Pixel phones are hit with mic and sound glitches after latest Android 17 beta update

Just days after Google patched an audio framework buffer management bug in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 8, Pixel testers are dealing with a fresh wave of sound and microphone issues. The latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 update appears to have severely broken system-level audio routing.

A number of Pixel users running QPR2 Beta 1 are reporting microphone and playback glitches all over Reddit. One user says apps frequently claim the microphone is already being used, while playback has also become unreliable in apps such as X and Google Photos. Others joined the conversation with similar problems like audio dropping out after phone calls and Google's keyboard voice transcription not working.

Another Pixel owner says Gboard keeps telling them that the microphone is in use, while Gemini warns that another app may be controlling the device’s audio. Restarting the phone and re-opening apps didn’t seem to solve the problem for good.

The problems don’t stop at the mic. One Pixel 10 Pro user alleges that QPR2 Beta 1 has resulted in notification tones disappearing, volume lowering despite sliders being maxed, music playing mute, and erratic Bluetooth audio. Phone-call audio reportedly requires multiple phone calls to work properly. Other users say they’ve experienced similar issues with the Pixel 10 Pro XL and difficulty getting sound to work with Pixel Buds and Android Auto.

A reboot appears to temporarily resolve some of these issues, though users say the bugs can pop up later on. One user also reported success after changing their default assistant away from Gemini, then back again, but there’s no indication that this workaround is a solution for everyone.

If you rely on your Pixel for daily voice dictation, hands-free calls, or media streaming, give QPR2 Beta 1 a miss for now. Google will likely fix these regressions in audio pipelines with a next interim patch before the beta goes further.