Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones have had a few issues since their launch, and another one has just come to the surface. According to user reports, some USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapters bundled with the Pixel 2 are not working as they should, or at all. Affected Pixel 2 owners took to Google’s official Pixel forum to complain about the issue, and it seems that it’s not quite an isolated case. Users report that even with the official adapter plugged in, sound still comes from the smartphone’s speakers rather than from the headphones. The issue persists with various headphones and a workaround solved the problem for some users, but not for all.
One user notes that the Pixel 2 audio adapter worked on and off, and customer support suggested booting the smartphone in safe mode. Apparently this did the trick and the adapter worked every time it was plugged in. Restarting the phone to exit safe mode had no negative impact, as the adapter still worked every time. This indicates that some third-party apps might interfere with the phone’s audio. Safe mode prevents third-party apps from running, which might be why the adapter worked when the smartphone entered safe mode. While this workaround seems to be solving the problem, at least momentarily, it’s not an ideal solution. At the same time, while some report that safe mode did the trick, it seems that this workaround did not work for everybody. Users also note that support offered them a new adapter, which means that Google is likely aware of this issue.
The Google Pixel 2 was one of the most hotly anticipated smartphones of this year, sporting attractive specifications and a pure Android experience. The handset sports a 5-inch AMOLED display with a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, a powerful 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, a 12.2-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel front camera, USB Type-C, and fast charging, among the highlights. The Pixel 2 shipped with Android 8.0 Oreo on board out of the box, but recently got an upgrade to the latest Android 8.1. Some users reported a fingerprint reader lag after the update to Android 8.1, but Google is reportedly looking into the matter and should offer a fix shortly.