Galaxy S6 power button stopped working after an update, camera app keeps crashing, other issues

Hello Android community! Welcome to our new #GalaxyS6 article for the day. We hope that you’ll find our solutions helpful here but if you can’t find anything that can improve your Android situation, please continue to watch our for more similar posts in the coming days.

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.

Below are specific topics we’re bringing for you today:

Problem 1: Galaxy S6 edge plus drains battery fast and overheats after it got wet

A month ago I dropped my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus (bought in Nov 2015) in water. It was working fine for 10 minutes then the screen went off but phone was still working. After 3 days (fell on a Saturday night, I went Tuesday evening) I took it to the service centre (took me 3 days as it was a long holiday and everything was shut). When the service guy plugged it into the charger it started but he went on to do a soft/hard reset. I’m not sure. It kept shutting down (he kept pressing the back button after restarting the phone). When I called the customer care, the person on the phone heard the whole thing and told me the LCD was damaged. But when I took the phone to the service center the guy at the front desk told me it was my mother board that was damaged. He told me it would cost me 17000 rupees and up depending ($250). I took the phone back since the engineer wasn’t in. I tried starting the phone myself (did a soft reset) it started but at 0%. So I charged the phone until 100%, then started it. Worked fine. It still works fine except for the following issues :

 

• battery drains in 2 – 3 hours even if I don’t do much (battery usually use to last half a day)

• phone gets hot at times ( did that a bit before too)

• compass won’t calibrate in edge panel- does work (this never happened before)

• screen won’t rotate to landscape (never happened before).

 

 My friends tell me to sell if off but it’s just 1.5 years old,  it’s a beautiful piece. Please help. — Aakrutie

Solution: Hi Aakrutie. Water damage can lead to all sorts of problems. If the attending technician said that there’s a motherboard issue, this may be the reason why you’re having the problems you listed  above. Unlike the Galaxy S7 and S8, your Galaxy S6 does not have water resistance protection so it’s very likely that some components may have stopped working properly at this time. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing much that you can do in a situation like this. You can’t obviously fix a hardware problem with a software tweak. There’s no amount of software troubleshooting that you can do to fix the issues above. You may be able to slow battery drain rate a little bit by doing some smart tips to reduce battery consumption but it’s definitely not a fix. You either have to have the phone repaired, or if possible replaced.

Problem 2: Galaxy S6 edge+ showing a black screen with white “x”

Hi. This week, I faced a problem with my S6 edge+. I tried to charge but after plugging in the cable, I got no notification/vibration saying it is charging. So after my battery drained, i couldn’t turn it on anymore. A couple of days passed and when I tried to charge it, it boot normally as nothing happened. But sometimes the screen goes totally black with an “X” to close the black screen. So after clicking on it I use my phone normally but my S6 doesn’t charge anymore. I have to restart the system and plug the cable before the black screen appears. I hard reseted it but the problem persists. What could the problem be? Thanks for your help. — Rotybr

Solution: Hi Rotybr. We’ve already addressed this issue in the past and in a lot of cases, the main cause is not really a software malfunction but rather an issue with the charging port. If you’ve already tried a factory reset without a positive result, that’s proof that this there’s a hardware problem somewhere.

The black screen with a white “x” at the edge is usually an indication that the system “detects” that a VR (virtual reality) device is connected. We know you’re only connecting a regular charger so there clearly is a malfunction there. To fix the issue, some users were successful in it after cleaning the microUSB port. That’s probably because dirt or corrosion may have set in and altered the contacts somehow. If cleaning won’t fix your issue though, we recommend that you have the device repaired or replaced.

Problem 3: Galaxy S6 battery drain, overheating, slow charging issues

Dear Droid guy. I’m having some trouble with my Samsung Galaxy S6. initially the device was overheating, charging very slowly and depleting very quickly. I received advice that the battery was too old, and got a new one (generic). Now when I try to charge my phone, it displays the “charging” symbol on the screen for about a second, then died, and it’s stuck in this cycle. I thought it might be a physical connection issue, but when turned on, the phone seems entirely functional. The new battery seemed to have solved the slow charging/power depletion/overheating issues. I have a creeping feeling it might be a software/firmware issue, and I wonder if you have encountered this before. Regards. — Will

Solution: Hi Will. The only software troubleshooting that you can do in this case are battery recalibration and factory reset. If the problem will remain after doing these two procedures, you should consider replacing the device due to unknown hardware issue.

Below are the steps on how to do each of them.

How to recalibrate the battery

1. Use the phone by playing games or doing tasks to hasten power discharge, until the phone turns itself off.
2. Turn the phone on again and let it turn itself off.
3. Charge the phone without turning it back on.
4. Wait until the battery says it fully charged to 100%
5. Unplug the charger and turn the phone on.
6. If the phone says it’s not 100% anymore, turn it off, plug the charger back in and wait until 100% charge is reached.
7. Unplug the charger the turn the phone on again.
8. Use the phone until you drain the battery down to 0.
9. Repeat the cycle once.

How to factory reset a Galaxy S6

1. Create a backup of your important files such as photos, videos, contacts etc. You can use Smart Switch for this task.
2. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
3. Press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power keys together.
4. When the device powers on and displays ‘Power on logo’, release all keys and the Android icon will appear on the screen.
5. Wait until the Android Recovery Screen appears after about 30 seconds.
6. Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option, ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
7. Press the Volume Down button again until the option ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted and then press the Power key to select it.
8. After the reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.

Problem 4: Galaxy S6 edge red LED remains even after the charger has been disconnected

My Galaxy S6 Edge Plus has been recently giving me a bit of trouble. After I connect the charger (phone would be on), and when I come back to check it later, the phone would have automatically switched off. The red light on top would just be there. Even after I disconnect the charger, the red light would still be there. I would only be able to switch on the phone after I do a series of shakes and pressing of both the volume button and lock button at the sides of the phone. Is there any specific reason as to why this is happening? If so, how can I prevent it in the future? — Jazz

Solution: Hi Jazz. This can be caused by a stuck hardware button (like the Power button), or an unknown hardware issue. Make sure to try doing the basic software troubleshooting first such as:

1. cache partition cache,
2. observing in safe mode, and
3. factory reset.

All these three should address whatever software bug may be causing the problem (we doubt it’s a software bug though). Here are the steps on how to do them:

Cache partition wipe

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the following three buttons at the same time: Volume Up key, Home key, and Power key.
3. When the phone vibrates, release the Power key but continue to press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key.
4. When the Android System Recovery screen appears, release the Volume Up and Home keys.
5. Press the Volume Down key to highlight ‘wipe cache partition.’
6. Press the Power key to select.
7. When the wipe cache partition is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
8. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Boot to safe mode

1. Press and hold the Volume Down and Power keys for 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Once you see the Samsung logo, release the Power key immediately but continue pressing the Volume Down key.
3. Your phone should continue booting up and you will be prompted to unlock your phone as usual.
4. You will know if the phone successfully booted in safe mode if the text “Safe mode” is displayed at the lower-left corner of the screen.
5. Charge the phone and observe how it works.

While your phone is in this mode, all third party apps and services will be prevented from running. If the charging issue won’t occur while your phone is in safe mode, one of the third party apps must be to blame.

Problem 5: Galaxy S6 camera app keeps crashing when using Pro mode

I’ve been having a problem with my camera since the last update in May. Every function of my camera application works but when I want to use the pro mode, the application stops and I need to restart the app. I’ve cleared my cache and data from the application and restarted my phone. I’ve also updated the system software to the newest version.        — Piko143

Solution: Hi Piko143. Try wiping the cache partition and see what happens from there. If the camera app continues to crash, wipe the phone back to its default state with factory reset. Check the steps above on how to do each procedure.

Problem 6: Galaxy S6 stuck in boot loop after an update

Hi. I have a Samsung S6 phone. Last night, it said it had an update. I agreed to update now. It went through its process and i didn’t take any notice of it as sometimes it takes a while. This morning it kept flashing that components won’t work… there is no space left, Telstra won’t work, etc. Now it keeps flashing SAMSUNG and occasionally the Telstra symbol. I can’t turn it off, on or anything. I have no idea what to do now.

I have tried to connect it to my laptop, but as it can’t turn on… the laptop won’t even recognize it. Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks. Leanne.

1. I have just randomly picked the device and version as my device isn’t there and can’t tell what version as I can’t turn it on. — Billea007

Solution: Hi Billea007. Updates can sometimes go bad, especially if a device is not predisposed before the installation. There are so many possible points of failure in an Android environment so knowing what caused your problem in the first place is impossible. To try and fix the issue though, you can try the basic software solutions that we usually mention in our posts namely the cache partition wipe and factory reset. Make sure to refer to the steps above on how to do each one.

Problem 7: Galaxy S6 power button stopped working after an update

Hey good day. My issue is that the power button has stopped working since the last Samsung update was installed. Prior to about a week ago before the update the power button worked fine, my only use for it was to lock the phone. After the update, the button stopped working all together. it no longer locks the phone and i usually use it to screen shot, nothing. Now my battery has died, the phone is charging normally, and the screen lights up to show me the percentage charge, all good. But since the power button doesn’t work, how do i turn my phone back on. Regards. — S.Quash

Solution: Hi  S.Quash. We haven’t heard of this issue happening in other phones, even non-Samsung ones so it may be an isolated case. If you can’t turn the phone back on now, we’re afraid you’re going to need help from a professional to check the hardware first. In this kind of device, there’s really no way to turn the phone back on except by pressing the power button. Have the phone’s hardware checked by Samsung or by an independent service center. There are a number of websites that can provide you with a do-it-yourself guide on how to replace the power button but if ever the issue goes beyond the physical button itself, you may not be able to fix the problem yourself.

Problem 8: Galaxy S6 stopped working, won’t turn on, after it was accidentally dropped

Hello. I have an S6 that has been dropped a couple of times, and has a couple of cracks. Even though I have a dropped and cracked a few times, it was working perfectly fine. There wasn’t a single problem. Until one day, I was using my phone and my friend accidentally hit my arm, causing the my phone to fly across my classroom. (Yes this happened at school.) I quickly ran over to where my phone was, and picked it up. The cracks were bigger, and half of the screen was black. It was also making a ‘buzzing’ sound. Soon after, the screen went black. I tried turning my phone on but all I heard were vibrations and notifications, but the screen was still black. I tried a few methods like ‘waiting for GALAXY S6’ to appear, but it didn’t happen. Is there a way to fix it? Or is should I just go to a professional and fix it? Note: There wasn’t a SIM card. — Amy

Solution: Hi Amy. First of all, if your phone no longer turns back on after you dropped it, there’s very little to nothing that you can do. Obviously you can only perform software troubleshooting if the phone still shows signs of life like a LED light, vibration, or still receiving sound notifications.

If your phone does still turns on, or still shows signs of life, you should at least try to boot the phone to alternate modes. If you can manage to power the phone to any of the modes below, there’s a chance that you may be able to fix the issue yourself.

Below are the steps on how to boot your phone to alternate modes:

Boot in Recovery mode:

1. Charge the phone for at least 30 minutes.
2. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
4. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
5. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe cache partition.’
6. You can either wipe the cache partition or do a factory reset when in this mode.

Boot in Download Mode:

1. Charge the phone for at least 30 minutes.
2. Press and then hold the Home and Volume DOWN keys, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume DOWN keys.
4. Wait until the Download screen appears.
5. If you can boot the phone in download mode but not in other modes, that means that your only way out may be to flash a stock or custom firmware.
6. Use Google to look for a guide on how to do it.

Boot in safe mode:

1. Charge the phone for at least 30 minutes.
2. Press and hold the Power button.
3. Once the ‘Samsung Galaxy S7’ logo appears, release the Power key and immediately press and hold the Volume Down button.
4. Continue holding the button until the phone finishes rebooting.
5. Once you see the text “Safe mode” at the bottom left corner of the screen, release the Volume Down button.
6. The only difference of safe mode from normal mode is that the former prevents third party apps from running. If you can boot the phone in safe mode but not in normal mode, uninstall all apps until the issue (that prevents you from booting normally) is eliminated.

Secondly, yes you need to have the phone’s hardware checked if it won’t power back on. Like water damage, the unnecessary shock after dropping your phone can lead to all sorts of problems. If you want to get to the bottom of the problem, yes, let a professional do an assessment of the current state of the hardware.

Problem 9: Galaxy S6 fails to use Amazon Flex app, now won’t turn back on at all

Hi there! My daughter works part-time for Amazon and uses their app called “Amazon Flex” to scan/deliver a variety of packages to customers’ house. When she arrived at a designated customers’ address, she said that she scanned the bar code on the package. And all of sudden, Amazon app crashed and took her Galaxy S6 with it. Her phone just turned it off by itself. When she attempted to power it up, her phone was stuck in the logo screen and frozen. That being said, she tried to follow some of the remedies she found online and tried 2 of the following: Vol up, Home, Pwr key -> wipe cache partitiion -> reboot system now Vol up, Home, Pwr key -> wipe data/factory reset ->delete alluser data -> reboot system now (system displayed an error and it never successfully completed factory reset). Cannot figure out as to why even the factory reset fails. She said that the it was originally Verizon’s phone unlocked by Verizon, so that she may be able to use it for T-mobile. Right now, when power button is pressed, her phone is frozen up with its logo screen. Would you recommend any ways to revive her phone? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! — Kihwan

Solution: Hi Kihwan. If your phone won’t even complete a factory reset, there might be a serious problem causing it. Try to see if you can revive the phone by flashing the bootloader first and the firmware next. Flashing instructions vary by phone model so make sure to do some research on how to do it on this device.

For demonstration purposes, here are the general steps on how to flash a bootloader. The exact steps may be slightly different so try to find a good guide.

1. Look for the correct firmware for your phone model and download it. Make sure that you select the right one. It should be the same exact firmware that ran previously on your device. We assume that you list down the firmware version somewhere. If you did not take note of it before, there’s a chance that you may pick the wrong one. As you may know now, using an incorrect firmware can cause complications so good luck with that.
2. Let’s now say that you have identified the correct firmware. You then want to download it to your computer. The firmware file should have a bunch of files in it like AP_, BL_, CSC_, etc.
3. Look for the file that starts with a label BL; this should be the corresponding bootloader file for this firmware. Once you’ve identified the bootloader file, copy it to your computer’s desktop or to any other folder that you can easily access.
4. Proceed with the rest of the flashing procedure using the Odin program.
5. In Odin, click on the BL tab and make sure to use the bootloader file you’ve identified earlier.
6. Now, make sure that the “Device Added” status and its “ID:COM box” has turned blue before hitting the START button. This will initiate the flashing of your phone’s bootloader.
7. Restart the phone once the procedure is finished.

 

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