Not everyone is fond of upgrades. If you’re one of those users who does not always like the latest Android version has to offer, then you must be wondering how to downgrade Android on your #GooglePixel2 device. In this short troubleshooting article, we give you the general steps on how to do that. This is not an exhaustive guide though so you still need to do tons of research on your own. We would only like to confirm that yes, all hope is not lost. Even if your Pixel 2 has already been updated, there’s still a way to return to the previous version.
In this post, we also cover some other common issues on this device. We hope you’ll find our solutions helpful.
Problem #1: How to recover data from a Google Pixel 2 XL that won’t boot up
Google Pixel 2 XL (model G011C) crashed and is now stuck on the “G” screen at boot-up. The little bar under the “G” eternally runs with no other actions. I attempted to enter “Recovery Mode” and the little Droid guy looks dead with a red exclamation and “no command”. I have attempted to enter “Safe Mode” numerous times and cant get it into safe mode (steps taken: power on, at Google screen, press and hold volume down until the animation stops and the “G” screen appears.) I would prefer not to factory reset as there are photos on the device of an American hero who was killed in the line of duty and his children want the photos with their dad. (Sad story, but very real.) The phone was not rooted. I checked for a “clear cache” command and couldn’t find one thinking the phone may be out of memory. Can I do anything with TWRP without wiping the memory? HELP!
Solution: First of all, access to contents to any Android storage device is only possible if the phone works normally, that is, that the operating system must still be operational and that the touchscreen is working so you can input your commands. In your situation, the operating system (Android) is obviously not booting up anymore, so unless you can make it work normally again, those files are good as gone.
Secondly, TWRP may help fix the issue if you’ve created a backup of your software prior to experiencing the problem. As far as recovery of your files though, you’re out of luck. TWRP is not a tool to recover files from a failed system. It does allow a user to create a backup and restore such backup should problems arise but it’s not the type of software that you need for this case.
Thirdly, since your main concern appears to be file recovery, you should consider getting help from companies that specializes in this field. Data or file recovery in this case is tough and unguaranteed. It requires proprietary tools so it can also be expensive. If you think those data are priceless or if money is not a problem, avoid doing anything on the device (just turn it off) and send it to a company that can check it. They will be the one to tell you if there’s a chance of them recovering anything.
Problem #2: How to fix Google Pixel 2 wifi issue: won’t connect to home wifi
Hello. I’ve tried just about everything, but for some reason my Pixel 2 does not want to connect to my home wifi. I’ve restarted the routers, phone, reset settings and even factory reset my phone. It worked for the first 2ish weeks I’ve had it and wifi works at other locations, but for some reason it doesn’t like the home wifi. However, all other devices in the house are fine and have no connectivity issues.
Solution: If the issue disappeared right after a factory reset but then returned after some time, you should consider the possibility that it’s either due to a third party app or a router misconfiguration.
Observe on Safe Mode
To check if you have an app issue, try observing the phone while it’s on safe mode. In this mode, all the apps you added will be suspended, only allowing pre-installed ones to run. Make sure that your phone runs in safe mode uninterrupted for at least 24 hours to see if there’s any difference. If everything works fine on safe mode, then you know that you have a third party app issue. To boot the device to safe mode:
- Press and hold your device’s power button.
- On your screen, touch and hold Power off Power. Tap OK.
- After you see “Safe mode” at the bottom of your screen, wait to see if the problem goes away.
If wifi works normally and nothing seems to be amiss for a full day, you can assume there’s a bad app causing the trouble. To identify which of your apps is causing the trouble, you should boot the phone back to safe mode and follow these steps:
- Boot to safe mode.
- Check for the problem.
- Once you’ve confirmed that a third party app is to blame, you can start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
- After you uninstall an app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
- If your Pixel 2 is still problematic, repeat steps 1-4.
Reset network settings
When dealing with wifi or mobile data issues on the Pixel 2, it’s a good idea to also clear its network settings. Your situation is no different so be sure to follow the steps below to clear network setup:
- Tap the Arrow Up icon from the Home screen to view all apps.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap System.
- Tap Reset or the Reset icon.
- Tap Network settings reset.
- Tap Reset Settings.
- If prompted, enter the correct passcode to continue.
- Tap Reset Settings again to confirm action.
Deal with your router
If both suggestions above won’t help and home wifi connection is still non-existent, it’s time to check if there’s anything in your router that’s causing it. We assume you’re the administrator of your router so be sure to verify that your Pixel 2 is not blocked or restricted from connecting to the internet. If there’s someone managing your home wifi, make sure to tell him or her to double check that your device is permitted to use the internet when connected.
If you don’t know where to begin, contact the router manufacturer or your Internet Service Provider (if they provided the router) and ask for help. There’s a list of things to check so it’s wise to talk to the support team that is familiar with the equipment.
Problem #3: How to downgrade Google Pixel 2 Android version
I have recently updated my software and got disappointed that the quality of output drastically reduced. The quality of my pictures in the gallery dropped and the video pictures for all installed apps is now poor. The general outlook of the phone is really depressing. Is there a way I can revert to the previous software or is it possible for you to make available to me a software update befitting a Google Pixel 2? The software update section on my phone says I have the most recent but I don’t believe that!
Solution: Like the physical phones themselves, Android Operating System also evolves and along with that comes changes. If you don’t like the look and feel of whatever Android version is running on your device, you can revert to the previous version by manually installing the firmware. This option is not supported by Google and hence there’s no official way to do it.
Downgrading Android in Pixel 2 device is not straightforward so be sure to do some research about it before doing it. It’s also a security risk as older systems tend to be easier to hack than new ones.
Create a backup
If you’ve decided to take the risks involved in moving backwards with your Android device, the very first thing that you need to do is to back your personal data up. If you keep lots of photos, videos, documents, etc in your phone, be sure that you copy them to a second device or to the cloud. Manually installing Android in your device requires wiping the phone clean.
Prepare your tools
Flashing your Pixel 2 requires a computer. In your computer, you also need to install two utilities called ADB and Fastboot. You can get the official versions from Google site itself. Depending on your computer, pick the right link for you below:
- Download ADB and Fastboot for Windows
- Download ADB and Fastboot for Mac
- Download ADB and Fastboot for Linux
Find a good flashing guide
Flashing or manually installing a firmware for your Pixel 2 is an integral step in this situation. To do that, you want to make sure that you follow a reputable guide. There are many online forums that can give you the steps on what to do so be creative with Google search. A good site to start looking for guides is XDA Developers Forum.
Unlock the bootloader
The next step that you need to do is to unlock the bootloader of your device. Some Pixel 2 devices may come with unlocked bootloader so you may have to skip this step after verification. We’re not here to give every detail how this is done so here begins your research about this task. Use Google to find a good guide to walk you through the steps.
Flash the firmware
We assume that you’ve already found a good flashing guide at this time. Once you’ve already unlocked the bootloader, you can then proceed to the actual flashing of the firmware you’ve selected.
Summary
The actual flashing procedure is fairly easy and can be finished within 5 minutes. However, you will have to spend hours of research to look for guides and firmware. Not to mention the fact that you also risk bricking the phone should you fail to follow instructions, or if you use an incompatible firmware version. If all these hassles and risks are acceptable to get what you’re missing, then go ahead. Just remember, flash your phone at your own risk.