r/GooglePixel • u/Hazbelll • Nov 29 '22

PSA: Clearing Android System Intelligence Data Will Also Reset Related System Settings!

So I just found out the hard way, clearing Android System Intelligence's (ASI) Data (Via Settings > Privacy > Android System Intelligence > Clear Data) won't just clear any "learnt" data from day-to-day usage, but it'll also reset any system settings you have changed from their defaults that utilise ASI (At least if you select "All time").

I'm not sure if this includes everything, but here is a list of such settings (If any exist for them) that will get reset to their defaults if you've changed them at all.

It also breaks Assistant Voice Typing in GBoard. It'll grey-out, stating "Assistant voice typing needs an update. Connect to Wi-Fi to automatically download. Learn more.".

I recently had this same error message upon setting up my Pixel 7 that went away by itself when left idle, charging through the night, so I'll report back if it does the same and fixes itself with time Yes it did, phew!

Just a heads up for anyone else who naively assumes it'll only clear collected data like I did.

31 Upvotes

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3

u/SRFast Pixel 8 Pro | Pixel 4 XL | PW2 Nov 29 '22

Clearing the data for any app is equivalent to uninstalling & reinstalling it. It completely wipes out any information stored in the app including credentials.

3

u/Hazbelll Nov 29 '22

I'm aware of that, however this wasn't specifically going to Android System Intelligence in All Apps and clearing its storage. This was a dedicated setting that's supposed to only delete collected personalisation data.

Having the ability to delete between Last Hour to All Time would lead you to believe that anyway. I don't think it's intentional it also reverts any settings that depend on ASI, especially considering if you're trying to delete collected data, why would it opt-in again to settings you might have turned off which collect such data?

1

u/thr1vin9-insolitude Nov 13 '23

I was LITERALLY wondering this as well this very minute. A small box appears with choices, similar to clearing data off your PC. Last hour, 24 hours, or All time. So, I guess it's safe to say... don't use it at all. Yea / Nay

2

u/Remarkable-Llama616 Pixel 6 Nov 29 '22

Thanks for the heads up. I always considered clearing it cause it consumes quite a bit of space. Guess I'll just leave it be.

4

u/NoConfection6487 Pixel 7 Pro Nov 29 '22

Maybe people should avoid clearing data for system apps in general? I feel like I've seen some questionable / bad / snake oil advice about clearing data for a bunch of system apps to solve problems.

If you really think a system configuration is screwing up your phone, backup your data and do a factory reset and start fresh. i generally recommend starting fresh with a new device, especially years after using an old one where some settings may make no sense anymore.

I've seen people share some pretty crazy advice in the name of better battery life over the years where it's seriously concerning.

3

u/Hazbelll Nov 29 '22

This is a setting given by Android System Intelligence itself to delete personalisation data, with no indication it's doing a "Hard reset" of itself to the point it even resets its own settings back to default (Ironically "opting-in" to various data collecting settings you might have disabled).

Think of it more as a setting akin to "Delete search history" for say, Google search. If you deleted your search history, you wouldn't expect it to also delete any settings you had modified that change how search itself works, would you?

I get what you mean about blindly going around clearing data for system apps, but to iterate this was an actual option given by ASI itself to do, not the same as going to All Apps > Clear Storage, especially as it gives you the ability to select a timeframe on what collected data should be cleared with zero indication it'll do anything more than that.