Google Pixel 5a Troubleshooting

The phone will not charge while being plugged into a power source.

First ensure that the charger and the outlet itself works by testing it on another device. If the charger and outlet function properly but your devices charging light does not come on when plugged in, there is likely a faulty charging port within your Google Pixel 5a.

If your Google Pixel 5a will charge to 100% without any problem when plugged into a power supply but depletes quickly when disconnected from that power supply, a worn out battery is likely the cause of this short battery life.

The screen is distorted and/or will not respond to touch.

If your screen shows cracks or lines, that is likely the primary issue with an unresponsive screen and can cause difficulty when operating the phone.

If there are no visual issues with your phone screen but it remains unresponsive or slow, there is a possibility of a virus or malware. In that case it is best to factory reset the Google Pixel 5a before permanent damage is caused to the phone.

The Pixel 5a is known for having a motherboard issue and Google has extended the warranty for most devices for an additional year. Symptoms include a system lockup followed by a completely dark screen. The device will be completely unresponsive and performing the power reset procedures like pwr+vol buttons for 30+ seconds are often unsuccessful. Sometimes once the battery completely drains, the device will reset and be able to boot for a short time, but time is limited to backup data before it will crash again. It is recommended to leave the battery at 5-15% to speed recovery time. Avoid fully charging a device with this issue as this could prolong recovery time.

Note: if your Pixel 5a has experienced the motherboard failure problem (suddenly "bricked" with no warning, unable to turn back on), refer to this Google support page for information about free service under the two-year extended repair program.

If you have taken the phone apart, you may not have the display pins fully seated to the motherboard or there is an issue with the screen.

Audio is difficult to hear and/or scratchy through phone speaker despite volume setting.

Clean the exterior of the speakers with cotton swabs and toothpicks removing all possible dust/debris, do NOT use chemicals or liquids as you may damage your speakers further.

Speakers are clear of debris but sound is still distorted or difficult to hear, your speakers may have received internal damage in some way and you may need to replace the speakers themselves.

Audio is difficult to hear and/or scratchy through headphone jack despite volume setting.

Ensure that the headphone port is clean of debris by using a flashlight and toothpicks to clear the port.

Test your headphone on another device to ensure the sound is clear, if the headphones work properly and the port is clear of debris, you may have an internally damaged headphone port.

Camera images are blurry, distorted or unfocused.

If your phone's camera will not focus or is permanently blurry inspect the lens of the camera. If the lens is cracked this is the issue. If your lens shows clear cracks or damage, it will need to be replaced completely. Be careful of stray pieces of glass as it can cut the user.

Inspect the camera glass and ensure that there are no fingerprints or other impedances. If this is the case then clean the glass thoroughly using a cloth rag.