Pixel users, beware: A Google Assistant bug can disable your alarms

By Patrick Hearn Published April 4, 2025

Person holds Pixel 9a in hand while sitting in a car. — Google

A Google Assistant bug is causing chaos with Do Not Disturb profiles and causing users to miss alarms, appointments, and more. The bug was first reported on Reddit earlier today by u/Rawalanche, who claimed it started when Pixel received new Do Not Disturb modes.

Their report states that any non-standard DnD profile, such as one that allows calls from only certain contacts or specific applications, will only work if you activate it through the Settings menu or the notification menu. If you request the DnD profile with Google Assistant, it does not activate and instead mutes everything on the phone.

Recommended Videos

Multiple other people have confirmed the bug is affecting their profiles, as well. It appears to be related to something in the most recent update, so Google will need to issue a fix to correct the problem. For now, you can avoid it by manually activating all of your Do Not Disturb settings rather than relying on voice commands.

u/Rawalanche points out that this is a particularly dangerous glitch, especially if you’re relying on your ability to hear phone calls from specific people. For example, if you care for an ill relative as they did, you need to hear your notifications.

The Modes update was first introduced in March, and it has been met with mixed reviews. Many users dislike the absence of one-tap Do Not Disturb settings. For now, the only way users can enable Do Not Disturb with a single tap is through the use of third-party applications.

Google Assistant is facing a slow phaseout as Gemini AI takes over the majority of the ecosystem. It’s even being phased out of third-party interfaces, like LG TVs. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Gemini is significantly more powerful and capable than Google Assistant, and its newfound dominance means better performance for everyday tasks.

Topics

Mobile Writer

Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…

Mobile

The Google Pixel 9a is missing a crucial life-saving feature

Person holds Pixel 9a in hand while sitting in a car.

Launched earlier this week, the Pixel 9a packs Pixel 9's magic in a condensed, more affordable form. With a lower price, though, the Pixel 9a loses some perks of the more premium Pixel 9 phones, including some defining Gemini AI features.

Despite running the same Tensor G4 chipset as the Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro, the Pixel 9a loses on a life-saving feature: satellite-based SOS functionality. Google confirmed the lack to Android Authority, validating you won't be able to call or text in cases you get stranded without network -- as you would be able to with the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and the 9 Pro Fold phones. Google offers these services on premium Pixel phones in the U.S., Canada, UK, and parts of Europe.
Why Pixel 9a lacks satellite SOS connectivity
The reason behind Google skipping satellite connectivity from the Pixel 9a is an older modem. Unlike the Pixel 9 series, which uses the newer and more advanced Samsung Exynos 5400 modem, the 9a uses the previous generation Exynos 5300. The newer modem is what enables 5G non-terrestrial networking (NTN) that is used to connect with low-orbit communication satellites when cellular network is absent.

Mobile

Does the Google Pixel 9a have wireless charging?

Pixel 9a display

Google has just released the Pixel 9a, giving some people who are shopping for the Pixel 9 another phone in the series that best fits their budget. It comes in four beautiful matte colors -- Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris and Peony -- and runs on the Tensor G4 processor, ensuring your phone receives the most optimal performance. It has a flatter camera frame than the premium models, trimming its weight and giving it an eye-catching design. It costs between $499 and $599, depending on whether you buy the 128GB model or the 256GB model, respectively. No matter what model you get, it runs on 8GB of RAM and brings you optimal performance with Google's Tensor G4 processor.

If you're in the market for a new phone and are looking to get the Pixel 9a, you might be wondering if it has wireless charging capabilities. Most smartphones on the market are able to fill their batteries through wireless charging. Is the Pixel 9a any different simply because it's a budget Pixel phone? The answer will have you decide if it's worth the money.
Does the Google Pixel 9a have wireless charging?
The Pixel 9a has wireless charging, but it's not as powerful as its premium counterparts. It only draws 7.5 watts of wireless charging power, which is similar to that of the Pixel 8a, despite it having a bigger 5,100mAh battery than the Pixel 9's 4,700mAh.

Mobile

Does the Google Pixel 9a have a 120Hz screen?

Pixel 9a display

The Google Pixel 9a is a mid-range device with few compromises, and it promises to offer one of the best values of any phone. The handset has a lot of changes: Google ditched the camera bump, installed a new processor, and increased the screen size, all without increasing the price.

With Apple's "midrange" device releasing not long ago in the form of the Apple iPhone 16e, it's easy to draw comparisons between the two. The Google Pixel 9a is a more affordable device, and it beats the iPhone 16e in multiple ways.
Does the Google Pixel 9a have a 120Hz screen?
Yes, the Pixel 9a supports refresh rates between 60 and 120Hz. Its screen has a resolution of 1080 x 2424 with just over 422 pixels per inch (PPI) and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display reaches a peak brightness of 2,700 nits — more than enough to comfortably use even in direct sunlight — and up to 1,800 nits with HDR enabled.

nproxy.org