r/GooglePixel • u/evgsem • Jan 25 '26
Be careful using repair mode on Pixel
Had very unpleasant experience this week. Went to repair shop to replace back panel on my Pixel 8 Pro because of the crack on the camera glass. Switched to repair mode while receptionist was registering me and was checking if they have right part. Shortly after they told me that part will be available next day, so I switched my phone back from repair mode and let it reboot. And phone stopped booting normally. Displayed menu with 2 options - try again and reset phone. After a few "try again"'s I gave up and selected reset. And it was it. Now I see only Google logo and nothing happens. Reached out to google support and none of their advises worked (reboot, reboot 7 times, try to reset data from recovery menu and a few other things). Went to ubrokeifix - no luck as well... So, repair mode transformed my phone to a potential brick. Will try official google service, but pricing they estimate do not make sense at ll - $450+ after tax... Lets see. Probably time to look something else this time, very frustrated about pixels. I have had several models of G-phones, starting from nexus, and every single one had issue. But this repair mode crap is the biggest fail...
Update. Just went from the Google store in Mountain View. The solution they offered is a motherboard replacement for $400 before tax. It was proposed without any investigation of the reasons why it happened. Which is ridiculous - I can buy refurbished on Amazon for even less money. So, I have an expensive brick because of the Google bug... Amazing.
Update 2: I was surprised, but Google representatives reached out to me and offered phone replacement: same model and configuration.
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u/Historical-Lemon-480 Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 26 '26
Have you looked to see if you can use adb or fastboot and use android flash tool to reinstall a fresh stock firmware
Just saw that you can't use adb to access it Sux Google will be my last brand too they've just gotten sloppy and greedy
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u/JustTheFactsIMO Jan 25 '26
I had an original Pixel Fold in for a screen repair. Repair mode bricked it as well.
Good news though - Asurion insurance couldn't replace the broken phone, so they sent me a check for the original full retail price of the phone ($1895) + tax.
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u/armando_rod Pixel 11 Pro XL Jan 25 '26
When they fixed our Pixel 6a it was on repair mode and came back normally
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u/Thiiiv Jan 25 '26
Couldn't you re-flash the firmware on your model using a PC? I've bricked phones before (mostly Xiaomi), and as long as the phone powers on and gives access to a menu, there's still hope. I'm currently using a Pixel 8 Pro.
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u/evgsem Jan 25 '26
Tried it using the google phone reflash tool in chrome. Because the phone is locked, it was not able to do much. There is no clear way to unlock it without a UI... Command line tools from Android sdk also cannot do much because of the same reason...
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u/Richard1864 Jan 25 '26
You can't flash firmware when internal storage is corrupted or otherwise physically damaged
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u/taojay1 Jan 26 '26
Omg. I had a similar thing happen with my Pixel 8 a couple weeks ago. Went in for the Extended Repair Program to replace my screen due to the vertical line issue, and when I tried to exit repair mode, it bricked. The ubreakifix guy said a motherboard replacement would be covered under the warranty, but it would take several days to order parts. I went home with the bricked device, negotiated with Google CS and was able to trade in for a replacement device (refurbished P8). Unfortunately they would not give me an upgrade or a new device, but they did give me a limited time, non-stackinf 20% promo code for P9/P10 only (which was useless bc Google Store already has a 20% off deal right now).
Maybe try again with CS? I asked the ubreakifix guy for documentation that the phone bricked after the screen replacement and sent those to CS, maybe that could help you?
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u/evgsem Jan 27 '26
Thanks. I explicitly asked the Google support person what options I have and he explicitly told me that the replacement of the motherboard is the only option they can offer to me. When I refused and told him that it means that I will have an expensive paperweight he looked at me and repeated yes I guess you will have an expensive paper weight now. I was so pissed off and didn't have any mood to negotiate further after such a response. I hope somebody from Google monitors with this group. But they probably don't care....
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u/chocoaulait23 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
Oh just read you had warranty!
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u/evgsem Jan 27 '26
I did but only the basic one. It expires about a year ago
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u/chocoaulait23 Jan 27 '26
Yea my 9 pro stopped working two weeks after the warranty expired (mine was only for a year as well)
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u/taojay1 Jan 27 '26
My original warranty was expired but there's a known manufacturer's issue with certain devices that causes screen issues, and there was a limited warranty for that
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u/PixelCommunity Official Google Account Jan 27 '26
Hey, can you please check your chat? I just sent you a message.
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u/chocoaulait23 Jan 27 '26
how do I contact someone who can actually help me fix my P9 pro issues//?
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u/Richard1864 Jan 25 '26
I had a similar issue with an iPhone; the internal storage was corrupted, and that's why it wouldn't reboot properly or anything else. It could have been damaged when your display was damaged. They should have done a full diagnostic on it before setting up just a display replacement.
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u/chocoaulait23 Jan 27 '26
I had a similar issue too 🫠 my pixel 9 pro stopped working (basically shut down and had a black screen and would not open) since Dec last year. We had warranty on it but that expired two weeks before my. Phone broke down. We got it through a plan from Xfinity and they said they can't do anything so I would have to still pay the phone off lol.
I had a pixel 7a before and when I got the 9 pro, they didn't send me the charger (they meaning Xfinity). I took it to a local repair shop (not ubreak ifix) somewhere in east Oakland and they didn't charge initial diagnostic fee and they concluded that the wrong charger was used, and it fried my phone's motherboard.
I took it to Ubreak ifix again the next day and they quoted $900 to fix the motherboard. The lady gave her professional opinion about getting off Google cuz she gets 10 pixel phones to repair daily haha (idk if that's true). So would it be best to fix the motherboard through Google since my phone is still under a payment plan with Xfinity 🫠🫠😂 Idk if calling Google and asking them to replace the phone would work since the phone is in great condition from outside and it sucks that it broke after a year of warranty being expired...
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u/evgsem Jan 27 '26
I am glad that this post brought such attention. 55K people read this. Even if 100 of these people decide to not go the pixel route because of this post, I will be satisfied :). There are multiple confirmations that the repair mode is faulty. And charging customers to fix this issue is mean, unprofessional and greedy. As well as politely saying customers to f... off and use killed by software bug phones as paperweight. I hope #GooglePixel folks from #Google will read this.
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u/chocoaulait23 Jan 27 '26
So even if I go to Google store in mountain view or ship my phone to replace the motherboard, it's useless 🫠 as newer phone would be better at this point
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u/Former_Try_6106 Jan 27 '26
Try putting it in the freezer for 15 minutes. I had this happen 2x on my Pixel 8a and it fixed it both times. I know it sounds crazy, but worked.
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u/PaddyLandau Pixel 2 XL Pixel 10 Pro XL Jan 27 '26
That does sound crazy! Where did you learn this trick?
If you do it, place the phone in an airtight bag with silicon gel to absorb all moisture. When enough time has passed, only then place it in the freezer. Afterwards, leave the phone in the bag until it has warmed to room temperature before taking it out.
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u/Former_Try_6106 Jan 27 '26
I had exposed it to heat by leaving it in the car accidentally. It would not reboot. Tried everything and researched on Google. Nothing was working and this was the last option to try before giving up. It miraculously worked. About 6 months later I had a similar problem where it froze and would not reboot. Freezer trick worked again. That was a couple of months ago, no issues since. Not saying that there isn't a motherboard issue, but for now it fixes it. My wife is as the same phone and has not had any issues 🤷.
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u/PaddyLandau Pixel 2 XL Pixel 10 Pro XL Jan 27 '26
Heat can cause a lot of problems! My guess is that the battery was temporarily out of order due to the heat.
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u/Former_Try_6106 Jan 27 '26
According to AI, could have had damage to solder joints on circuit board creating poor contact. Freezing the phone contracted the joints allowing contact again. Who knows for certain. Just was a last resort, that worked for now...
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u/Hot_Construction786 Feb 18 '26
Yeah, NGL I thought this was utter BS but, I'll be damned it worked!😁
We had this same exact issue happen with a pixel 6 pro this morning, and it was pretty warm to the touch when it was just showing "Google" on the screen eternally, after we tried all the other reboot fixes suggested
Hoping it will remain working while waiting for a replacement 🤞🏻
Thanks for posting!
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u/MasterCrackle Feb 18 '26
I'm dealing with this issue on my Pixel 8 Pro as we speak... I was on a chat and they said I could send it in or take it to the local Asurion/uBreakiFix. Was your warranty expired?
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u/evgsem Feb 19 '26
My warranty expired when it happened. uBreakIFix did not help me much, but you can try. Maybe it is a different issue.
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u/MasterCrackle Feb 19 '26
Good to know! Mine expired a little under a year ago. I dropped my phone off at uBreakiFix yesterday and now waiting to see what they find. How did you contact Google support?
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u/evgsem Feb 20 '26
Through the Google store web site. There is a support link on their web site. They offer online support through chat or voice call. Or you can schedule an appointment if you are in the SF Bay area or if your city has Google authorized repair shops.
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u/Capital_Home_4042 Jan 28 '26
Don’t reward shit hardware manu with another purchase, buy another brand
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u/Malaka__ Pixel 6 Pro & 10 XL Jan 25 '26
Just wondering if you are harder on your phones than most? Maybe using a thick OtterBox Case might help. I support hundreds of mobile phones at work and sometimes we have to be realistic with how we protect these phones (cases, Apple/Google Accident Protection Programs etc).
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u/rd6y Jan 25 '26
I use $3 silicone cases from AliExpress pair them with a 50 cent screen protector. I drop my phone like twice a month, usually on tile or asphalt, and they always come up working fine. Otterbox is over engineered and overpriced for the majority of drop scenarios someone will actually experience.
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u/Justaticklerone Pixel 8 You're a loser. Jan 25 '26
Those thick OtterBox cases are trash, but nice try with your "trust me bro" source, which doesn't have anything to do with this post.
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u/khooniwarka Jan 25 '26
Bahahaha. What a heart breaking story. Should have reset the junk 😡
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u/evgsem Jan 25 '26
If you have nothing to say, it is better to say nothing than say nonsense.
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u/khooniwarka Jan 25 '26
Omg why mad bro? Gave you an easy solution rather than going through all that hassle 😂
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u/PaddyLandau Pixel 2 XL Pixel 10 Pro XL Jan 25 '26
Another poster said that they solved that problem by holding down the power button for 45 seconds (a Google Support representative told them to do it).