Some Google Pixel smartphones may have a Bluetooth-related DND notification bug

The Google Pixel smartphone series may have scored highly in our reviews over the year, but each generation has been beset with issues. The Pixel 2 XL, for example, slowed down following an OTA update, while more recently some Pixel 3a and 3a XL owners reported experiencing random reboots with their devices. However, there now appears to be a Bluetooth-related Do Not Disturb (DND) notification bug potentially affecting all Pixel smartphones.

Originally raised by u/thepieman458 on Reddit, ringer and media volumes have somehow become linked, which means that notifications will play unless both media and ringer are set to silent, even on DND. Another Redditor, u/Anorax, reached out to Google Pixel support, which recommended the following fix:

• Clear cache and data on: Google play services, settings app, sounds app
• Clear cache on: Pixel Launcher
• Toggle each DnD setting switch, (eg, media, alarms) on and off
• Reboot device

While this fix temporarily works, reconnecting a Bluetooth device reportedly re-establishes the issue. We can confirm that this is the case with a Pixel 3a, which also currently plays double notification sounds when connected to Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Worse still, notifications coming in with DND enabled are louder than general ones, to the point where they sound distorted.

A Google Issue Tracker concerning the matter has a stream of responses with people confirming that the issue is device agnostic and that it is affecting every Pixel model. This could well be more than one issue too, with some people suggesting it could be a bug with Google Assistant, which is enabled on some Bluetooth headphones like the Bose QC35 II and the Sony WH-1000XM series.

Google has not officially released a statement at the time of writing, but we shall keep you updated if it does. Let us know in the comments of your experiences if you own a Pixel smartphone and whether you have found a solution or another temporary workaround.