GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR Google Pixel owners have reported that their phones are freezing on the lock screen and always-on display.
The issues surfaced after the March 2026 Pixel Drop and security patch.
This issue also comes over six months after Pixel owners reported frozen lock screens after the stable Android 16 update.
Google released stable Android 16 on Pixel phones last year, but this update introduced lock screen issues for some users. Now, Google has released the March 2026 Pixel Drop, and some people are experiencing similar problems.
Some Pixel owners on Reddit (1, 2, 3) have reported that their phones are freezing on the lock screen or always-on display (AoD) after the March 2026 security update and Pixel Drop. A few of these complaints date back roughly two weeks.
Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a favorite source in Google Discover to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more.
to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. You can also set us as a preferred source in Google Search by clicking the button below.
Affected devices include the Pixel 10 series and the Pixel 9 flagships. However, we’ve also seen a few complaints from people with the Pixel 9a and Pixel 8 Pro.
User dcdttu explained the problem in a post earlier this month: I’ve never really had a lock up/reboot issue on my Pixel, but after the March security update/feature drop, my phone has froze 4 times while on the lock screen. Tapping the screen still gives haptic feedback and pressing and holding the power button seems to bring up Gemini, despite the screen not changing. I have to press-and-hold the power and volume up buttons to force a restart. “Yea mine is freezing on the lock screen and the only thing I can do is force reboot the phone,” said user SinMeToHell.
... continue reading