This archive report was first published on 2 September 2021.
Published on September 2, 2021, reports have been emerging of a frustrating issue affecting Google Pixel 3 and 3XL devices, causing random shutdowns and locking the devices in EDL mode.
EDL mode, short for Emergency Download mode, is a last resort measure by Qualcomm to prevent devices from hard-bricking. It kicks in when ROM updates or drive changes go wrong, allowing manufacturers to flash the internal memory and correct issues.
However, for Pixel 3 owners, EDL mode has become a persistent problem. Despite reports of the issue dating back to December 2020, there is still no clear solution, and users are left baffled by what has gone wrong with their devices.
Some users claim that the issue started after a security update, while others report that it simply appeared out of nowhere. What is clear, though, is that the bug has been affecting multiple builds of Android 11 and is still affecting new Pixel 3 users.
One common thread among affected users is that their devices can be charged, even with a non-functional screen, and can be identified by a PC as 'QUSB_BULK_CID' followed by a serial number. This indicates that the phone is in EDL mode.
Normally, a standard power cycle should get the phone out of EDL mode and booted normally back into Android. However, Pixel 3 owners across Google's support forums report that their phones simply boot back into EDL mode when powered up, leaving them non-responsive and unable to use their devices.
As the Pixel lineup is not new to weird bugs and challenges, this issue is not an isolated incident. Just a few months ago, Google announced that it was extending the warranty for the Pixel 4 XL by an extra year to cover specific power-related issues.
While Google's official support channels are aware of the issue affecting the Pixel 3 lineup, the stumbling block is that the devices are slightly older and most of them are out of warranty, making options very limited.
As there is still no official solution from Google, those bold enough can take their handsets to an authorized shop to see if their Qualcomm tools can get the phone to wake up.
