Android users won’t be able to access their storage after Google admitted a major flaw – an important upgrade you need to make

GOOGLE has issued a quick update to fix a “bug” after Android owners reported their media storage was locked.

The “bug” is due to the rollout of Android 14, Google’s biggest update of the year, which was available for download in early October.

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Alongside Android 14’s shiny new features is a less-than-ideal “bug” that has left some customers unable to restore some of their precious stored memories, such as old pictures and videos.

A Google spokesperson told 9to5Google last night: “Depending on the device, this issue may result in the primary user being unable to access media storage.”

“Alternatively, the problem may also cause the device to restart with a “factory reset” message.

“If this message is accepted, unsaved data may be lost, and if it is rejected, the device will reboot repeatedly with the message ‘Pixel is rebooting’.”

According to Google, the issue currently only affects Pixel owners with Pixel 6 and later models who have “both received the Android 14 update and have multiple users (other than the primary user) set up.”

The tech giant has already rolled out a Google Play system update to “prevent this issue from triggering on additional devices.”

Open to install Settings > Security > System update > Google Play system update.

The current fix is ​​just a quick update.

Google is working on a major system update that it hopes will “fix the issue and restore access to media files without the need for a factory reset.”

But according to Android expert Mishaal Rahman, Pixel users stuck in the so-called “reboot loop” will be locked out of their storage until Google properly resolves the issue.

“After updating to Android 14, some users with a Pixel 6 and above who have multiple users or profiles set up were unable to access their media storage on the primary user,” Rahman wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“If your device is “stuck in a ‘Pixel booting’ boot loop,” which happens when the device reboots repeatedly and the user refuses to factory reset their device when prompted on the Android recovery screen, Unfortunately there is currently no way to fix it.”

A Google spokesperson told Rahman in an email that the current Google Play system update will help prevent the issue from being triggered on additional devices.

In the email, a spokesperson added that Google expects a future “system update will resolve the issue and restore access to media files without the need for a factory reset.”

The company is also “exploring methods that may be able to recover some data” for devices in the so-called “reboot loop.”

For all other users, including those who have factory reset their device, Google recommends “avoid creating or logging in a secondary user on the device until the OTA update is available.”

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