Google has disabled its "Take a Message" feature on two of its older Pixel devices after discovering that they were leaking audio during voicemails.
Latest Pixel devices still have access to the feature
With the launch of the Pixel 10 series last year, Google introduced a very useful feature called "Take a Message." Similar to voicemail, it asks the caller to record a message when you're unavailable to take the call. But what differentiates it from voicemail is that it then uses AI to transcribe the recorded message and move it to the Pixel call history, from where you can easily hear all the recorded messages.
The feature was initially exclusive to the latest Pixel lineup but was gradually rolled out to older Pixel models as well, including the Pixel 4, which was released almost seven years ago. While everything about the feature sounds impressive, it was recently reported to not be functioning as expected on some phones. Multiple complaints on Reddit and Google's forums claimed that the feature was actually leaking users' audio during voicemails.
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One of the affected users, who owns a Pixel 4a, posted on Reddit that callers informed them they could hear the user talking while recording the voicemail. Posts on community forums indicate that the issue isn't exclusive to a particular Pixel lineup. It's been experienced across most Pixel models, ranging from the recently released Pixel 10 series to even the seven-year-old Pixel 4. Google has now officially acknowledged the issue and confirmed that some Pixel devices are indeed affected.
Siri Tejaswini, a Google community manager, posted on the Google support forum that after investigating all the complaints, the investigation team had concluded that the "Take a Message" feature is malfunctioning on a small number of Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 devices, but only under specific and rare circumstances. As a result, the company will disable it on both Pixel models. Users with these devices can continue using the voicemail feature supported by their carrier. Additionally, they can rely on standard manual and automatic call screening.
There was no option other than to disable the feature
A man holding the Google Pixel 5. | Image by PhoneArena.
You might wonder why the tech giant took the hard step of disabling the feature completely instead of fixing it through a patch update. You see, both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 have run out of their promised system updates. The Pixel 4 received its last official support from Google back in 2022, whereas its successor was last updated in 2023.
The Pixel 6 series is expected to receive security and feature updates from Google until October 2026. Unlike the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 phones, issues in the Pixel 6 and later Pixel models can be resolved through a software patch. That's why turning off the "Take a Message" feature has been considered the most viable option for these older Pixel phones.
Why do Pixel phones often run into different bugs and issues?
Bugs keeps chasing Pixel phones
I recently switched from an iPhone 15 to a Pixel 10, and while I'm happy with the overall experience, one thing that concerns me a lot is that every few days I hear about a new bug in these Google phones. It wasn't long ago when the always-on display feature started malfunctioning in the latest Pixel series after a recent update. Then, the latest January 2026 update broke Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity in many Pixel phones, including my device.
The software experience on Google Pixel phones is definitely top-notch. The only thing it currently lacks is better optimization and testing. I strongly agree that software updates often bring bugs and issues across all smartphone brands, but it unfortunately happens very frequently on Pixel phones. That said, if you use the Pixel 4 or 5, you'll see that the "Take a Message" feature is no longer available.
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Aman Kumar is a tech news writer with a long-standing passion for smartphones. Aman specializes in everything smartphones, from AI features like Pixel’s Camera Coach to understanding ideal hardware combinations. He loves breaking down complex features in a simple, clear way and hopes manufacturers bring back bold designs like the Nokia N-Gage. When he’s not writing, he’s either gaming on PUBG or talking fitness as a dedicated gym enthusiast.
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