Pokemon Go: How to Fix the Snapshot Bug on Android
Follow these steps to start earning Buddy hearts again.
Back in August, Pokemon Go players using iOS devices ran into a nasty bug that prevented them from being able to earn Buddy Hearts or complete Research Tasks that required them to take Snapshots of Pokemon.
While that issue was eventually fixed in September, a similar bug is now being encountered by Pokemon Go players with certain Android devices.
This bug is preventing affected Android users from earning Buddy Hearts and completing Research Tasks that require them to take Snapshots of Pokemon. While the game will technically allow players to take pictures of Pokemon, it isn’t properly rewarding them for doing so.
Thankfully, a workaround has been shared by user “krmtdfrog” on The Silph Road subreddit.
This workaround requires you to turn off the game’s permission to store files on your device. To do this, you’ll need to go into your device’s Settings menu (the Settings menu on your Android device, not the Settings menu within Pokemon Go) and find Pokemon Go in the “Apps” section of the Settings menu.
From there, you’ll need to turn off the game's “Files and media” permission.
We experienced this Snapshot bug on a Google Pixel 3a, and this workaround fixed the problem for us. Other users on The Silph Road subreddit are also reporting success after completing these steps.
Currently, this bug isn’t listed on the Pokemon Go Known Issues page, but that doesn’t mean developer Niantic doesn’t know about it. We can only assume this bug will be fixed in a future update, but for now, try out this workaround to see if it fixes the problem in your game.
Have you encountered this Snapshot bug in Pokemon Go? Let us know on Twitter at @superparenthq.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek’s Social Pro Daily. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
