Android Phone Beeps Every 3 Hours

[101RRS]

I have a Google Pixel 2XL running Android 11.

Since yesterday, every 3 hours it sends a aural notification. This notification happens at 12.21, 15.21, 18.21 etc - it is a sound that is different to the tones I have for ring, notifications etc. There are no visual notifications associated with the sound (no dots on apps or blinking lights) and no indication on the top task bar to indicate an association to an app.

On receipt of the notification I open notifications history and there is nothing there.

I have searched the internet and there are similar reports from back in 2013 where switching off NFC fixed the issue, but does not work on my phone.

Any ideas? It is annoying to be woken up every three hours at night - yes I guess I can turn the volume down but I need to be able to take calls late evenings.

Thanks

[Blknight.aus]

youve accidentally set a recurring timer.

check the clock app.

[101RRS]

youve accidentally set a recurring timer.

check the clock app.

Not that - all disabled and notifications turned off - was one of the first things checked.

[Ferret]

Just guessing but may be worth checking your 'Play Store' app settings and have a look at what 'app notifications' you have there. Under that app notification settings you will have various 'alerts' or 'notification categories' which depending on what choices you have made can raise sounds depending on the level of 'importance' you have set for those alerts. For example a 'high importance alert' will make a sound but a 'medium importance' alert will make no sound.

So for instance, the play store app would be checking periodically for app updates and perhaps playing a 'high importance' alert sound when it finds an update you have not yet responded too but not necessarily leaving a 'notification dot'. It just depends what combination of settings you have there.

And the same may apply for other system apps that periodically report or check in with Google or some other remote server.

[Tins]

The words "Android Phone" in the thread title are redundant.

[101RRS]

Thanks - the Play Store was mentioned a few times in the research I looked at so I turned Play Store notifications off and disabled it completely - the sound still happens. Has now changed from every 3 hours to the second to every 3 hours 14 minutes now.

Been looking at a Google help page and this issue has been around for years and nothing has been done. [bigsad]

I might make a list of the apps I have and any passwords needed and do a factory reset.

[101RRS]

Ok this problem is well known for years and Google doesn't seem to want to do anything about it.

So would like to do a factory reset. I have never done a Google backup but seems straight forward.

However information online seems to indicate that you just reinstall the backup after the reset but I am concerned I will just reinstal the problem I have - so can you pick and choose what you reinstal from Google backup or is it all or nothing?

Thanks

Garry

[loanrangie]

Never had this issue in any of the android phones I've had so must be specific to your phone or that particular model.

[Tins]

Ok this problem is well known for years and Google doesn't seem to want to do anything about it.

S

I don't move in this world, but what I read indicates that Android users, for reasons unknown, will not update to the newer OS, let alone the newest.

Have you? Maybe google will have figured something out. Or, maybe not.

 have.

[101RRS]

Never had this issue in any of the android phones I've had so must be specific to your phone or that particular model.

I have never had this before and I have had my current phone for about 3 years but a search shows it occurring since around 2013 and happpens to Samsung and Google mostly but others have reported it as well.

[101RRS]

I don't move in this world, but what I read indicates that Android users, for reasons unknown, will not update to the newer OS, let alone the newest.

Have you? Maybe google will have figured something out. Or, maybe not.

 have.

Not heard that. You don't get any later than Android 11 and that is what is on my phone.

[Blknight.aus]

The words "Android Phone" in the thread title are redundant.

not really, android tablet, android console, android watch, just to go 3 off the top of my head.

Iphone phone is the one that irks me almost as much as atm machine.

[101RRS]

Ok over a range of forums including google phone forums no one seems to have an answer for this. The alarm is still going off every 3 hours - even with just about everything uninstalled or disabled.

So I need to do a factory reset and need to pull data such as photos, contacts, messages etc off the phone before I do this as everything will be wiped.

I will do a backup which apparently goes to this Cloud thingy but I am concerned that when I reinstal the backup from the Cloud the problem I currently have will just go back on. I want to reload only the minimum essentials and download and reinstal afresh other apps.

So in addition to the Cloud backup I want to download important information to my laptop some of which I will but back on the phone later. However while the laptop file explorer sees the phone, the phone will not allow access to its folders and files.

How do I transfer files form the phone to my laptop - bluetooth can do it but only one file at a time - too slow.

Thanks

Garry

[Ferret]

So in addition to the Cloud backup I want to download important information to my laptop some of which I will but back on the phone later. However while the laptop file explorer sees the phone, the phone will not allow access to its folders and files.

How do I transfer files form the phone to my laptop

Syncios Mobile Manager, (https://www.syncios.com/features.html) the free version will probably do all you want to do. There are other free ones also. They may be better or not, I haven't used them but I can confirm the free version Syncios does what is says it does. At least with my phone.

[OldGuy]

I plug mine in via the USB port, just comes up as another storage device then transfer away...

Oh you have to tell your pc to see it as such.

Geoff

[Ferret]

I plug mine in via the USB port, just comes up as another storage device then transfer away...

Except you won't be transferring such thing as phone call logs, contact lists, SMS or MMS records etc. that way.

[OldGuy]

Except you won't be transferring such thing as phone call logs, contact lists, SMS or MMS records etc. that way.

Good point, might plug my phone in and see what I get, although I suspect you might be correct..