Google Pixel 3 dock users report problems showing notifications

Users of Google’s Pixel 3 smartphone are experiencing problems with notifications when they use the associated dock. After the smartphone is removed from the dock, notifications on the ambient display are no longer shown.

Several users of both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have reported the issues with the Pixel Stand, the dock that comes with it. Android Police reported about the problem and also managed to reproduce the bug with the Pixel 3 and the XL variant. Experience shows that the Pixel 3 smartphones no longer show notifications on the ambient display as soon as they are removed from the Pixel Stand. The ambient display is the part of the screen that remains on, for example to show the time or to show notifications. This is mainly used with OLED screens because they have the ability to turn individual pixels on and off, so that the entire screen does not have to be on continuously.

According to Android Police, users of the Pixel 3 affected by the bug will still receive a notification that a notification has arrived, but it will not be shown on the screen. For now, the only solution seems to be restarting the device. Then the problems reappear when the smartphone is placed on the Pixel Stand and taken off again.

Google has said it is investigating the phenomenon, but did not provide further details. As a result, it is not yet clear what causes the problems. It is likely that a software update will be released to fix the issues.