Randomly notifications/time/battery bar don't showing on lock screen (Pixel 7 256 GB)

[Sasuke87]

Still didn't receive any answer from Google. I hope they will hear my feedback.
The problem occurs very often.

 

[throwaway3249]

This is happening on my Pixel 8 recently also. Not being able to see the battery/signal info at a glance is frustrating.

A quick test:
My phone is on my desk charging.

Steps:
- Let the screen turn itself off after a few seconds
- Press the power button to wake the screen
- Note down whether the top bar is visible or not
- Repeat this test 10 times, here are the results:

attempt 1: top bar visible
attempt 2: top bar NOT visible
attempt 3: top bar NOT visible
attempt 4: top bar NOT visible
attempt 5: top bar NOT visible - but appeared after a few seconds
attempt 6: top bar NOT visible
attempt 7: top bar NOT visible
attempt 8: top bar visible
attempt 9: top bar NOT visible
attempt 10: top bar NOT visible

Summary:
The top bar on the lock screen is broken approximately 80% of the time.

I hope Google fix it soon.

 

[Sasuke87]

Hi, you described the problem well.
Since there are no solutions to the problem, I sent a feedback to Google with the Pixel's specific function.
The more people report the problem, the sooner they will solve it, I hope.
In my opinion, however, most people do not even notice the problem.

 

[throwaway3249]

I installed the Jan 2025 update today, that seems to fix it.
Edit: nope, not fixed

 

[Sasuke87]

For me, however, nothing has changed, same problem. The update did not fix the problem.

 

[throwaway3249]

Yeah you're right, today the issue is back for me.

I noticed if I reboot the phone it seems fixed again, maybe something occurs over the course of a day which breaks it.

 

[throwaway3249]

I spoke to google pixel support, showed them screenshots of the issue and this thread and they filed a bug report for the developers.

 

[Sasuke87]

Even after installing the february update, the problem still verify often.

 

[Sasuke87]

Even after installing the march update, the problem still verify very often.

I chatted with Google and explained the problem, and the first solution was to clear the cache of the UI Android system app.

I've done it, but the problem is still here.

The second solution that was recommended to me was to boot the phone into safe mode and uninstall one by one the apps that I installed after noticing the problem.

But in my opinion, this is a very inconvenient solution to try, since I currently have over 200 apps on my Pixel 7.

 

[mustang7757]

Even after installing the march update, the problem still verify very often.

I chatted with Google and explained the problem, and the first solution was to clear the cache of the UI Android system app.

I've done it, but the problem is still here.

The second solution that was recommended to me was to boot the phone into safe mode and uninstall one by one the apps that I installed after noticing the problem.

But in my opinion, this is a very inconvenient solution to try, since I currently have over 200 apps on my Pixel 7.

In safe mode it disables all 3rd party apps, so u monitor it in that mode if it's the same then not a 3rd party app if it's ok then a 3rd party app could be an issue

 

[Sasuke87]

After leaving the device in safe mode for a few hours, I have actually never seen the problem that occurs in "normal" mode.
I tried locking/unlocking the phone many times and the bar was always visible.

At this point, the problem could really be related to a third-party app, but the problem is to understand which one...

Do other users who have the same problem, leaving the device in safe mode, confirm that the problem does not occur?

 

[throwaway3249]

Do other users who have the same problem, leaving the device in safe mode, confirm that the problem does not occur?

I will test and report back. Because restarting the phone often makes it behave correctly for a while it may take a few days to reach a result. I have very few apps, so if it seems fixed in safe mode I'll try to figure out which app it is.

Link to safe mode instructions in case anyone else wants to try also:

Find problem apps by rebooting to safe mode - Pixel Phone Help

Some apps that you download can cause issues with your phone. Try the steps below if your phone has any of these problems: Restarting itself. Freezing. Crashing. Running slow.

support.google.com

 

[mustang7757]

After leaving the device in safe mode for a few hours, I have actually never seen the problem that occurs in "normal" mode.
I tried locking/unlocking the phone many times and the bar was always visible.

At this point, the problem could really be related to a third-party app, but the problem is to understand which one...

Do other users who have the same problem, leaving the device in safe mode, confirm that the problem does not occur?

I would look at the most recent ones and go over in play store see which apps were recently updated since the problem

 

[Sasuke87]

I would look at the most recent ones and go over in play store see which apps were recently updated since the problem

Is there a way to sort apps by install date?

 

[mustang7757]

Is there a way to sort apps by install date?

Let me check but I believe play store has the option

 

[mustang7757]

This is the options I see

 

[Sasuke87]

This is the options I see

Oh ok, thanks. But unfortunately it's not the sorting I need. Strange that it can't be done as I said. This is a problem

 

[mustang7757]

Oh ok, thanks. But unfortunately it's not the sorting I need. Strange that it can't be done as I said. This is a problem

Sorry yeah I thought at one point it did but as you know with updates things can change.

 

[throwaway3249]

So far it seems like safe mode works for me also. Tomorrow I'll begin testing individual apps.

I have made a list of my apps, if you can indicate which you use I can prioritise testing apps we have in common.

- fastmail
- times radio
- bbc weather
- bbc news
- steam
- battle.net
- whatsapp
- firefox
- bitwarden
- ms authenticator
- what3words

 

[mustang7757]

So far it seems like safe mode works for me also. Tomorrow I'll begin testing individual apps.

I have made a list of my apps, if you can indicate which you use I can prioritise testing apps we have in common.

- fastmail
- times radio
- bbc weather
- bbc news
- steam
- battle.net
- whatsapp
- firefox
- bitwarden
- ms authenticator
- what3words

Firefox and WhatsApp I would rule out the rest are suspect