Scope of the Issue
Multiple Pixel owners report complete loss of Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth after installing the January 2026 update, affecting Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro/XL models.
Technical Failure Points
The update appears to corrupt the radio firmware stack, preventing the radio driver from initializing. Factory resets and standard reboots do not restore functionality, indicating a deep system‑level failure.
- Radio firmware corruption leads to permanent loss of wireless connectivity until a manual re‑flash.
- Inability to recover via factory reset forces users into a near‑airplane‑mode state.
- Mandatory ADB sideload requires technical expertise and a trusted computer, increasing the attack surface.
Privacy & Security Implications
Without Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth, devices may default to cellular data, exposing users to unintended data usage spikes and potential carrier billing issues.
Users forced to sideload builds risk installing compromised binaries if the source is unverified, opening the door to malware injection.
The outage also disables Bluetooth‑based security keys, weakening two‑factor authentication mechanisms for corporate accounts.
Mitigation & Next Steps
Do not install the January 2026 update until Google confirms a fix. If already updated, consider rolling back via ADB only if you trust the source.
Monitor official channels for a patch and report any anomalies.
Take action now: postpone the update, back up your data, and stay informed.