Pixel 3 XL ambient display blinking

[Android Central Question]

I have a Pixel 3 XL and i like using the ambient display. But I have been having an issue. I have already done a factory reset as well(not a hard reset). When I have the ambient display on, then unlock my screen, then wait for the ambient display to come back on, the clock and everything will blink one time. When I see it in the corner of my eye, it seems like i have a new notification but its now. Its just the ambient display blinking that one time. Is there a way to fix this and make it stop?

 

[Aj2488]

Ambient Display is killing my battery. 13% in 12 hours. It used to be much less of a drain. Anyone else?

 

[GSDer]

When I have the ambient display on, then unlock my screen, then wait for the ambient display to come back on, the clock and everything will blink one time.

I'm not sure what you're describing. If I unlock my device, then wait for the 2 minute timeout to occur, the screen briefly goes black and then the Ambient display kicks in and the clock and associated information are shown, but it doesn't blink.
I suppose that you could say it's annoying that the screen briefly goes black rather than immediately showing the Ambient display, but that's the way I've always remembered the feature working.
With all that said, if you don't like the way it's behaving be sure to provide feedback directly to Google about it.

 

[msj514]

I'm not sure what you're describing. If I unlock my device, then wait for the 2 minute timeout to occur, the screen briefly goes black and then the Ambient display kicks in and the clock and associated information are shown, but it doesn't blink.
I suppose that you could say it's annoying that the screen briefly goes black rather than immediately showing the Ambient display, but that's the way I've always remembered the feature working.
With all that said, if you don't like the way it's behaving be sure to provide feedback directly to Google about it.

Thank you for responding! I'll try to explain my issue a little better. It's not the screen going black after I lock it. I know that is normal.

I have the ambient display turned on. The blink happens when I go to unlock my phone from the ambient display (whether that be a double tap or using the power button) then let my the screen turn off by itself and wait for the ambient display to come back on. The ambient display will be on for a couple of seconds (clock and notification icons will be be there), after that couple of seconds, the clock and all my notifications and info will blink. The entire ambient display does a flicker. It's almost like a glitch, not a white flash or anything. The ambient display simply, goes black very quickly and then comes back on.

--This also happens when I get a new notification and the screen wakes up, then goes back to the ambient display. Again, after the ambient display is shown for 1 or 2 seconds, the clock and everything does the "glitchy" blink.

One way I could describe it is if you have a loose light bulb that isn't screwed in all the way and it's just flashing on and off when you go to touch it.

 

[mustang7757]

Thank you for responding! I'll try to explain my issue a little better. It's not the screen going black after I lock it. I know that is normal.

I have the ambient display turned on. The blink happens when I go to unlock my phone from the ambient display (whether that be a double tap or using the power button) then let my the screen turn off by itself and wait for the ambient display to come back on. The ambient display will be on for a couple of seconds (clock and notification icons will be be there), after that couple of seconds, the clock and all my notifications and info will blink. The entire ambient display does a flicker. It's almost like a glitch, not a white flash or anything. The ambient display simply, goes black very quickly and then comes back on.

--This also happens when I get a new notification and the screen wakes up, then goes back to the ambient display. Again, after the ambient display is shown for 1 or 2 seconds, the clock and everything does the "glitchy" blink.

One way I could describe it is if you have a loose light bulb that isn't screwed in all the way and it's just flashing on and off when you go to touch it.

Make sure you dont have animations on in dev mode or in accessibility , and if you have developer option on , just to rule these out could cause problems like that.

 

[msj514]

Make sure you dont have animations on in dev mode or in accessibility , and if you have developer option on , just to rule these out could cause problems like that.

Thanks for the help!

I have developer mode on. And I gone through it and Accessibility. I don't have anything out of the ordinary turned on or off. All of the animation settings are on the default setting.

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks for the help!

I have developer mode on. And I gone through it and Accessibility. I don't have anything out of the ordinary turned on or off. All of the animation settings are on the default setting.

Hi , I would try turning developer option off and restart your phone see if that helps .
Your welcome , hopefully might fix your issue.

 

[msj514]

Hi , I would try turning developer option off and restart your phone see if that helps .
Your welcome , hopefully might fix your issue.

Well I had it turned off earlier today and then turned it on myself in order to see if there was anything I could turn off or on to help the issue. It was still happening when I had developer options turned off...

 

[mustang7757]

Well I had it turned off earlier today and then turned it on myself in order to see if there was anything I could turn off or on to help the issue. It was still happening when I had developer options turned off...

Did you restart the device after ?

 

[msj514]

Did you restart the device after ?

Yes, I did. It's still doing the blinking

 

[mustang7757]

Yes, I did. It's still doing the blinking

I can suggest one more thing if you haven't already, try safe mode?

 

[msj514]

I can suggest one more thing if you haven't already, try safe mode?

How would I do that?

 

[mustang7757]

How would I do that?

Press the power button until it shows power off and restart now long press restart it will give option to go into safe mode .in this mode you can still use the phone but all 3rd party apps will be disabled , to get out of safe mode just restart.

 

[msj514]

Press the power button until it shows power off and restart now long press restart it will give option to go into safe mode .in this mode you can still use the phone but all 3rd party apps will be disabled , to get out of safe mode just restart.

Okay, so I just tried this. When the ambient display comes on, it still does the blinking like before. Even the text at the bottom that says "safe mode" blinks.

 

[mustang7757]

Okay, so I just tried this. When the ambient display comes on, it still does the blinking like before. Even the text at the bottom that says "safe mode" blinks.

Then I would contact Google for a replacement , something wrong with your device.

 

[msj514]

Then I would contact Google for a replacement , something wrong with your device.

Ok thanks for your help!