Galaxy J7 Google Maps stops working when screen is off

Are you having an issue with your Google Maps app? In today’s post, we address one particular case wherein Google Maps navigation stops working when the screen of Galaxy J7 is turned off.

Problem: Galaxy J7 Google Maps stops working when screen is off

Google Maps shuts off during navigation if I turn off the phone’s screen. I’ve read several help sites’ directions to fix this, but still have the same problem. (I’ve cleared the cache for Maps, restarted the phone, cleared the cache partition, reinstalled Maps, closed background apps, etc.) I’ve got plenty of memory and hadn’t installed anything new nor changed any settings right before this problem started last week. Very frustrating. As long as I don’t turn the screen back on, Map’s navigation continues to give me audio directions while I’m driving. But as soon as I turn on the screen, the app closes without warning.

Solution: This may be a unique bug for your device as we can’t replicate the issue on our own Galaxy J7. We can confirm that Google Maps continue to provide navigation instructions even when the screen is off. We can’t also find other users reporting the bug in other Android forums. There must be an app or a unique setting in your phone that causes this. To troubleshoot the problem, here’s what you need to do:

Update Google Maps

The Google Maps version we checked at the time of this writing is 10.3.1. If you’re running an older version, make sure to update it to see if that will fix the issue. You can update Google Maps thru the Play Store app.

Observe on Safe Mode

If Google Maps is part of the pre-installed apps in your phone (which means you did not download it on this device), you can try to boot the phone to safe mode to see if a third party app is the culprit. Here’s how to restart your Galaxy J7 to safe mode:

1. Turn the device off.
2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
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.
8. Check for the problem.

While on safe mode, all downloaded apps will be suspended. If Maps navigation works even when the screen is off, you can bet a third party app is behind the trouble. To fix the problem, you must identify the problem app by using a method of elimination. Here’s how that’s done:

1. Boot to safe mode.
2. Check for the problem.
3. Once you’ve confirmed that a third party app is to blame, you can start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
4. After you uninstall an app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
5. If your Galaxy J7 is still problematic, repeat steps 1-4.

Reset app preferences

Some apps require other system apps or core services in order to work properly. In case something has changed in the system and a default app has been disabled, you can try to reset app preferences on your J7 to fix it. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap More settings (three-dot) icon at the upper right.
4. Tap Reset app preferences.

Clear data of Google Services Framework

In case the problem is Google account or Google apps related, you can also try to wipe the data of Google Services Framework. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap on More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
4. Select Show system apps.
5. Find and tap your app.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear Data button.
8. Restart your device and check for the problem.

Wipe the phone

If the problem remains at this point, a software bug may be to blame. To fix it, try to return all software settings back to their defaults by doing a factory reset. Here’s how:

1. Back up data on the internal memory.
2. Turn off the device.
3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold 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 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.

 

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