Google‘s November 2026 Pixel Drop has brought new features to supported smartphones, but some owners are reporting problems after installing the update. Complaints include cameras becoming unusable, desktop-mode functionality breaking and unexpected display behaviour.
Further complaints surfaced on 13 November, including reports of problems with the always-on display and notifications.
Pixel cameras reportedly stop working
Among the more serious complaints are reports of camera applications displaying black screens or failing to initialise.
One Pixel 11 Pro XL owner reported that both the front-facing and rear cameras stopped working following the update. The problem reportedly extended to third-party applications requiring camera access.
Similar complaints involving Pixel devices have appeared in Google’s Pixel Help Community.
One owner restored camera functionality through a factory reset, while others reported success after completely switching off their phones for around five minutes before restarting them. Neither approach is guaranteed to work.
It remains unclear how many devices are affected.
Desktop mode and display problems also reported
In a Reddit discussion, a Pixel owner reported that audio no longer played through an external HDMI monitor after the update, instead continuing through the phone’s speakers.
The same user described problems with the desktop dock and Alt+Tab functionality when the phone’s screen timed out. Another participant reported similar behaviour.
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Separately, a Pixel 9 Pro Fold owner described the notification shade appearing over the always-on display and the inner screen occasionally remaining black after unfolding.
The complaints involve different Pixel models, and it is not yet clear whether the problems are connected.
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> Expert reviews and news on laptops, smartphones and tech innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2026 11 > Google Pixel owners report camera failures and desktop mode bugs after November update
Louise Burke, 2026-11-14 (Update: 2026-11-14)
