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After doing a factory reset, some Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6a owners have had their phones brick. It looks like a problem that requires a software update fix from Google, but until then, here are steps on how to factory reset Pixel 6 devices without bricking them.

The issue looks like it sprang from software updates downloaded and installed to Pixel 6 devices. After those updated, factory resetting a Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, or Pixel 6a has become a risky affair, and likely to result in having your device bricked.

From the feedback available on online forums, the issue causes a booting problem such that when the device attempts to boot, it returns an error message saying that the device “cannot load Android system” and advising that the user carry out another factory reset.

The full the error message says:

“Cannot load Android system. Your data may be corrupt. If you continue to get this message, you may need to perform a factory data reset and erase all user data stored on this device.”

Of course, carrying out another factory reset doesn’t fix the problem. It is an endless loop.

To factory reset Pixel 6 device without bricking it

If you need to factory reset your Pixel 6 device, you need to remember whether you recently installed a system update. If you didn’t install any update on the last one month or so, you should be able to reset it without any fear of running into trouble. Unfortunately, the offending update has not been identified, so we can’t help with any info to help you tell which one it is.

However, if you have installed a software update recently, you need to leave your Pixel 6 device “powered on and idle for 15 minutes after it has rebooted following a system update.” You should be able to safely wipe the phone after that. 

If you have already bricked your Pixel 6 device

If you have already done a factory reset of your Pixel 6 and bricked it, you will have to wait for Google to come up with the fix. The company says it has “identified the root cause of the issue and is working on developing the best possible solution.” 

We will update this article with details of the Google fix when it is released. Hang in there and stay tuned.