with smartphones with multiple users set up. In the end it took almost two weeks for the problem to be resolved patch.

This time it is not yet clear what the cause of the problems is. Some users on Reddit claim that they have only one user set up. Several of them do mention that they use a work profile. Although this may provide an explanation, it is not yet known whether only people with a work profile are affected. A Google spokesperson has already announced on Reddit that the company is aware of the problem and is working on a solution.