Android 17 update causes touchscreen glitches on Pixel

A significant software bug is disrupting the basic touchscreen functionality for many Google Pixel owners following the stable rollout of Android 17. Users across multiple device generations, including the Pixel 7, 8, 9, and 10 series, report erratic behavior where the screen misinterprets or ignores inputs.

The problems, which emerged after the update began rolling out in mid-June, include swipes registering in the opposite direction, taps going unrecognized, and the creation of unresponsive dead zones on the screen. The issues occur across the system interface and within various apps, making fundamental navigation frustrating and unreliable.

Google has acknowledged the problem through its official PixelCommunity account on Reddit and in its public Issue Tracker. The company initially suggested users clear the cache for the Pixel Launcher app, but numerous reports indicate this official troubleshooting step has provided little relief for most affected owners.

In the absence of a universal fix from Google, some users have found partial or temporary workarounds. One method that has shown varied success involves disabling the device's Smooth Display feature, which controls the...