Google Pixel 8 WiFi issues?

[James_B]

We're aware of reports from Google Pixel 8 users who are having difficulties connecting their phones to the new Smart Hub 7 Plus.

When trying to connect your Pixel 8 to the hub's WiFi, you may find that it fails to connect at all, or connects very briefly before disconnecting.

We've established that this is a recent problem following the big December Pixel update - Android 16’s new updates

Our engineers have raised the issue with Google and we're hopeful the problem will be resolved in a future Android update.

In the meantime, you can work around the problem by having your Pixel 8 device use the Compatible Wi-Fi network. Steps for activating and using this feature can be found here - Set up and use Compatible WiFi | Broadband Help | EE

[justthisonce]

Just wanted to say thank you, as this was the post that helped me solve the issue with my Pixel 9.

My son's Pixel 6a and my daughter's Samsung phone had no issue connecting to the EE Smart Hub 7 Plus that I was provided when I switched over last month, but my Pixel 9 would not hang on to the connection.

Switched to "WPA3-Personal-Transition" security on the router control panel and the problem went away. It also improved the connection to my HP Envy printer which was very unstable when using "WPA3-Personal-Compatibility".

HOWEVER I've continued to have occasional loss of connection to "smart home" devices, and last week I tried connecting my Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D printer to the WPA3-Personal-Transition network and it would drop almost immediately.

So I've been forced to do what I was trying to avoid, which is to activate the "Compatible Wifi" network on 2.4GHz and WPA2-Personal security and use it for devices that drop connection to the "Main Wifi". So far that's two printers and one light bulb, but I wouldn't be surprised if all the bulbs end up on the Compatible network.

In the future I might increase the security on the main network to full-fat "WPA3-Personal" but that will mean a hard reset on a couple of my smart home devices which I'd prefer to avoid (one example is the Google Nest Doorbell doesn't allow you to change Wifi network after the original setup).

Strikes me that the "improved" security of WPA3 is great in lab conditions, and may be a useful step forward in corporate environments, but it's pain in the backside for normal consumers.

[Michael_D]

Hi @justthisonce 

Thanks for coming back to share your experience and some tips.

Michael

[bobpullen]

Don't suppose anybody has tried again with default settings on the 7 Plus since Google pushed out the Android 17 Pixel Drop earlier in the month? Curious to know if it's helped?

[Ozzie1989]

My Pixel 8 will now connect on the main network since the latest software drop from Google but only at 2.4ghz. 

Sadly the problem remains unresolved and no one can seem to help 😕

[JimM11]

@Ozzie1989 Are you managing to get the reasonable speed out of the connection as suspected to be only on the 2.4Ghz, speed test may throw a little light on it also! 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz channel speed test, wifi 5 only connected to wifi 6 Hub.

https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/d/b84d03f0-b096-43cc-b25c-70f69525bda3

https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/d/1ebf8622-f601-4c72-9443-80cb91cab5b0

[Ozzie1989]

Sadly not, 24mbps at best. Laptop on the same network connected at 5ghz is reaching 880mbps. My 5g connection is faster! 🤣

Have gone back to the compatibility network for my Pixel phone, it just works.

[JimM11]

@Ozzie1989Thanks for the reply, sure looks like stuck down in the 2.4Ghz band for certain, your speed test does confirm that copied a few i just did, and those were correct and as expected when done with all the wireless that is being used currently!

Laptop test, Samsung only no Pixel devices.

[ISS13]

Any idea on when this is going to be resolved?

[JimM11]

@ISS13 Is the Compatible network connection feature not working for you?

[Ozzie1989]

The compatibility network is not a fix, it's a workaround and not really acceptable for a modern phone.