There appears to be a bug in the Google search app that causes a flickering issue when showing search results or other content. The problem is not specific to a smartphone manufacturer. Various user complaints on Reddit, Twitter, OnePlus forum, Google’s own Support forum, and other platforms suggest that devices from Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and other vendors are affected.
The flickering issue appears in Google app while in Dark Mode
The issue is affecting a large number of users. Google apps come pre-installed on all Android phones except those sold in China. And Google is the most popular search app in the world, giving users quick access to answers and updates about almost anything.
According to the affected users, Google app suffers the flickering issue mainly while using the Dark Mode. It’s possible that a bug in the Dark Mode feature is causing the problem. The issue became prevalent after Google rolled out an Android update a few weeks ago.
It’s not that the screen itself starts flickering when using the Google app. Only the content on the app flickers in a weird way. Many users have shared videos showing it in action. You can watch them here and here. Steve Luzzo wrote on Twitter, “Definitely a bug in the newest @Android update, the flickering on @Google search is brutal. @TMobile @SamsungMobileUS.”
Users are frustrated and they are switching from Dark to Light Mode to avoid dealing with the flickering. Google hasn’t even acknowledged the issue. The company hasn’t revealed when it would roll out a fix. But Google appears to be aware of it.
How to fix it
While you wait for Google to release a fix, there is something you can do to resolve the issue right now. In the OnePlus Community Forum, a OnePlus staff member has acknowledged it and suggested a temporary workaround.
OnePlus staff member Abdul B wrote: “The screen flickering issue in the certain google apps is a known issue, while we are waiting on a fix from google the temporary solution to resolve the issue is to uninstall the updates of the Android System WebView in the Playstore or Settings.”
To fix it via Play Store, go to Play Store and search for Android System WebView, then tap on Uninstall. If you want to do it from Settings, launch the Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications. This could vary depending on the smartphone. Now tap ‘See All Apps’ and look for Android System WebView. You have to tap the three dots in the top right corner to uninstall the update.
UPDATE Sept 14, 8:45 am EST: Google Search app and Assistant app show “No Network Connection” on OnePlus devices. One user has posted the issue on the forum. “We have made a note of this and our developer team is currently working on this. We will keep you posted regarding the further updates. We appreciate your support and patience in this regard.” the moderator said regarding the issue.
