Pixel users complain of Gmail breaking after new Play update
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Pixel users running Android 15 are reporting issues with apps breaking and failing to run on devices, with Gmail highlighted as one of the affected apps. It appears that a new Play update is causing integrity chaos on devices.
Per one Reddit poster, “suddenly my Pixel 8 Pro running Stable Android 15 with locked Bootloader with everything updates started showing that Google Play Services is not supported on the device.”
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As 9to5Google reports, “something related to Play services failed in the past few hours, with all first and third-party apps not working as a result. This is happening for both Android 15 stable and QPR1 Beta users… There’s a ‘Gmail won’t run without Google Play services, which are not supported by our device.’ The Discover feed to the left of your homescreen says “Google Play services isn’t supported.”
Google Play is the underlying services platform that makes much of Android’s OS work on your phone. It is regularly updated, both for security reasons and to bring new features to phones as they are developed and released.
According to 9to5Google“Play Store developer options return a: ‘-6: Integrity API error (-6): Google Play Services is not available or version is too old. Ask the user to Install or Update Play Services.’ Non-Pixel devices could also be impacted.”
Google Play Update breaks Gmail
These devices are running standard OS releases and the phones have not been modified—this is not a user error. While there are some reports of resets or even factory resets addressing the issue, others say they have reset phones without success.
Per another Reddit poster: “Happened this morning to me, as well. Pixel 8 Pro, stock settings. When I woke this morning, I found a notification that Google Play Service was requesting permissions, but the thing it was requesting looked like an error, something to the effect of ‘UnrecognizedToken…’ something. I figured I shouldn’t go giving approval to things that make no sense, so I denied it. I think that might have been the start of things. Started getting errors from Pixel Watch app crashing, some apps being unable to register with Google Play Services. I tried restarting, clearing Google Play Services data and cache (under protest) and restarting. Not fixed yet. I really don’t want to do the factory reset.”
While another warned/complained that “I also faced the same thing.. and tried various things to save myself from a factory reset as I am out of country on a limited data plan. But had to factory reset in the end and extending a data plan costing $40.”
9to5Google reports that “one line of thinking currently is that it’s an issue with the Google Play services beta. You could try to opt-out of the beta from the Play Store listing. Try restarting your phone and then head back to that page to update and get back on the latest stable release of Play services,” but the website also warns that “this has not worked for all users.”
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As such, Android 15 users will need to be wary of the issue until there’s a more robust fix or workaround published. This isn’t the first Android 15 issue to hit users, with users complaining of bricked phones shortly after its release. I have approached Google for any advice for users or comments on the latest reports.
The best advice is to try a soft reset, then opt out of the Play beta if that’s installed. Beware though, multiple users suggest none of this works. It might be that a factory reset is the only option open to you if all else fails “Nothing works and only a factory reset helped me,” said another Reddit poster. “Don’t know what suddenly happened.”
Android Authority has now reported that “it’s possible the error is connected to the Google Play Services beta. If you are in the beta, you can opt out of it through the Play Store listing. From there you just need restart your phone and go back to the listing to install the latest stable version of Play Services. However, one of the commenters claims they are experiencing the issue on their Pixel 7, and they are not on the beta.”
This is a moving story, as such watch this space…
Updated later on November 4 with further information.
