Android 16 Update Causes Silent Alerts, Google Promises Quick Fix Soon

Google is preparing a software patch to address a notification issue affecting devices running Android 16, following weeks of reports from Pixel users experiencing silent alerts.

The problem, first flagged in June on Google’s Issue Tracker, causes notifications to arrive without sound if there is already an alert present in the notification shade. Users reported that the sound plays only after previously displayed notifications are cleared.

The bug has been observed on multiple Pixel generations, including the Pixel 6 through Pixel 9 series. Reports indicate that this behavior has disrupted critical alerts from alarms, connected smart cameras, and health-monitoring devices.

A user’s detailed post noted that even with maximum volume levels and Do-Not-Disturb override permissions enabled, subsequent notifications fail to trigger audio. “After dismissing active notifications, the next alert sound plays as expected,” the report stated.

Google confirmed the problem on August 7, saying that a fix is already integrated into internal builds and will be included in an upcoming quarterly platform release. The company has not specified whether the correction will appear in Android 16 QPR1, expected this month, or QPR2, projected for December.

While awaiting the patch, some device owners have turned to temporary solutions, such as third-party apps like Notification Manager, which costs approximately $4.

Google introduced Android 16 in June with several feature upgrades, but this issue has emerged as an inconvenience for users reliant on consistent audio alerts.