Google's May update for Pixel phones blocks Android downgrades, risking bricked devices

Google's May update for Pixel phones prevents users from downgrading to older Android versions, potentially bricking devices if updates fail. This bootloader change, affecting Pixel 10, 6, and 8 series, means users cannot revert after flashing, risking unbootable states if an update fails mid-process. The issue arises from seamless update mechanisms, where a failed active slot boot can trigger a fallback to an older, incompatible bootloader from the inactive slot.