At the beginning of November, Google released a security patch for the Android 14 operating system aimed at eliminating a critical bug in the data storage system. An issue affecting Pixel series devices caused the devices to be blocked. The patch promises to fix the situation, but on some devices caught in a reboot loop, data may be irretrievably lost.

This glitch caused serious problems, with users of devices with multiple accounts facing crashes and endless reboots. Pixel models were particularly affected, including the Pixel 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro. More importantly, the new update does not guarantee data recovery for devices that are already in a reboot cycle.

The issue was first noticed shortly after the update was released on October 4. It turns out that some smartphones are completely inoperable, even unable to boot to the desktop. Others could sign up but did not have access to secure storage, causing a host of problems. Users even compared the situation to the operation of malware that demands ransom to unlock data. A temporary solution, a full factory reset, was not suitable for many users due to the risk of losing important information stored on the smartphone.

Google, which usually releases updates gradually, this time failed to respond immediately to the first reports of the malfunction, causing it to become widespread. Android’s binary system partitions, designed to restore the device in case of failure after updating, were not up to the task due to the insufficient accuracy of the fault detection system.

Even the patch released through Google Play System Updates did not fix the problem, as it required a device restart to apply. Android’s data backup system also turned out to be ineffective because not all apps support this feature and many users are unable to recover their data.