According to several consistent reports, the Pixel 4a 5G is suffering from touch reliability issues after last month’s software update. In addition to not registering the ringtones, those using the 3-button navigation are particularly affected.
Update 2/1: The February security patch is being released with a fix for this issue. Google explains how there are “more tweaks and improvements to the touch experience” on Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. This update will be fully available in the next few days. Those who wish to sideload should observe the three different versions, depending on their operator (in the USA).
Update 1/15: Google updated its original December confirmation to explain how “Improvements to this issue will be available in the February software update on Pixel phones”.
Original 1/12: The problem (via Android Police) appears to have been introduced with the December security patch – as there were no problems before this update or at launch. Taps of buttons and other UI elements at the edges of the screen are not always recorded and require several taps before they are recognized. It is not a hardware problem, as dragging your fingers is consistently recognized in a shared video.
This is particularly problematic for those using 3-button navigation. The ‘back’ button is particularly affected for those who do not use gesture navigation for preference for the old system or for reasons of accessibility. In the meantime, problems also arise in full-screen applications that have corner or edge buttons.
Google acknowledged that this was an issue on December 23 and said that a “fix will be included in an upcoming software update”. However, it was not addressed by the January patch and there has been no further communication since then. The company offers two tips on how to improve touch recognition:
- When tapping the icons at the edge of the screen, tap the center of the button or the side of the button / icon furthest from the edge of the screen.
- When touching icons, including the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen, use your fingertip or thumb. This will help to improve touch recognition.
In the meantime, the only real fix is to revert your phone to the November security patch. It’s an arduous process, but one of the only solutions for users of 3-button navigation plagued by touchscreen problems on their Pixel 4a 5G.
More about the Pixel 4a 5G:
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