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Users on social media are reporting an unsettling issue where their Pixel smartphones are failing to call 911 and other emergency services successfully.
Earlier this week, one Pixel 9 Pro user posted a report—first spotted by Android Police—stating that he attempted to make an emergency call during a gas leak but had to have his friend make the call instead. He claims his Pixel 9 repeatedly asked him to turn on Wi-Fi or turn off airplane mode before it froze and restarted on its own.
Meanwhile, a Pixel 8 user claimed it took over 10 minutes for him to make an emergency call, as his device required him to enable Wi-Fi calling, despite his cellular connection being strong.
Google has not provided an official statement on the users’ reports, but Canadian cellphone operator Bell sent out an emergency message earlier this week saying that the Pixel 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 might experience issues contacting 911.
Bell told customers to “please ensure you have an alternative means to reach emergency services if necessary.” The carrier later posted that 911 service had been “fully restored for customers with Google Pixel devices in the 7, 8, 9, and 10 families.”
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Canadian telecom firm Telus told The Globe and Mail its customers were also having temporary issues calling 911 with their Pixels, saying the issue stemmed from a technical issue caused by a Google software update—though the Pixel maker hasn’t confirmed this.
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This isn’t the first time reports about this have emerged. Android Authority points out that a glut of similar reports appeared in 2021, but the issue was quickly resolved, with Google attributing the problem to Microsoft Teams’ configuration on the Pixel devices in question.
But with well in excess of 40 million Pixels sold worldwide, it’s hard to say whether these anecdotal reports point to a more serious trend within the smartphone line.
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I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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