Google’s recent update in October 2025 has stirred the waters for Pixel phone users, particularly those who have imported their devices into unsupported regions. The update has rendered the Pixel IMS app, a vital tool for enabling VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi), inoperative. This app had previously exploited a loophole that allowed it to bypass carrier restrictions, but Google has now patched this vulnerability, which it has classified as a high-severity issue (CVE-2025-48617).
Challenges for Imported Pixel Phones
Pixel phones are known for their distinctive software features, yet their limited global availability often leads enthusiasts to import them from other markets. While Google has made commendable efforts to broaden access, Pixels remain less accessible than competitors like iPhones or Samsung Galaxy devices. This situation can lead to significant challenges, particularly with essential calling features like VoLTE and VoWiFi, which may not function correctly on imported devices.
VoLTE is increasingly crucial as carriers worldwide phase out their 2G and 3G networks, while VoWiFi offers a reliable alternative for making calls over Wi-Fi, especially in areas with weak cellular signals. However, the reality is that many carriers restrict these features to devices they sell or have officially tested, leaving imported Pixel users at a disadvantage even if their hardware is compatible.
In 2023, a Korean developer named Kyujin Cho introduced the Pixel IMS app, which enabled users to activate VoLTE and VoWiFi on unsupported carriers by circumventing the standard carrier checks. This app cleverly utilized a loophole in Android’s telephony framework, allowing it to force the activation of these features regardless of carrier restrictions.
However, the recent October update has disrupted this workaround. Users reported that the Pixel IMS app now crashes when attempting to toggle VoLTE or VoWiFi, with the error log indicating that the override function can no longer be invoked by the shell user. Google has seemingly closed this loophole, and while it remains unmentioned in the official changelog, it has been flagged as a significant security vulnerability.
Fortunately, a new workaround has emerged, although it comes with its own set of challenges. This method, while effective for enabling VoLTE, does not support VoWiFi and requires users to navigate instructions in Chinese, with the APK available through a developer’s Telegram channel. For those needing VoWiFi, the only current options are to root their devices—an action that complicates usage of certain features—or to await Google’s official expansion of carrier support, which the company has indicated it is actively pursuing.
