Pixel 2 XL Screen Flashes When Locking or Unlocking, Some Users Report

There seems to be no end to the long list of issues related to the new Pixel 2 devices. The latest one that has surfaced is related to the bigger Pixel 2 XL model. Some users have reported screen flashing issue when locking or unlocking the device. Additionally, some Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users are reporting problems with their handsets’ microphone.

Pixel 2 XL users have reported the issue on Pixel User Community. One of the users wrote on the forum, “I’m not sure why, but the Pixel 2 XL screen flashes when unlocking (fingerprint and lock button), when the screen wakes up because of notifications, when the screen dims and the phone locks, and when manually locking.”

Some users have pointed that the screen flashing on the Pixel 2 XL doesn’t happen every time but does occur frequently. Another Pixel 2 XL user vented his frustration in a Google+ post where he claimed to notice the issue within hours of purchasing it. “Just started happening this afternoon out of nowhere. Shut my screen off one time and from there on kept happening. Even when I completely shut my device off and was going to turn it back on. I did reboot in Safe Mode and happened but once I rebooted normally it has not happened again,” wrote the user.

There are some users who have claimed that changing the settings especially turning the Ambient Display off and on again does fix the issue. In some posts, Pixel 2 XL users claim that the issue was seen when powering on the handset. Google is yet to acknowledge the issue but we can expect some sort of software patch to fix the issue. Android Police adds that some Nexus 6P users who upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo recently are reporting similar screen flashing. This seemingly confirms that the screen flashing issue is related to software.

In another issue reported by Pixel 2 users (and some Pixel 2 XL users), some users are experiencing microphone malfunctions on call – when making calls, the mic doesn’t pick anything up. This has also been reported when giving voice commands on the affected devices. Users speculate that the issue on Pixel 2 and select Pixel 2 XL units are hardware related.

One of the users reported a temporary solution to the issue, “I believe this is a hardware issue unfortunately – or at least in my case. I have had the same exact symptoms as everyone here so it may be for us all. I was able to replicate the issue by blowing into the bottom speaker. Yes… Blowing into the speaker like you would an old NES cartridge. Doing this made my microphone work again and it continues to work when it goes out.”

For some Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users, the microphone malfunction issue can be fixed by blowing up in the speaker which may sound old school but until Google responds, this may be the best bet.