Essential Key Recording Issue on Nothing Phone (3a)

ShehinasB · 2025-10-08T11:45:42+00:00

Hey everyone, I’m facing an issue with the Essential Key on my Nothing Phone (3a). When I long-press the Essential Key, it’s supposed to start recording audio, but instead it just turns on the Glimpse light — and it never turns off. The audio doesn’t record at all. The only way I can turn off the Glimpse light is by restarting the phone, which is really inconvenient. Has anyone else faced this issue? Or is there any solution or fix available for this? Thanks in advance!

Mr Steel

ShehinasB I’d recommend providing OS feedback via your phone’s Settings > System > Feedback option.

Womey

ShehinasB

Facing this on my Phone 3a, only fix was a factory reset. I use Flip to Record a lot for work (mainly presentations), but the lights wouldn’t fill to start recording and my essential key stopped working. Factory reset fixed both.

NityanandaPadhi

So, the essential recording can be activated by first flipping down your phone and then long pressing the essential button, right? And then when I stop pressing the button,midway(to cancel the recording), before all the 3 lights glow for the recording to start, the light just keeps on glowing!!! This is the same issue that everyone are facing on the phone 3a, after the recent September update right?

ankitpradhan32599

ShehinasB Yeah!! That’s right. I’m also facing the same issue and the thing is that i bought it 3 days ago…

Womey

ankitpradhan32599

I’m not sure the cause, to break my essential space button, but factory reset did fix my recording issues & ES button not registering. Just did another 15 minute presentation recording, light went off, and I have my AI transcript analysis working again.

Question though, if there is a commonality between us on this? To investigate? 🤔

What software version are you running?
When did this first start to occur?
Do we all use Glyph Nexus or the sort for greater glyph control?

ankitpradhan32599

Womey This issue started after the Os 3.2 update so i think it’s a bug.

PROLADSHAW

I have 3a and I have facing exactly same issue since 3 days

shubhesh_jha

Yes I guess every phone 3a user is facing this issue.

MohammedkhalidAhmedQuraishi

Same issue here in 3a pro

virtuallysarvad

Have faced this myself as well

CMPAVANKUMARREDDY_KUMARREDDY_

ShehinasB same problem for me also

HarshaJE

When I’m in a call, I get the essential key voice recorder notification, when I press and hold the essential key the Glyph Lights light up and I don’t know how to turn them off. From a Nothing Phone 3a user.

VishnuVarthanElumalai

HarshaJE have the same issue with my Nothing 3a. Do we have a solution?

K_S_Manoj

When I tried to use the essential recorder in phone 3a as directed, it works when the light reaches all way to the end of the 3rd led, but if leave the button when light reaches mid of the 3rd led, there’s no way to turn the led off, I had to restart the phoe.

HarshaJE

When u press and hold the essential key to record and the Glyph Lights light up, if the record call notification is still there, then just press “Start recording” the Glyph Lights will go off. It worked for me, hope it works for you. I would suggest, if you want to record your calls just use the record widget that is pre built in the phone, it’s way better than essential key.

Rahul

ShehinasB i am also facing this issue.. 😔