Keep Pixel 3 Awake: No Sleep Mode, Ever!

The Google Pixel 3 is a smartphone developed by Google that has been reported to have a sleep bug, where the phone crashes and becomes unresponsive when it goes into a deep sleep state. This issue has been widely discussed on Reddit, with many users reporting similar problems and suggesting various methods to fix the bug. One user reported that the issue was resolved by performing a factory reset on their phone, while others suggested resetting application preferences or booting the phone in safe mode. Some users also recommended installing third-party apps like 'Gravity Screen' or 'Caffeinate' to keep the screen awake, while others mentioned that the July and August patches seemed to have fixed the issue.

Pixel 3A phone goes to sleep after 10 seconds despite display settings

If your Pixel 3A phone goes to sleep after 10 seconds despite your display settings, there are several possible reasons and solutions.

Firstly, it is important to check your display settings. Go to Settings -> Display -> Advanced -> Sleep -> Set timeout. Here, you can adjust the length of time it takes for your screen to turn off when inactive. The maximum time you can set it to is 30 minutes, but there is no 'infinite' option.

If adjusting the sleep timer does not work, the issue may be caused by an app that has been installed on your phone. Go to Settings > Apps > Special Device Permissions and look in the Modify System Settings. Tap the top right dot menu and select 'show system apps' to ensure that all apps are displayed. Check if there are any apps that can modify your display settings or require a lock screen or fingerprint to log in. If you find any suspicious apps, try uninstalling them and see if that resolves the issue.

If the problem persists, try booting your phone in safe mode to determine if the issue is caused by a third-party app. To do this, long-tap the Restart option when shutting down. If your phone works fine in safe mode, then the issue is likely caused by an app. Try resetting your application preferences or uninstalling apps one by one to identify the culprit.

If none of the above solutions work, you may need to perform a factory reset on your phone. Before doing so, ensure that your phone is up to date by going to Settings -> About Phone -> System Update. If there is an update available, install it and see if that resolves the issue. If not, back up your important data and perform a factory reset. It is recommended that you do not restore your phone from a backup as the issue may be caused by a setting or app that was transferred from your old phone. Instead, set up your phone as a new device and manually reinstall your apps.

If the problem still occurs after the factory reset, contact Google Support for further assistance. They may recommend additional troubleshooting steps or offer a replacement device if they suspect a hardware issue.

Pixel 3A sleep bug requires a force shut down and restart

Some users have reported a sleep bug on the Pixel 3A, which requires a forced shut down and restart. The issue appears to occur when the phone is inactive and in the user's pocket, and requires a hard reset by holding down the power button for 10 to 30 seconds.

One user reported that they contacted Google and received an RMA and a new phone. Other users have suggested that the issue may be related to transferring data from an old phone during the setup process, and some have found success in resolving the issue by performing a factory reset without restoring data from a previous device. It is recommended that users first try resetting application preferences before resorting to a factory reset.

One user reported that the issue occurred when their phone was unused and in their pocket, but also when it was face up on a table. They suggested that the proximity sensor may be a factor, as it allows the phone to go into a deep sleep when it detects that the phone is face down or in a pocket.

It is worth noting that not all Pixel 3A users have experienced this issue, and some have suggested that the July and August patches may have fixed it for some people. Performing a factory reset or updating to the Q beta version of the operating system may resolve the issue for those affected.

Apps that can keep the screen awake by movement

There are several apps that can keep your screen awake by detecting movement. Here are some options:

• Caffeine: This app allows you to keep your screen awake indefinitely or for a specific time interval. It is available on Google Play and can be downloaded via a QR code.
• KinScreen: This app uses sensors to keep the screen on as long as you are holding your phone. It is available on Google Play.
• Stay Awake: This app allows you to control your screen's status with a dedicated notification. You can set auto-start when your device boots up, or when a USB cable is plugged in or unplugged. It also has a timer function for auto-deactivation. Stay Awake is available on Google Play.
• Gravity Screen: This app has a feature that keeps the screen on by motion detection.

Additionally, you can try the following methods:

• Keep touching the fingerprint sensor at the back of your phone to reset the timer.
• Keep your finger on the reader to prevent the screen from turning off.
• Adjust the 'Screen Attention' setting on your Pixel phone.

Using the fingerprint sensor to reset the sleep timer

If you want to prevent your Pixel 3 screen from sleeping, you can use the fingerprint sensor to reset the sleep timer. Here's how to do it:

• Ensure that your Pixel 3 device has a fingerprint sensor. The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a, for instance, have fingerprint sensors on the back of the phone.
• Go to your phone's Settings. You can do this by pulling down the notification shade and tapping the gear icon or by finding the Settings app in the app drawer.
• Navigate to System > Gestures.
• Look for the "Swipe fingerprint for notifications" option. This setting allows you to check your notifications by swiping down on the fingerprint sensor when your phone is unlocked.
• Toggle on the "Swipe fingerprint for notifications" setting.
• Now, when you want to reset the sleep timer, simply swipe down or up on the fingerprint sensor, and the notification drawer will move up and down. This interaction will reset the timer and keep the screen awake.

By utilising this method, you can keep your Pixel 3 screen active without having to touch the screen or install third-party apps. It's a convenient way to keep the screen on, especially when reading or performing tasks that require uninterrupted screen time.

Changing the sleep timeout value

If you want to change the sleep timeout value on your Pixel 3, you can do so by going to Settings > Display > Advanced > Sleep > [Set timeout]. The maximum timeout you can set is 30 minutes. There is no 'infinite' option, but you can set the timeout to a high number if you wish to keep your screen on for a longer period.

It is worth noting that some users have reported that their Pixel 3 devices go to sleep after a short period of inactivity (around 10 seconds), even when they have set a longer sleep timeout value. In these cases, performing a factory reset of the device without restoring from a backup appears to have resolved the issue.

Frequently asked questions