- Owners of Pixel 4 and 4XL report that Face Unlock has stopped working again.
- Phones tell them to “clean the top of your screen” even if it’s not a problem.
- Google tried to fix the problem a few weeks ago but the problems persist.
Owners of Google Pixel 4 are once again struggling with face-opening issues. Android Police Notes that users of Google Release the tracker, Google Support Forums, And Reddit have complained that the face lock does not work on pixels 4 and 4xl.
If you are affected, you will see a lock screen message asking you to “Clear the top of your screen, including the black bar”. No matter how dirty the area is, unlocking the face will not work and restarting the phone will only provide a temporary solution.
Related: Pixel 5 Buyer’s Guide
Some users report that Face Locking stopped when the Pixel 4 was updated to Android 11, but not for everyone. Some have been reporting problems for months. Others have speculated that this may be linked to a previous device sensor problem, citing as much evidence as possible data shortages in proximity and circulating light sensors.
Google is not sure if there is a solution to this latest Pixel 4 Face unlock issue. Although there are hints that it has addressed the black bar alerts with the November Android update, owners are still complaining about issues even after the patch is installed. The release notes do not mention anything specifically addressed for face verification.
We have asked Google for feedback. Although the owners have added a number of headaches, it is not clear how far the shortcomings will go. This is a particularly troubling problem during an epidemic. You can not actually use the mask when you are wearing a mask, and this forces you to enter a passcode even when you are safe at home.
