How to fix your Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) with error “Unfortunately, Phone has stopped” [Troubleshooting Guide]

The error message “Unfortunately, Phone has stopped” with your Samsung Galaxy A7 is actually notifying you about the Phone app that crashed for some unknown reason. More often than not, however, this problem is limited to the app that’s mentioned in the error and thus, can be fixed by doing the basic troubleshooting procedures.

However, we’ve seen cases wherein this error is just one of the symptoms of a more complex firmware issue that’s why we just cannot be sure what it’s all about. That’s the reason we need to troubleshoot your phone to have a better understanding why this error occurs in the first place. Once we know what it’s all about, we may be able to formulate a solution that may fix it and prevent it from happening again in the future.

But before we actually jump to our troubleshooting, if you have other issues with your device, then try to visit our Galaxy A7 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed the most commonly reported issues with this device. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions and workarounds we suggested. If they don’t work for you or if you need more help, then feel free to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire. Just give us the information we need and we’ll help you solve your problem.

How to troubleshoot your Galaxy A7 with “Phone has stopped” error

The course of our troubleshooting will be to take on the app that’s specifically mentioned in the error message. It’s important to rule out the possibility that it’s just an app issue before we move on to the more complex troubleshooting procedures. With that being said, here’s what you need to do if you get this error message in your phone:

Step 1: Clear the cache and data of the Phone app

Clearing the cache and data means you’re resetting the app back to its default settings as well as deleting all possible corrupt caches and files. When it comes to app-related issues, clearing the cache and data is most effective that’s we need you to do this procedure first. Don’t worry, none of your files and data will be deleted when you do this and it’s very easy to do:

1. From any Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Applications.
4. Tap Application manager.
5. Tap Phone.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear cache.
8. Tap Clear data and then tap OK.

After doing this, reboot your phone to refresh its memory and once it becomes active, open the Phone app to see if the problem is fixed. If the error still shows up though, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Run your phone in Safe mode

We now try to look at the problem at a different angle because maybe one or some of the apps you installed is causing the Phone app to crash. Disable all third-party apps and use the Phone app. If the error doesn’t show up in this mode, then it’s clear that your third-party apps have something to do with it, otherwise, move on to the next step.

How to run Galaxy A7 in Safe mode

1. Turn the device off.
2. Press and hold the Power key past the screen with the device name.
3. When ‘SAMSUNG’ appears on the screen, release the Power key.
4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
7. Release the Volume down key when you see ‘Safe Mode’.

Assuming the error doesn’t show up in this mode, then you have to find the apps that are causing the problem. If you don’t have a clue as to which of the apps you installed is the culprit, try updating the apps that need to be updated:

1. From any Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Play Store.
3. Tap the Menu key and then tap My Apps. To keep your apps automatically updated, tap the Menu key, tap Settings, and then tap Auto-update apps to select the check box.
4. Choose one of the following options:
   • Tap Update [xx] to update all applications with updates available.
   • Tap an individual application and then tap Update to update a single application.

However, if you already have some apps in mind, then clear their caches and data or even uninstall them.

How to clear apps cache and data on Galaxy A7

1. From any Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Applications.
4. Tap Application manager.
5. Tap the desired application in the default list or tap MORE > Show system apps to display pre-installed apps.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear cache.
8. Tap Clear data and then tap OK.

How to uninstall applications from your Galaxy A7

1. From any Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Applications.
4. Tap Application manager.
5. Tap the desired application
6. Tap Uninstall.
7. Tap Uninstall again to confirm.

If the error still shows up while in safe mode, then move on to the next step.

Step 3: Reboot your phone in Recovery mode and wipe cache partition

It’s now necessary to go after the firmware as the error still shows up in safe mode. The first thing you have to do is to delete all system caches so that they will be replaced with new ones. Since you have no access to each cache, you just have to delete all of them at once and you can do so by booting your phone up in Recovery mode and wiping the cache partition:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the device logo screen displays, release only the Power key
4. When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
5. Press the Volume down key several times key to highlight ‘wipe cache partition.’
6. Press the Power key to select.
7. Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘yes’ and press the Power key to select.
8. When the wipe cache partition is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
9. Press the Power key to restart the device.

If the error still shows after this procedure, then the next step is your last resort.

Step 4: Backup your files and data and then reset your Galaxy A7

It’s now time to reset your phone since all other procedures failed to fix the problem. However, make sure to make a backup of your important files and data as they will be delete. Also, prior to the update, disable the Factory Reset Protection so that you won’t be locked out of your device.

How to disable Galaxy A7 Factory Reset Protection

1. From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Accounts.
4. Tap Google.
5. Tap your Google ID email address. If you have multiple accounts setup, you will need to repeat these steps for each account.
6. Tap More.
7. Tap Remove account.
8. Tap REMOVE ACCOUNT.

How to reset your Galaxy A7 to bring it back to its default settings

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the device logo screen displays, release only the Power key
4. When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
5. Press the Volume down key several times key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
6. Press Power button to select.
7. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
9. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

You can also reset your phone from the Settings menu…

1. From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Backup and reset.
4. If desired, tap Back up my data to move the slider to ON or OFF.
5. If desired, tap Restore to move the slider to ON or OFF.
6. Tap Factory data reset.
7. Tap Reset device.
8. If you have screen lock turned on, enter your PIN or password.
9. Tap Continue.
10. Tap Delete all.

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