Foldable phones face more screen problems than traditional models. It's because they use plastic polymers and other delicate materials that make them flexible. It's no surprise that the Google Pixel Fold smartphone has developed problems now.
Users are reporting a “sticky scrolling” issue on the phone's main and cover screens. Motion feels unnatural and makes their devices barely usable. Google hasn't released an official statement or solution for the problem yet. But here's all we know about it, and what you can do to manage it.
Foldables are more likely to develop display problems
Google Pixel Fold users have taken to social media platforms and online community forums to express their frustrations. They're experiencing a scrolling inertia problem where scrolls on the screen stop abruptly or feel jerky instead of gradually slowing down after releasing your finger. For most people, it happens on the main display. A few others say that their cover screen is affected too.
In case you don't already know, scrolling inertia is the natural momentum or motion that continues when you stop scrolling on a touchscreen or trackpad. In a video demonstration of the issue, we see Tech Journalist Zac Bowden scrolling on His Google Pixel Fold’s screen. If you're unable to play the video, imagine it in the erratic way your screen acts when water pours on the screen.
Hardware or software: What's causing sticky scrolling on the Pixel Fold?
Several attempts have failed to fix the scrolling inertia misbehavior, including factory resets and device restarts. This suggests that the problem may be widespread and software-related, although some users are immune to it and continue to use their phones as normal, even after the Android 14 Beta update.
A hardware defect may not be out of the question. Over time, the Pixel Fold's hinge may experience wear and tear or accumulate dust, resulting in increased resistance or friction and contributing to sluggish performance. In the worst-case scenario, it's a combination of both culprits.
Google may be preparing a fix
Though not foldable or Google-related, recall that the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series had a screen issue where colors looked washed out. Samsung said it was intentional but went on to resolve it with an update. It provided a slider that allowed you to improve your screen's vividness.
Google is still silent on the Pixel Fold’s matter, but we expect a solution in the coming days. They once resolved a similar issue on the Pixel 7 Pro with a software update back in 2022. It's unlikely that they'll completely ignore user complaints this time around.
The point is that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) tend to provide fixes to user-reported functionality issues. In the meantime, some users shared that locking and unlocking their screens temporarily solved the sticky scrolling problem. Though it returns within seconds, it may buy you time to do quick tasks, like sending a short text, making a call, or streaming content on entertainment apps. The inertia issue does not affect them as they don't require active scrolling.
