Question Help Desperately Needed - Random Reboots

[MarkAnthony121]

So I posted about this previously but here's more info and a clearer summary

The Issue:

Phone randomly reboots about an average of once per day. Screen freezes, goes black, comes back on for 3 seconds still frozen, then proceeds to reboot. I've kept track and 100% of of the time this seems to happen when I'm typing. Initially I thought it was Textra, but it has happened in Snapchat, and Twitch whenever the google keyboard is up. Google sent a replacement phone and the issues persists, and I find it hard to believe that both phone would have the exact same hardware issue. Furthermore it very much seems like a software issue considering it ONLY happens when the google keyboard is up.

My hope is that someone might have encountered this and has a simple solution although I doubt it. Unfortunately since I don't have another phone, I have to wait to obtain one before I do a safe mode test. And even if I do it's not realistic for me to test it that way because I'd have to spend hours typing away just to try to get the issue to occur (since it's not frequent like every 5 minutes).

I'm suspecting some data or a setting is getting transferred over from my previous backup that's affecting google keyboard or something of the sort. My next step will be a factory reset, and then reinstalling everything bit by bit manually. Of course I have to link my google account, but I won't have it automatically restore the backup. If that doesn't help then I'm at a loss. At that point I'd probably pick up a cheap Pixel 2XL as my daily, and use my P6Pro in safe mode as much as I can to try to trigger the issue I guess?

The Phone:

Pixel 6 Pro
Not Rooted
November 5 Update
Set up done using my google account to restore all apps and settings, not cable

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

Remind me since I don't recall if it was brought up in your other thread about the issue, did you try Official Google Android Flash Tool yet?

 

[ne0ns4l4m4nder]

Agree with edor, Android flash tool, flash both slots, start all over

 

[MarkAnthony121]

Remind me since I don't recall if it was brought up in your other thread about the issue, did you try Official Google Android Flash Tool yet?

I have not tried this. What would this be used for?

 

[MarkAnthony121]

Agree with edor, Android flash tool, flash both slots, start all over

Not sure what that means sorry, can you elaborate?

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

I have not tried this. What would this be used for?

To wipe the phone and start back fresh.

Not sure what that means sorry, can you elaborate?

Just that. To start back fully fresh. Then if you do that take my advice from the other thread, don't restore backups from Google or anywhere, and initially only install your most critical apps. Once you determine you're not having the problem, install some more. Verify, repeat.

 

[MarkAnthony121]

Agree with edor, Android flash tool, flash both slots, start all over

Not sure what that means sorry, can you elaborate?

To wipe the phone and start back fresh.


Just that. To start back fully fresh. Then if you do that take my advice from the other thread, don't restore backups from Google or anywhere, and initially only install your most critical apps. Once you determine you're not having the problem, install some more. Verify, repeat.

Yes but I don't understand what "flash both slots" means. And wouldn't I get the same result by simply doing a factory reset and then proceeding with the method of installing everything manually and not from a backup? Why use the google flash tool vs factory reset?

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

Not sure what that means sorry, can you elaborate?

Yes but I don't understand what "flash both slots" means. And wouldn't I get the same result by simply doing a factory reset and then proceeding with the method of installing everything manually and not from a backup? Why use the google flash tool vs factory reset?

At this point, that's more information than you really need to know to try to fix your phone. I don't want to overcomplicate things. You can look at Google search results for "Pixel flash both slots" if you really want to go down that road right now.

Spoiler: Some of the details you're asking for, but you don't need right now

In short, starting with the Pixel 1 in 2016, they have two copies of almost everything (except only one copy of user data). On a Pixel, and another phone that employs dual slots, when you receive an OTA update, it updates the copy of Android that you're not currently running, then reboots into the one it just updated, and once rebooted it goes ahead and updates the copy that you're no longer running, so they're both now updated.

Not all OEMs use the dual partition strategy, which is frustrating. When I briefly had the Note 10+ before the P6P came out, I was amazed that Samsung still hasn't adopted the method. It beats the old style OTA method that Samsung still uses to this day as far as I know where it takes 15-20 minutes or more to run the update while your phone is unable to be used at all, and then even when it boots up the next time Android has to finish the job "optimizing" your apps for the new update. Dual partitions for Android save a lot of time when updating the phone.

In some manual flashing processes, you end up with one slot with a different copy of what you have in the other slot - and you don't want that. The slots are referred to as Slot A and Slot B.

I can go further into detail but you don't really need that to fix your phone.

All you need to know right now is Official Google Android Flash Tool.

If you haven't already tried the factory reset, et cetera, which we had recommended to you at least once in the other thread, then by all means, you can try that. But if you're going to try that, you might as well just use the Official Google Android Flash Tool and ensure you are 100% stock. Official Google Android Flash Tool has fixed a good dozen or two folks' issues (I haven't been keeping count) in these forums in the past 2+ months.

So if the factory resetting doesn't solve things then you'll still have to try Official Google Android Flash Tool to be closer to sure that you tried everything that you could. We had already suggested the Factory Reset to you in the other thread. Since you created a new thread, I figured you might be looking for information you hadn't been given yet.

So the short answer is because Official Google Android Flash Tool will do an even more complete job of putting your phone back to 100% stock, with a lot less doubt than a simple factory reset. Sure, a factory reset, in theory, should get you the same thing, but there are all sorts of circumstances where a factory reset won't. Something is wrong with your phone and we don't know what it is.

There's the Factory Reset idea and then there's the Official Google Android Flash Tool idea - either coupled with the staggered manual installation of apps until you narrow down if it was a particular app causing the issue. It doesn't matter which one you choose to try first. If you try just a Factory Reset, and things still go haywire, then you'll still have to try Official Google Android Flash Tool after that. It's your choice, now pick one and go forth and hopefully reboot no more.

Also, I wasn't going to mention this but I will now. Forums generally discourage users from creating multiple threads about the same issue or posting about the same issue in multiple threads. You can always update the OP (opening/first post) if you need to, and give an update as a reply to your existing thread.

 

[96carboard]

So I posted about this previously but here's more info and a clearer summary

The Issue:

Phone randomly reboots about an average of once per day. Screen freezes, goes black, comes back on for 3 seconds still frozen, then proceeds to reboot. I've kept track and 100% of of the time this seems to happen when I'm typing. Initially I thought it was Textra, but it has happened in Snapchat, and Twitch whenever the google keyboard is up. Google sent a replacement phone and the issues persists, and I find it hard to believe that both phone would have the exact same hardware issue. Furthermore it very much seems like a software issue considering it ONLY happens when the google keyboard is up.

My hope is that someone might have encountered this and has a simple solution although I doubt it. Unfortunately since I don't have another phone, I have to wait to obtain one before I do a safe mode test. And even if I do it's not realistic for me to test it that way because I'd have to spend hours typing away just to try to get the issue to occur (since it's not frequent like every 5 minutes).

I'm suspecting some data or a setting is getting transferred over from my previous backup that's affecting google keyboard or something of the sort. My next step will be a factory reset, and then reinstalling everything bit by bit manually. Of course I have to link my google account, but I won't have it automatically restore the backup. If that doesn't help then I'm at a loss. At that point I'd probably pick up a cheap Pixel 2XL as my daily, and use my P6Pro in safe mode as much as I can to try to trigger the issue I guess?

The Phone:

Pixel 6 Pro
Not Rooted
November 5 Update
Set up done using my google account to restore all apps and settings, not cable

I've heard of freezing problems from others related to gboard. This would indeed appear to be a software flaw. I've never really used gboard since the first step for me was google-free AOSP, then put in my sim card and start using it (I don't like spyware).

Simplest solution for you would likely be to try a different soft keyboard. Personally, I would suggest finding one on f-droid rather than play store because open source.

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

For what it's worth, I've been using GBoard for 5+ years and have never had a problem.

 

[MarkAnthony121]

I've heard of freezing problems from others related to gboard. This would indeed appear to be a software flaw. I've never really used gboard since the first step for me was google-free AOSP, then put in my sim card and start using it (I don't like spyware).

Simplest solution for you would likely be to try a different soft keyboard. Personally, I would suggest finding one on f-droid rather than play store because open source.

I used to root back in the day and use a custom ROM. If I do that there's no automatic updates right? Have to reload a new ROM for updates?

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

I used to root back in the day and use a custom ROM. If I do that there's no automatic updates right? Have to reload a new ROM for updates?

Depends on the ROM. I believe GrapheneOS has OTA updates. I know some others over the years have had that, too. Certainly not most custom ROMs but some.

 

[MarkAnthony121]

Depends on the ROM. I believe GrapheneOS has OTA updates. I know some others over the years have had that, too. Certainly not most custom ROMs but some.

Thanks for all the help. (sorry for posting twice, I tried to delete the other) And I did appreciate the extra info so that I understood WHY I needed to do it this way and how it all functions. Two final questions. On modern phones like this one, does running a custom rom really improve battery/performance much? It's already pretty snappy for me, so I feel if I don't care about customizability it's probably not worth the effort for minimal reward. And second question, will the flash tool give me the option to clear both slots ?

Oh and third, is it ok to link my google account, (to get my contacts and such) as long as I'm not restoring any backups from it?

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

Thanks for all the help. (sorry for posting twice, I tried to delete the other) And I did appreciate the extra info so that I understood WHY I needed to do it this way and how it all functions.

You're very welcome!

Two final questions. On modern phones like this one, does running a custom rom really improve battery/performance much?

In my opinion, no, but the object of some ROMs (like GrapheneOS) are more geared towards very much increased security and avoidance of all the Google data-collecting that goes on with everything Google, although you can use some or most Google apps with GrapheneOS if you choose.

I've never actually tried GrapheneOS, though - I've only kept up with the two threads about them because I was curious about it. To me, starting with my first Pixel (I never owned a Nexus device), I liked stock Android way better for my purposes.

But just as for a lot of phone-related subjects, the answer to this question is very subjective. What's right for me isn't right for everyone. Everyone's needs are different. The only way of knowing for sure is to try it. You might try something and very quickly say "to heck with that, I'm going back", or you might say "oh, I like this loads better". I'm not a betting man unless something is a near 100% chance, so it's really a toss-up whether you would like a different ROM or not.

Also, how I handle my battery works great for me - but it wouldn't for everyone. I don't charge the phone until it gets down to 25%, and I try not to let it get any lower than 25%. I only charge the phone up to 75% when I can. I never charge overnight, and I never quick charge. That 50% range of battery still lasts me about 24 hours. My Pixel 1 battery is in great shape because of this habit. My wife's, on the other hand, since she didn't do this - her battery on her old Pixel 1 is relatively shot.

It's already pretty snappy for me, so I feel if I don't care about customizability it's probably not worth the effort for minimal reward.

Sounds as if you already have made up your mind to me. I mean, that's how I feel, and I like using Google's services for the most part. I'm more a function over form person. While I don't want something downright fugly, I really don't care what things look like - only how they do what I want them to do. Yet again, "how they do what I want them to do" is very subjective. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ didn't do what my wife and I wanted it to do, but we were both spoiled on the Pixel 1 before that. We don't regret our choice to go back to Pixel via the 6 Pro. For others, the Samsung phones are what they need.

And second question, will the flash tool give me the option to clear both slots ?

You don't want to "clear" both slots, you want to flash both slots. In answer to your question, I don't think you'll have a choice via the site (or offline flashing the full factory image). In other words, both slots are going to get flashed whether you like it or not. You would have to go to extra efforts to *not* flash both slots. Hence yet another reason why you don't have to worry about that aspect.

Google's official methods would never flash only one slot by default. That would be just plain idiotic of them.

Before you ask, the reason I recommend the site rather than offline flashing of the full factory image is:

1. It's more user-friendly.
2. It has solved problems when manually flashing the full factory image has not for some others with particular problems.

Oh and third, is it ok to link my google account, (to get my contacts and such) as long as I'm not restoring any backups from it?

Yes, absolutely, although in some cases I've recommended going completely fresh and not even doing that, at least before testing long enough to see if you have the issue. You certainly could go without putting your Google account in, etc, but I don't feel that's warranted at this point. The only time I think you should do that, in this case, is if you do it the other way (with your Google account), and you still have the same problem right away (without installing any additional apps).

Just remember don't install any additional apps to start with, long enough to be sure that the problem isn't happening. I know it's a painful process - I've done this before on several devices for different reasons. Usually, the cause of issues becomes evident but it's possible it won't be completely obvious.

FYI, just putting your Google account in will, I believe, possibly still automatically restore your phone's most basic settings but I could be wrong about that. You could always try it without your account at first, use the phone in it's limited state for long enough to know there's no problem, and only then put your Google account in.