I posted in Android and iPhone communities a couple of weeks ago seeking a solution or at least a reason for issues I've been having with cell phones and a tablet but did not get a resolution, so I'm reposting with updates.

I use a Pixel 9 Pro XL and my spouse has an iPhone 17 Pro Max and an iPad A16. A few months ago my P9PXL started popping up an error message that liquid was detected when I plugged most charging cords into it. The phone became very particular about which charging cords (blocks?) it would work with. The liquid detected error message stopped popping up after a week or two but the sensitivity to which cords it would work with has continued to this day. Interestingly it seems to work best with cheap charging cables and blocks, as opposed to higher dollar/powered cables and blocks.

A few weeks ago the same exact problem began to occur first with my spouse's iPad A16 and then shortly after with their phone 17 Pro Max. They often get a warning message about liquid detected but not always. Sometimes when they plug one of the devices in simply nothing happens. Sometimes they get the liquid detected warning. If they get the liquid detected message there's an option to tap to bypass it. Sometimes when you tap to bypass the device will start charging and sometimes it won't.

I have bought numerous chargers and cables off of Amazon trying to find a fix. All of the blocks and cords are PD and many are supposed to be capable of higher powered charging, i.e. faster. These items range from 20w to 65w. More often than not ALL of the devices (my P9PXL, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPad A16) will work with a cheap low power charger/cord purchased from a gas station, as opposed to the higher powered PD compatible items I researched and bought off Amazon. In fact, I have 3-in-1 charging cables that likely came from a convenience store that I keep plugged into the USB-A ports at each end of the couch. Often either/both our phones will not work with the USB-C connection but WILL work with the Apple lightning connection using a USB-C adapter! WTF?!

I have tried charging all three devices at both work and home with no difference in how well they charge. Also, neither my daughter's Samsung Z Flip 5 nor an iPhone 13 we use for work have any of these charging issues. Those devices work with everything without any problems. It's just the P9PXL, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPad A16 that are temperamental about charging.

When I posted this problem initially a couple of weeks ago the overwhelming response in both the Android and the iPhone communities was to clean the ports. I had already had my Pixel phone cleaned by a guy at a Best Buy Geek Squad counter but that didn't do anything. But I did as advised and cleaned all the ports of all the devices myself using 91% isopropyl alcohol, the pointed end of a plastic floss stick, and a couple of small brushes that I had. Cleaning the ports seemed to help improve connectivity a tiny, tiny bit initially but did not resolve the unpredictable charging issues.

I then took my P9PXL to the guy at the phone repair kiosk at the mall to see if it would make a difference having it 'professionally' cleaned. However, instead of cleaning any of the devices he plugged some sort of reader into the charging port of my phone that declared it good and in working order. But when he plugged my phone into the USB-C charging cable he had as part of his repair set-up it did nothing. So he declared my phone's IC chip damaged. He then did the same thing with my spouse's iPhone 17 Pro Max, which also said the port was healthy, yet the phone would not charge. So the mall repair guy diagnosed all the devices as having damaged IC chips but he never cleaned the ports, which is what I went to him for. I don't trust that diagnosis though because the problem is so hit and miss.

For example, I took all my charging blocks and cables up to work and went through them trying different combinations until I found one that worked with everything. This was a dual 20w charging block (each port has a dedicated 20w port) along with a braided USB-C Apple cord that came with an Apple device. This combo of charging block and cable worked on all three devices at work. I had multiples of both the charging block and Apple cable, so I left one set at work and took another set home.

At the end of our couch we have two end tables that have two US electrical outlets, one USB-C port, and one USB-A port. Both of the Apple devices charged using the charging block and/or cable in all three of the power outlet types. (Used a USB-C to A adapter to test that port.) However, today I plugged the iPhone 17 Pro Max into the cord that was plugged into a charging block that was plugged into the US electrical outlet that's made into the end table. It did not work when it had previously. I then pulled the cord out of the charging block and plugged it directly into the USB-C port made into the end table. It still did not work. HOWEVER, when I plugged my Pixel 9 Pro XL into the cord plugged into the USB-C port it did work and began charging my phone. BUT when I pulled the charging cord out of the USB-C port and plugged it into the charging block that was plugged into a US electrical outlet also made into the end table it DID NOT work.

This all just simply does not make any sense to me at all. There does not seem to be any logical rhyme or reason to this issue we're experiencing between three separate services from two different manufacturers.

(I posted this in an iPhone community but it started with my P9PXL and continues, so there's got to be some technical commonality.)

So I'm in a mixed marriage - I'm Android and they're iPhone. Yet we're both experiencing the same issue. A few months ago my Pixel 9 Pro XL suddenly got super finicky about corded charging. It either simply wouldn't charge when I plugged it in or it'd pop up a 'liquid detected' warning message, even though there was no liquid whatsoever. After a few weeks the problem semi-resolved itself. The liquid detected warning message quit popping up and my Pixel phone got better about corded charging, although it still did nothing when I plugged it into some chargers it had previously worked with.

So now several months later not only is my spouse's iPhone 17 Pro Max doing the exact same thing but their iPad A16 is too. There is no rhyme or reason to it. Neither device wants to charge with any charger or cord. Interestingly, on the occasion I do manage to get a device charging it is usually with a cheap third party charger, like from a convenience store. I have several 3-in-1 chargers with different connection types. I seem to have slightly better luck occasionally with the Apple devices using the lightning cable with a USB-C adapter weirdly enough.

I've ordered charging blocks and cables off Amazon and they either won't work at all or they work for a while and then stop after a few weeks. I am more tech savvy than the average person but not expert by any stretch. However, I am ensuring that I'm ordering PD charging blocks and compatible cables ranging from 20w to 65w.

We can wirelessly charge the iPhone, so it's not dire but the iPad has become a constant struggle. The power will get down into the teens and I'll mess with it for two days before it just suddenly starts charging using a block and cord I've already tried before. Sometimes the override button will work when it says liquid detected and sometimes it won't.

This week I ordered charging blocks and cables that are PD and capable of reaching up to 65w. The product description specifically says that it will work for an iPhone 17. However, they arrived yesterday and they do not work for my spouse's iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPad A16 or my Pixel 9 Pro XL. Both of the Apple devices pop up the liquid detected warning and my Pixel simply does nothing. However, the new chargers work great with an old iPhone 13 we have for our business (using a C to lightning adapter) and it works fine on our daughter's Samsung Z Flip 5. (In fact it fully charged her phone from 1% to 100% in a little over an hour!)

I have tried using the Apple cords that came with the devices but since they no longer provide charging blocks I don't think that any of mine are 'official' Apple brands and, even if they were, they'd be years old now, going back to whenever they used to include the charging blocks with the devices.

I have googled this issue and cannot find any useful information. There has to be some commonality between the new Apple devices and my Pixel 9 Pro XL that's causing them not to work with the chargers.

This is the latest charging set-up I ordered if the specs happen to tell you anything...

https://a.co/d/0hQUYPk4

Since yesterday I am back in the Pixel world. I am the happy owner of a pixel 10a

Hi Lemmy,

I have the following problem: - whenever I try to enable Bluetooth-tethering, it is switched off again whenever I re-open the hotspot and tethering screen.

How can I solve this?

I have a Pixel 4a, and I want to use bleutooth tethering for my TomTom Go5200 GPS device. But I can not because the Bluethoot-tethering keeps switching itself off automatically. I have included a screenshot of the hotspot and tethering screen which is set in Dutch.

i have been answering a lot of calls without even knowing i picked it up. any way/app to set up swipe to answer (like ios) on pixel. #googlepixel @googlepixel@lemmy.ml

any veteran #pixel user here? i can't figure out a few things. first of all i went for 256gb model because i didn't want to buy a new subscription for storage, but now it appears that the google photos app is not letting me save anything on the photos app because i don't have any storage (maxxed out the 15 gb default)

@googlepixel@lemmy.ml @android@lemmy.world

Ahead of its launch in just a few weeks, more Pixel 9 leaks are helping to confirm what Google’s latest flagship series will bring to the table. Now, some new renders of Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are offering a clear look at the two devices, including a pink color that doesn’t seem as vibrant as pictured previously.

As we approach the one-month mark for Made by Google 2024, the Pixel 9 series leaks continue, and today we have European pricing.

Possible colors for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have now leaked.

The upcoming Google Pixel Watch 3 will bring about some nice upgrades, including smaller bezels and more

With Made by Google 2024 next month, the Pixel Watch 3 has arrived at the FCC for regulatory approval.

The Pixel 9 series is now rumored to adopt an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Since the Pixel 6’s switch to an under-display fingerprint sensor, people have complained about unlock performance being a regression from the days of Pixel Imprint. Performance has improved over the years, but the Pixel 9 series is now rumored to adopt an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

According to a new report, Google's Tensor G5 chip has reached the "tapeout" stage at TSMC, signaling the design is nearly finalized.

Details of this month’s security fixes can be found on the Android Security Bulletin: https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/pixel

What’s included

The July 2024 update includes bug fixes and improvements for Pixel users – see below for details.

Camera

• General improvements for camera stability under certain conditions *[2]

System

• General improvements for system stability and performance in certain conditions *[3]

User Interface

• Fix for back gesture navigation not working in certain conditions *[1]

Device Applicability

Fixes are available for all supported Pixel devices unless otherwise indicated below. Some fixes may be carrier/region specific.

*[1] Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet
*[2] Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8
*[3] Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 8a

According to a new report, Google will be using the same display panel on Pixel 9 as Apple plans to use on iPhone 16 Pro.

Google had a prototype foldable ready a year before the Pixel Fold and we finally know its design and specs.

Bought a Pixel 4a second hand since it's the last Pixel with a headphone jack that isn't too big for me, and I'm hoping to keep it as long as I can.

Unfortunately, it's about time for me to replace the battery. I tend not to treat my battery too well (can't be bothered to keep it between 20% and 80%, but it's supposed to be consumable, right?) and I'm not sure if replacement batteries will hold up as well over the years. So I'm wondering if it's fine to just replace the battery and pop the whole thing back into my case without gluing the screen, so future repairs are a bit easier and won't involve the risk of breaking the screen while prying it off.

For reference, I'm using one of those cases with an interlocking front and back, so it ought to hold itself together and not fly apart if I drop it. (edit) I guess what I'm looking for is experience as to whether the newly introduced slack between the glass and body tends to make make the screen more fragile or put undue strain on flex cables.

I very recently bought a used Pixel 6 with a replacement screen, not thinking too much of it. I even made sure that the screen looked good during pickup.

One thing I missed though, was that apparently my Pixel doesn't have a fingerprint sensor anymore. I did some research, apparently it's quite easy to break the fingerprint sensor (or some places simply just don't include a sensor in the repair?) when replacing the screen.

Today I also noticed (through Show refresh rate in developer options) that my screen will only do 60 Hz as well.

Also I have stupidly high battery drain, I'm not 100% if that's related though.

Long story short, learn from my mistakes and either don't buy a used phone with a replacement screen or carefully test all functionalities associated with the screen, mainly high refresh rate and the fingerprint sensor.

I used to be able to press the microphone button on my home screen and say "Start 5-minute timer" and it would start the timer.

Now, when I do that, it does a Google search for "Start 5-minute timer".

How do I get that functionality back?

I don't want to open an app, and I don't want to use a number pad or anything to enter the number.

EDIT: Thank you! I went into the Gestures section of Settings, and now I can long-press the power button to get the desired behaviour. This might even be more convenient than tapping the mic icon!