Google Refuses to Fix Long-Standing Speaker Button Bug on Pixel Phones
For months now, users of Google’s Pixel 9 and the latest Pixel 10 lineup have been facing an infuriating glitch. The speaker button on the Google Phone app — something so basic that it should “just work” — refuses to cooperate smoothly during calls. And now, to make matters worse, Google has confirmed that it won’t be fixing the issue anytime soon.
It sounds like a small thing, right? Just a laggy button. But for users who rely on speaker mode daily, it’s a real headache. According to multiple reports on Google’s community forums, the issue can cause a delay of up to two seconds when switching between internal and external speakers. In some cases, the button doesn’t respond at all, forcing users to tap multiple times like they’re trying to wake a sleepy phone.
The Bug That Just Won’t Go Away
This problem isn’t new. In fact, it dates back to the Pixel 9 series launched last year, and has carried over to the brand-new Pixel 10 phones. One frustrated Pixel 10 Pro XL user summed it up best:
“Sometimes I have to keep tapping the speaker icon like crazy before it works. Every other button is fine, but this one? It’s like it has a mind of its own.”
It’s not just a minor annoyance. Imagine this — you’re on a call using speakerphone in a public place, and suddenly you need privacy. You hit the speaker button to switch back to the internal speaker, but it refuses to respond. That few seconds of delay can make all the difference, especially when what’s being said isn’t meant for everyone’s ears.
Users say the issue persists across both Android 16 stable builds and beta updates, which means even Google’s latest software hasn’t patched the problem.
Clues Point to the Google Phone App
Interestingly, some tech-savvy users have done their own detective work. A few discovered that rolling back to an older version of the Google Phone app fixes the lag completely. That points to the app itself — not the hardware — as the main culprit.
One Reddit user, going by the name cliffr39, expressed his frustration openly:
“I just want the speakerphone icon to work when I press it. It’s the most annoying bug since I bought this Pixel 10 Pro XL.”
Even more telling, the bug doesn’t appear when users activate the speaker from the notification toggle, instead of within the app. That detail strongly suggests a software glitch that could, in theory, be fixed — if Google wanted to.
Google’s Response: “Won’t Fix (Infeasible)”
When the bug finally reached Google’s Issue Tracker in August, users hoped a patch was on the horizon. But those hopes were dashed on October 20, when Google officially marked the issue as “Won’t Fix (Infeasible).”
That statement didn’t sit well with Pixel owners. “I paid for a phone that should work fully,” one user commented on the forum. Another replied, “I’d still buy the phone anyway, but this is disappointing from a brand like Google.”
Google’s reasoning? According to the Issue Tracker post, the company claimed there wasn’t “enough actionable information” to continue working on it. The note suggested users could open a new report with additional details if the problem persists — a response that felt like a polite brush-off to many.
A Workaround, But No Real Fix
For now, the only reliable workaround seems to be using the speaker toggle in the notification bar instead of the in-app button. Alternatively, some users have opted to switch to third-party dialer apps, skipping Google’s own Phone app entirely.
That’s not exactly what you’d expect from a flagship device that costs a premium. The Pixel 10 series, marketed for its AI features and cutting-edge camera, shouldn’t be tripped up by something as simple as a lagging speaker button.
Many users believe this issue undermines Google’s credibility when it comes to handling post-launch bugs. While companies like Apple or Samsung often roll out quick patches for smaller issues, Google’s “Won’t Fix” stance sends the opposite message — that convenience and user experience are not a priority here.
What This Means for Pixel Users
If you’re a Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 user, the message is clear: don’t expect a fix for now. And if speakerphone performance is important to you, you may need to adjust your habits or install an older app version manually.
But here’s the thing — this incident may hurt Google more than it realizes. The Pixel lineup has been slowly gaining ground in the smartphone market, known for its clean software and timely updates. Yet when the company refuses to fix a persistent, widely reported issue, it risks losing the trust it has built.
In the competitive smartphone landscape, user trust is everything. When customers pay flagship prices, they expect flagship treatment — fast fixes, transparent communication, and accountability.
Hopefully, someone at Google rethinks this “infeasible” verdict. Because at the end of the day, a speaker button that doesn’t work right shouldn’t be too much to ask for in 2025.