Main points
- Google Pixel owners are complaining about eSIM crashes after Android updates, resulting in loss of connectivity.
- Google has confirmed the issue but has not yet announced when a fix will be available.
Pixel smartphones have problems again / Depositphotos
Google Pixel smartphones are once again at the center of user complaints. After battery issues and failed updates, device owners are now reporting eSIM failures that can cause the phone to unexpectedly lose connectivity.
Complaints are appearing across multiple platforms, including Reddit, X, Google Issue Tracker, and the Pixel support forums, Android Authority writes. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series smartphones are most commonly mentioned, while physical SIM cards, according to users, work without similar glitches.
What is known about the eSIM issue?
A Reddit user named ErvinMarec reported that the eSIM on his Pixel 10 Pro regularly stops working without warning. The owner of the smartphone has to reboot the device every 3-4 days to get the connection back. Similar complaints have also appeared on the Google Issue Tracker.
Some users are reporting another issue – the eSIM cannot be activated at all due to an incomprehensible error. There are also complaints about the inability to port the number or switch to another eSIM operator even on officially unlocked Pixel versions.
Since the symptoms differ in each case, it is not yet clear whether the failure is related to the software or hardware of the smartphones.
What could have caused the eSIM to fail?
Some Pixel owners are suggesting that the issue may occur after manually installing the new firmware instead of the standard OTA update. Similar reports are also coming from users who have installed fresh Android 17 betas on compatible devices.
Google has already confirmed the issue in several Issue Tracker branches, but the company has not yet announced when it will release a fix.
Amidst these complaints, another story from a Pixel 9a owner under the nickname Such_Anybody9912, which he shared on Reddit, attracted attention. The user contacted Google due to a malfunction of the eSIM, but even despite the valid warranty, the company refused to repair it. The alleged reason was “damage to the screen, frame and cameras”, although the smartphone owner claims that there were no such defects on the device.
The eSIM issues are literally another blow to the Pixel's reputation. The smartphone is already suffering from a number of problems. For example, not so long ago, some device owners complained about connection failures, reduced battery life, and cases where the March Android update actually disabled some smartphones.
Interestingly, the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile Internet failures among Pixel 8 Pro owners in April were also a result of the update. In general, Google smartphones often suffer from various kinds of failures after updates, so from my own experience I can confirm that it is better not to rush into the update, but to wait at least a week.