--- title: "Watching This “Alien” Video Is Crashing Pixel Phones" description: "Sorry, Pixel phone users, but if you wanted to watch this \"Alien\" clip in 4K HDR, you're outta luck until Google comes up with some answers." date: "2023-02-28" modified: "2023-02-28" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/watching-alien-video-crashing-pixel-phones" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "Google" - "phones" - "smartphones" - "the digest" --- # Watching This “Alien” Video Is Crashing Pixel Phones ![Sorry, Pixel phone users, but if you wanted to watch this "Alien" clip in 4K HDR, you're outta luck until Google comes up with some answers.]() *\Image: T3 Magazine via Getty / Futurism\* ## Cursed Clip Watch out, Pixel phone users: there's a spooky video afoot — and it's crashing phones. *Android Authority* [reports that]() watching a certain YouTube video through the official app will inexplicably cause various versions of Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 phones to abruptly reboot without warning. Countless users [in a Reddit thread]() attested to the baffling glitch. Some even found that the video-induced reboot can cause issues with connecting to their cellular network, but it appears that can be fixed with a manual restart. A staffer at [*The Verge* also confirmed]() that their Pixel 6 crashed upon watching the pesky video. But so far, Google is yet to comment on the situation or respond to any outlets — but give it a few days and we might hear from someone on the Android team. ## Great Scott! And what could such a YouTube clip capable of forcing Google smartphones to restart possibly be? As it turns out, it's a 4K clip from the classic sci-fi horror movie "Alien." That's right: Ridley Scott's sophomore feature starring Sigourney Weaver is so terrifying that it continues to find new ways to haunt unsuspecting audiences over 40 years later. In all seriousness, though, the real reason the YouTube clip crashes Pixel phones is unknown, but many speculate it may be due to how the phones process the rich colors of High Dynamic Range (HDR) formatting. That's because a similar issue already cropped up in 2020 that crashed Google and Samsung phones when setting a specific "[cursed wallpaper]()" as their background image. And just like with that wallpaper, jokesters are already sending the video to people as a mischievous prank, with many in the YouTube comments joking that the video looks great on their Pixel phones. You can [watch the clip here]() if you're curious, but you should probably hold off if you own a Pixel. Actually, screw a grainy YouTube clip — just go watch the damn movie, which is a masterpiece. In the meantime, Google must answer for the crime of preventing Pixel users from beholding Sigourney Weaver in glorious 2160p. **More on phones:** *[Whistleblower Claims Facebook Can Secretly Drain Your Phone's Battery on Purpose]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()