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Pixel 3a and 3a XL problems and how to fix them
July 05, 2025
TheGoogle Pixel 3aand3a XLwere two of thebest budget-friendly phonesyou could get when they were first released in 2019. While they are mid-range phones, the Pixel 3a family didn’t miss out on any of Google’s camera brilliance. Unfortunately, Google’s mid-rangers weren’t without their fair share of issues. Here are someGoogle Pixel 3a and 3a XLproblems and solutions on how to fix them.
Pixel 3a and 3a XL problems:
Editor’s note:Not every Pixel 3a and 3a XL will have these issues. It is more likely that you won’t come across any of these problems at all.
Problem #1 — Fingerprint reader not working as expected
No smartphone fingerprint scanner is entirely accurate. However, some users find that the sensors of the Pixel 3a seem to run into more issues than most. Luckily, there aren’t too many options to try before you’re bound to reach an answer.
Potential solutions:
See also:How fingerprint scanners work
Problem #2 — Ringtones not working
Ringtone issues have become one of the more common Pixel 3a and 3a XL problems around. While all other audio plays through the device speakers, ringtones seem to ignore your chosen settings and vibrate instead.
See also:5 best apps for notification tones and ringtones
Problem #3 — Wi-Fi problems
Apart from general connectivity issues that sometimes show up, users are facing a couple of specific Wi-Fi problems with the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. In one case, users find that being connected to the Wi-Fi is causing a substantial battery drain. In the other situation, people find Wi-Fi speeds relatively low despite having a faster connection.
See also:Wi-Fi not working? Here are some possible fixes
Problem #4 — Charging cable issues
Pixel 3a and 3a XL owners have faced many problems with the charging cables that come with the phone. This can range from slow charging speeds to being unable to transfer files from a PC and more.
See also:Fastest charging cables: Which one is best for you?
Problem #5 — Random shutdowns and restarts
Quite a few Pixel 3a and 3a XL owners have faced problems with random shutdowns and reboots. You can go the Safe Mode route to ensure that an installed app isn’t causing the problem. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there’s a software solution or workaround available. It is worth mentioning, though, because of how many users have come across this issue. The best option here is to pick up a replacement if possible.
Guide — Rebooting to Safe Mode
Third-party apps can cause quite a few problems. Booting into Safe Mode is often the best way to check if this is the case. If the issue goes away, an app is causing it.
If the phone is on
If the phone is off
Exit Safe Mode
Guide — How to Perform a Factory Reset
Resetting the phone to factory settings is often a last-ditch solution to fix specific problems. However, don’t forget to back up essential data because this process will erase everything.
Reset with the phone on
Reset with the phone off or if it’s unresponsive
See also:Google Pixel 4a vs Pixel 3a: Should you upgrade?
That’s it for this roundup of some of the common problems with the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL that users have come across. If you’ve faced any other issues, do let us know in the comments section below.
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