Why does my Google Pixel 2 not turning on and how to fix it? [Troubleshooting Guide]

Power issues rarely occur to new devices especially with high-powered variants like the newest Pixel series from Google called Google Pixel 2. But this is not a guarantee that you won’t be experiencing this problem at any time sooner than expected as there are certain circumstances when power issues become inevitable. Note that hardware problem is not always the one to blame whenever a mobile device refuses to power on as faulty apps can also be the main trigger. And considering the fact that you always wanted to add some new apps to use on your new device, it’s possible for you to encounter this problem. In fact, you might be reading this content because you’re already in trouble and trying to find ways to get your new Android device back to life. Should you wish to troubleshoot a similar problem on your Google Pixel 2 that won’t turn on, feel free to try the highlighted workarounds below this page. Read on to learn more about how the problem is triggered by what factor and finally resolve the underlying cause.

But before we proceed, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, drop by our Google Pixel 2 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this phone. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions or workarounds we suggested. If you still need further assistance, fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Possible causes

Several factors can prevent a device from turning. It can happen due to a faulty hardware or inflicted by a malfunctioning app or software bug. Consider yourself somehow lucky if the latter factors are to blame as you’ll have a higher chance of getting it fixed without having to pay extra for service. To give you some clues on what could have possibly prevented your Google Pixel 2 from turning on, here’s a rundown of all possible factors from which power issues in mobile devices are linked to.

Software malfunction. Several cases of power issues transpiring in mobile devices have been tied to a software malfunction. This usually occurs when an app crashes or gets rogue. The same thing can happen when a corrupted content is installed and/or running on your device. Major software updates are also included among most common triggers especially when they come along with some bugs. Consider this as to root-cause especially if your device starts to show relevant symptoms or doesn’t turn on after installing a new software update. All these factors are software-related thus can be rectified by certain workarounds.
Bad hardware component. As what most people think, a bad battery can also be considered among the possible triggers. However, you can rule this out from the possible causes in your case especially because what you have is a new device. It must have gone through a series of quality assurance tests prior to rolling out in the market. Unless the phone got wet and liquid damage has ruined the battery. The same thing can happen when the phone was dropped, inflicting physical damage on pertinent components. Unfortunately, hardware-related issues would already require service as remedy.

Potential solutions and workarounds to deal with your Google Pixel 2 that does not power on

As much as possible try to figure out which from among the given factors is causing the problem on your new Pixel phone. One way to do so is to remember when the first symptom has occurred or when the device has stopped booting up as intended. If it occurs after you installed an app or downloaded certain content, then uninstalling or deleting that app or content from your phone can likely fix it. To assist you further in troubleshooting the problem, here’s a rundown of possible solutions and workarounds for you to try on. Be sure to test your device after completing each method to determine whether or not the problem is fixed. If necessary, proceed to the next applicable solution.

Force your Google Pixel 2 to restart.

Performing a force reboot or restart can help eliminate the possibility of a software problem causing the device to not power on, stuck on black or blank screen, or turns on but immediately turns off. It does not affect data stored on the phone thus it’s safe.

If you haven’t already, then do a force restart on your Pixel device by holding down the Power button for at least 30 seconds until the Google logo shows up on the screen.

If it still does not power on, connect it to the charger, let it charge for a few minutes and then try to turn it on.

Boot into Safe Mode (if possible).

It your device turns on, try to restart in Safe Mode. Doing so will rule out the possibility or an app (probably the most recent download) causing your device to not power on. All downloaded apps are temporarily disabled in Safe Mode so it will be easier for you to figure out if the problem is isolated to a third-party app or not.

To boot your Google Pixel 2 into safe mode, press and hold the Power button.
Touch and hold the Power Off icon on your screen.

When you see the Safe Mode label at the bottom of your screen, it means that your device starts in safe mode.

You can also try to boot your Google Pixel 2 into safe mode while your device is off. Here’s how:

Press the Power button on your phone until the Google logo appears.
When the animation starts, press and hold the Volume Down button on your phone. Keep holding it until the animation ends and your phone starts in safe mode.

Again, you’ll know if it is already running in safe mode if you see the label at the bottom of the screen.

Assuming that you’re able to boot up your Google Pixel 2 in safe mode, connect it to the charger then try to delete any suspected app using these steps:

From the Home screen, swipe up the Arrow icon (located at the bottom) to view the Apps List.
Navigate to Settings-> Apps.
Locate then select the appropriate app.
If system apps aren’t visible, tap the Menu icon (located in the upper-right) > Show system.
Tap Force stop.
Tap OK.
Tap Storage.
Tap Clear Data. This option may not be available for some apps especially for pre-installed ones. Resetting an app or clearing data storage may delete saved info within the app (e.g., calendar events may be lost).
Tap OK.

After you diagnosed and removed suspected apps in safe mode, you can switch back to normal mode by restarting your device.

Connect your Google Pixel 2 to a computer.

You can also use a computer to troubleshoot your device further. If you wish to give it a try, then here’s how it’s done:

Unplug the cable from the power adapter.
Check and ensure that your computer is turned on and connected to a power source.
Connect your Google Pixel 2 to your computer’s USB port using the supplied USB cable.
Wait for about 15 minutes.
After the elapsed time, disconnect and then reconnect the cable from your phone. Do it within 10 seconds.
If you see a battery icon within 1 minute, it means that your phone is powered off and is charging.
If you see a red light, it means that your battery is completely drained or discharged.
If you see a flashing red light, it means that your device has not enough power to turn on.
Let your phone charge for at least 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes of charging, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds, then tap Restart on your screen.

Note: If you don’t see Restart on the screen, press and hold the Power button for about 30 seconds more until your device restarts. If it still doesn’t turn on, then consider the next suggestions.

Other suggestions

Give it more time to charge. Connect your phone to a power source and let it charge for about 30 minutes or up to an hour if necessary. Sometimes, what you think of a power problem is actually a charging issue on your device. It is also possible that some apps are draining the phone’s battery so rapidly that it couldn’t get to power on unless it’s connected to the charger. Also examine your charging cable, adapter, and power outlet and make sure each of them is working.
Try Android recovery/repair tools. If you already have run out of options and your Google Pixel 2 still doesn’t turn on, then you may try your luck with Android recovery/repair tools. You can download any of these tools online. Should you wish to go for this option, be sure to read the reviews and check the minimum system requirements to ensure that it is compatible with your computer and your Pixel device too. After downloading and installing your preferred software on your computer, launch it then follow the onscreen instructions to proceed with Android recovery and/or repair process.
Don’t forget your warranty. If you’re Google Pixel 2 is still under warranty, then you should contact your device carrier, escalate the problem, and/or avail for warranty (if still eligible). Consider doing this first especially if you just got your new device and then you found out that it is not power on no matter how hard you tried. You also have the option to contact Google Support for further assistance in troubleshooting the issue.

Take your device to a technician for hardware assessment and/or repair if necessary. Consider this option if your device is no longer covered by warranty and you suspect that a hardware damage is causing the problem.

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