Android app crashes on launch – SecurityException: Writable dex file is not allowed (Pixel 8 / Andro

[MusicFan940]

Device: Google Pixel 8 (codename shiba)
OS: Android 17 (build google/shiba/shiba:17/CP2A.260805.005/2026081301:user/release-keys)
Pandora version: 26081001 (targetSdk 35)
Installer: Google Plasy Store
Process uptime at crash: ~14 seconds

Issue:
The Pandora app crashes immediately or shortly after launch with a Security Exception related to loading a writable DEX/JAR file from the app’s cache directory. This appears to be triggered by Google Mobile Services (GMS) internal code.

Full crash log:
type: crash
osVersion: google/shiba/shiba:17/CP2A.260805.005/2026081301:user/release-keys
flags: dev options enabled
package: com.pandora.android:26081001, targetSdk 35
process: com.pandora.android
processUptime: 13933 + 482 ms
installer: com.aurora.store
java.lang.SecurityException: Writable dex file '/data/user/0/com.pandora.android/cache/1658186039475.jar' is not allowed.
    at dalvik.system.DexFile.openDexFileNative(Native Method)
    at dalvik.system.DexFile.openDexFile(DexFile.java:406)
    at dalvik.system.DexFile.<init>(DexFile.java:128)
    at dalvik.system.DexFile.<init>(DexFile.java:101)
    at dalvik.system.DexPathList.loadDexFile(DexPathList.java:438)
    at dalvik.system.DexPathList.makeDexElements(DexPathList.java:397)
    at dalvik.system.DexPathList.<init>(DexPathList.java:166)
    at dalvik.system.BaseDexClassLoader.<init>(BaseDexClassLoader.java:160)
    at dalvik.system.BaseDexClassLoader.<init>(BaseDexClassLoader.java:105)
    at dalvik.system.DexClassLoader.<init>(DexClassLoader.java:55)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzdu.zzg(SourceFile:270)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzct.zzq(SourceFile:16)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzct.zzt(SourceFile:17)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzcu.zzl(SourceFile:2)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzfn.<init>(SourceFile:9)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzfo.zza(SourceFile:29)
    at com.google.android.gms.internal.pal.zzfm.<init>(SourceFile:8)
    at p.Dc.d0.run(SourceFile:10)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1100)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:624)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:1572)

Steps already tried (none resolved the crash):
- Cleared Pandora cache and data
- Force-stopped the app + rebooted device
- Updated Pandora, Google Play Services, and system
- Fully uninstalled + reinstalled 
- Confirmed app is on internal storage
- Disabled battery optimizations / other aggressive cleaners

This matches the Android 14+ “Write xor Execute” restriction on loading writable DEX/JAR files. The problematic file is being written/loaded by GMS internal.pal code inside Pandora’s cache.

Please escalate to engineering.

[AdamPandora]

@MusicFan940 Thanks for sharing this detailed report of your experience with the app crashing.

I've passed this along to the appropriate parties for further investigation. We'll follow up with you if we need any additional details.

Thanks for your patience in the meantime!