The stable Android 16 update has just arrived on Pixel smartphones. But some users are already discovering an annoying issue. Navigation gestures and virtual buttons sometimes stop working for no reason. Here's what you can do while you wait for a fix from Google.
After several months of beta, Android 16 is now available in stable version on Pixels, including the Pixel 8, 9 and 8a. This version introduces useful new features such as battery health monitoring, optimized multitasking management, and live notifications (real-time tracking). But for the past few days, many users have been reporting a worrying malfunction. The interface no longer responds correctly to gestures or navigation buttons and is completely frozen.
The bug appears randomly after installing Android 16. The back gesture, used to navigate through applications, sometimes becomes inactive for no reason. Other users report that the "back," "home," and "recent apps" buttons no longer work at all, or display a delay of more than 30 seconds. The issue affects multiple generations of Pixel devices, including recent models like the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 9. It appears to affect both users of the stock launcher and those who have installed a third-party launcher.
An Android 16 bug renders gestures and buttons inoperable on several Pixel models
On Reddit and X, reports are piling up. Some say their smartphone becomes unusable at times. A temporary restart can resolve the issue, but it often returns after a few dozen minutes. For some, returning to the Pixel launcher seems to reduce the effects, but not eliminate them. Others are noticing interface overlaps, where the navigation bar displays poorly or partially disappears.
Google has not yet deployed an official fix. In the meantime, a few solutions exist:
- restart the phone
- clear the data from the launcher
- upgrade to the Android 16 QPR1 beta, which seems to be less affected.
A complete reset remains an option as a last resort. For a release that's supposed to stabilize new Android features, this first update is generating a lot of frustration among Pixel loyalists.
Here's a demo of the back button randomly not working on Android 16.
I grabbed a bug report and submitted it to Google engineering along with this reproduction screencast. Hopefully, they'll figure it out. pic.twitter.com/nEmifqQRvb
— Artem Russakovskii (@ArtemR) June 14, 2025
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