Google’s December Pixel update arrived early this week, loaded with bug fixes for battery reporting, emergency calling, audio crashes, and more. Yet the patch appears to have created a new problem: Pixel 10 owners are now reporting a flickering always-on display (AOD) that wasn’t an issue before.
The AOD flickers on and off for a split second whenever the screen refreshes, according to the reports. Users have said that the clock ticking, notifications landing, or phone unlocks can trigger the flicker. Some have also noted that the screen goes completely black for a moment during these transitions, or the screensaver malfunctions when the phone sits on a wireless charger, as reported by Android Authority.
The issue appears to affect only Pixel 10 devices at this time. Until Google rolls out a hotfix, the only workaround is to turn off the AOD entirely. You can do this by going to “Settings” > “Display and touch” > “Always-on display” and toggling it off. Google has not yet made an official statement about the bug, but if it reaches enough users, the company may release a targeted patch soon.