Google has released an important update to fix navigation problems that affected Pixel phones after the Android 16 update.
Many users with Pixel 6 and newer devices had reported that the back button and gesture navigation suddenly stopped working or became very slow. In some cases, the phone would take up to 30 seconds to respond when trying to go back or switch between apps. This issue made using the phone frustrating for many people.
The bug appeared in both gesture navigation, where users swipe from the edge of the screen, and in the classic three-button navigation at the bottom. It didn’t affect every Pixel user, but enough people reported the problem that it quickly became a known issue in the Android community.
Now, with the August 2025 system update, Google has rolled out a fix to solve this bug. The update is available for Pixel 6, 7, 8, 9, and newer devices. Along with fixing the navigation issue, the update also improves system performance and includes a security patch for a separate problem related to the scheduled dark mode feature.
If you’re using a Pixel phone and have experienced these issues, it’s strongly recommended to check for the latest system update and install it. You can do this by going to Settings > System > Software Update. After installing the patch, the back button and gesture controls should start working smoothly again.
This fix is important because navigation is one of the most basic and essential parts of using a smartphone. When these controls break, it affects the overall experience and can make even simple tasks annoying. Google’s quick response to this problem shows their continued support for Pixel users and commitment to improving Android 16.
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Indeed, there also is an update for Pixel 6 users, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean that the back gesture bug has not been fixed for Pixel 6. It only has been fixed for the newer versions of Pixel phones.
Two months after messing up the back gestures of Pixel 6 phones and upwards, it’s still not solved for Pixel 6 users. What a bad quality management. Hard to believe that Google isn’t able to fix the most annoying issue which should have never managed to get beyond an alpha or beta version of the OS. I can’t enjoy my Pixel 6 since 2 months and it’s so frustrating that I don’t expect myself to ever buy a Pixel phone again.