Look, I know there's a joke that no one uses smartphones as phones anymore, but I really don't think that's true. Between the endless spam calls, there are still plenty of reasons why your smartphone needs to be connected to your carrier's network. Although data-driven communication platforms are game-changers, traditional phone calls and SMS-based messaging will still be a part of daily life even in 2024.
So when your Pixel decides it can no longer reliably connect to your carrier's network, it can cause some trouble in your life. If this sounds like your experience with a Google-made smartphone, you're not alone, many Pixel users are experiencing network issues with their Pixel devices right now.
According to Android Authority, more and more users are complaining that their Pixel phones are not functioning like phones. Users will miss the call entirely, only noticing after seeing the call go directly to voicemail, while text messages will not appear as they are received but pop up in bulk. It also affects multiple Pixel types, including Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.
In a Google Support post about the issue, users blamed the March 2024 update for causing the confusion, suggesting that the April 2024 update also didn't contain a patch for the issue. (It doesn't appear in the release notes.) There are claims that this update somehow messes with the phone's IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), which is responsible for powering different communications standards on the Pixel. One commenter even said text messaging issues almost forced them to turn to their iPhone, "Google - did you get the message?"
We don't know exactly what's causing the Pixel's network issues, and it's not affecting every Pixel user, as this Android Police reviewer wants readers to know. But enough Pixel devices around the world are experiencing network issues that it appears to be something Google can fix. I've contacted Google about this issue and will update if I hear back.
In the meantime, it seems the only temporary fix is to turn the wifi off and on again, which also requires turning the wifi off and on again. Reports indicate that the workaround will allow calls and text messages to work normally, but only temporarily as the issue does appear to be reverting in time.
