Google is releasing an Android update to fix the media storage access issues on some Pixel 6 and newer models after the Android 14 update. This update will resolve the problem and restore the devices to an operable state, according to the company’s support page.
To resolve the issue, Google has acknowledged that primary owners of certain Pixel 6 and later models can’t access their media storage. This problem specifically affects devices with the Android 14 update and multiple users, including guests, restricted profiles, child users, and others, in addition to the primary user.
Google Addresses Android 14 Storage Access Issue With Android Update
In an update, Google announced that the Android update for affected users will start rolling out within the next two weeks. While the update is intended to fix the issue and restore functionality to affected devices, it may not be able to recover data on devices that are repeatedly rebooting.
To further understand the issue, there are two main problems that may occur. The first problem causes the device to reboot and display a Factory Data Reset (FDR) message, resulting in the loss of all data if not backed up. The second problem occurs when a user declines the FDR message, causing the device to continuously reboot and display a message that says ‘Pixel is starting’.
“For users who are not experiencing this issue, or have already factory reset their device, we recommend avoiding creating or logging into a secondary user on the device until the OTA update is available,” according to the support page.
The Android update is specifically designed to fix the issue encountered by users who have multiple Google accounts within the primary user or work profiles set up on their Pixel smartphones. Google is currently testing the Android System update over-the-air (OTA) for these users.
“For devices where the primary user is unable to access media storage, this update may help resolve the issue without deleting any of your device’s data,” said Google.
However, it’s important to note that in order to receive the update, users will need to sign up by filling out a Google Form. Once signed up, users should expect to receive the test update within 24 hoursand the full update may take one to two hours to complete.
Meanwhile, for devices that are repeatedly rebooting, the company suggests performing a Factory Data Reset, which is a temporary workaround that may help. However, it’s important to note that performing a FDR will result in the complete loss of data on the device.
Earlier this week, the company released a Google Play system update to prevent the issue from affecting more devices. If the update has not been applied automatically, users can check if it’s available for their Pixel device by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click on the ‘Security & privacy Update’ option.
- Tap on ‘Google Play system update’ to check for the latest update.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to install the update.