Pixel Phone Take a Message Bug May Leak Your Audio

January 30, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

Okay, here’s a breakdown of the provided HTML snippet and text, focusing on the key facts:

1. Image and Lightbox:

* The code displays an image related to the “Take a Message” feature on Pixel phones.
* The image is responsive, adapting to different screen sizes (600w, 900w, 1000w).
* There’s a “lightbox” functionality. Clicking the image or the small “enlarge” button (with the SVG icon) will likely open a larger version of the image in a popup.
* The lightbox is triggered by JavaScript functions: callbacks.initTriggerButton and actions.showLightbox.

2. The issue: “Take a Message” Bug

* The text describes a bug in the Pixel phone’s “Take a Message” feature.
* The Problem: When “Take a Message” is activated,callers can hear background audio from the phone’s surroundings while they are leaving a voicemail. it’s like the phone is partially connected, but the user can’t hear the caller.
* Timeline of Reports:
* First report: september 2025 (Pixel 5 owner on Reddit).
* Corroboration: Mid-November 2025 (Pixel 10 owner on the same Reddit thread).
* Additional reports: November 2025 (Pixel 4a owner).
* Workaround: turning off the “Take a Message” feature resolves the issue.
* Number of Reports: At least six reports have surfaced.

In essence, the article is reporting on a privacy/functionality bug in the Pixel’s “Take a Message” feature where callers can inadvertently hear the phone owner’s surroundings during voicemail.