Last October, Google Pixel users were frustrated by a storage bug that prevented them from accessing their files and even opening the camera app. Although Google eventually resolved the issue with an update, a similar bug has now resurfaced, causing more inconvenience for users.
Complaints have flooded the Google Pixel Reddit sub and Google's community forums, with users reporting the inability to access local files, play media, or open the camera app. The problems seem to have started after the January Google Play system update, affecting the Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro devices.
A Reddit user noted the similarity between this bug and the one identified in October, stating, 'The symptoms are all the same - internal storage not getting mounted, camera crashes, Files app showing no files, screenshots not getting saved, internal storage showing up empty in ADB Shell, etc.' Another user on the Pixel community forums shared their experience, mentioning that the January 1st Google Play System Update wreaked havoc on their Pixel 7a. They managed to resolve the issue by performing a factory reset, but this is considered an extreme solution.
The original bug discovered in October was associated with devices having multiple user profiles. Google explained that the issue occurred on some Pixel devices that received the Android 14 update and had multiple users, excluding additional Google accounts within the primary user or work profiles. However, the cause of the current bug is yet unknown. Some affected users suspect it may be related to having a secondary work profile on their devices. Google has confirmed that it is investigating the issue.
Google's previous update successfully resolved the storage access problem for most users, although it took a couple of days to roll out. However, some users experienced more severe issues, such as being caught in a constant boot loop. For those users, Google provided the Pixel Repair Tool, enabling them to recover partial data for devices that repeatedly rebooted due to the original bug. It remains to be seen if this tool will be beneficial for those facing similar problems caused by the recently identified bug.
As the investigation continues, users affected by this storage bug can stay hopeful that Google will provide a solution soon. In the meantime, it is recommended to keep an eye out for any official updates from Google regarding this issue.
