Many users of the Galaxy A3 have been raising complaints regarding a problem on dropped calls. In response, Samsung explicated that the placement of the main antenna might be to blame. The main antenna of the Galaxy A3 is located at the bottom part thus more often it will be covered with your hands or other objects. And this is when connectivity issues as well as rapid draining of the battery can instigate. Samsung has therefore advised not to cover the antenna area of the device especially during a phone call as there is a higher chance that the network coverage will be interfered.
Nevertheless there are also other cases in which dropped call problems are triggered by some other factors. That along with potential solutions and workarounds will be tackled in this post. Hence, if you have a Samsung Galaxy A3 that keeps dropping calls then this content might be able to help you.
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Common factors that can trigger dropped calls to occur on your Galaxy A3
Aside from the main antenna placement, there are also other factors that you need to consider when dealing with frequent dropped call problems on the Galaxy A3 smartphone. Among the most common culprits are network problems, bad SIM card, software glitch, and worst, hardware damage.
Network problems like intermittent connectivity, poor signal or weak coverage, or no service are most likely the underlying causes. Without a strong and stable network coverage, relevant services including calls may not be working properly as well.
A bad SIM card can also inflict the same problem on any device. The same thing can happen when the SIM card is not properly installed or secured in the SIM card slot. There is a tendency for it to be dislodged when the device is moved.
Software glitches or bugs can also cause calls to drop more often especially when the Phone app is affected. Even software updates can get you into the same trouble as they too can contain some bugs that trigger post-update issues to surface.
The worst among the possible causes is hardware damage. A physical or liquid damage is most likely to blame especially if there were previous instances when your phone was dropped or exposed to liquid. The antenna or other relevant components on the phone might have been damaged from that prior incident.
As much as possible, try to rule hardware damage out from the possible causes so you can proceed with troubleshooting. But if you suspect that the problem on dropped calls is triggered by a faulty hardware, then you can save time and effort by taking your device straight to a nearby service center for hardware assessment and/or repair if necessary.
Potential Solutions and Workarounds
Considering that the underlying cause is associated with the software, any of these subsequent methods can possibly fix the problem. Don’t forget to do a test call after performing each method to find out whether or not the problem has been resolved. Proceed to the next applicable solution if necessary.
If you haven’t already, update your Galaxy A3 to the latest Android software available. Doing so can help optimize the device functions including calling.
Or you can also try making a call in a different location. Consider doing so if your device has weak or poor network coverage as indicated by the signal strength on the status bar.
Reboot your Galaxy A3 (soft reset)
A simple reboot on the device can do some wonders. In fact, minor software issues like symptomatic apps and services are often rectified by a reboot. Similar to a computer program, mobile apps can also experience random glitches, which often requires a restart or program reset. The process will not affect any critical data stored on your device so it is definitely a safe process to begin with. Here’s how a soft reset is done on the Galaxy A3:
- Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds.
- When the menu screen appears, select the option to Power off.
- Wait for a few seconds and then press the Power button again until the device power cycles.
After the restart try to do a test call then assess if it is still dropping.
Remove and re-insert SIM card
To eliminate the possibility of a faulty SIM card installation causing you this trouble when having calls on your Galaxy A3, try to remove and then re-insert the SIM card on the device. Be sure to do it properly to avoid causing any further damage to the SIM, SIM card slot/tray, or the device itself. Follow these steps:
- Have your SIM eject tool or ejection pin ready.
- Power off your device completely.
- Insert the ejection pin into the hole on the SIM card tray to loosen the tray. Make sure that the ejection pin is perpendicular to the hole to prevent damaging the device.
- You will hear a slight click when the tray pops out.
- Then gently pull out the tray from the slot and remove the SIM card from the tray.
- Examine the SIM card and the tray for any possible signs of damage like scratches or liquid traces. Contact your carrier if you see any signs of possible damage on the SIM.
- Once you’ve ensured no damage on the SIM components, gently place the SIM back into the tray with the gold colored contacts facing downwards.
- Insert the SIM card tray back into the SIM card tray slot gently.
- Make sure that the tray is secured or closed tightly to prevent water and dust from penetrating the device.
After reinstalling the SIM card, turn on your device then do a test call to see whether or not that has fixed the problem on dropped calls.
Configure or change network modes on your Galaxy A3
Some users have uncovered a temporary solution by switching between cellular data options on their phone. For example, from LTE to 3G, 2G, and the like. If you are still trying to find a fix, then you might as well consider this among your remaining options. Should you wish to give it a shot, here’s how:
- Tap and hold the notification bar at the top of the Home screen then slide your finger downwards.
- Swipe your finger to the left to view more options.
- Tap and hold Mobile data.
- Tap Network mode.
- Tap to select a network mode to use. If you want to use 4G, select or enable the LTE/WCDMA/GSM option. If you want to switch to 3G network, select WCDMA/GSM option.
After making changes to the network mode, restart your device then try to do a test call.
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Reset network settings on your Galaxy A3
If the problem started after you made some changes to your device’s network settings, then it’s possible that some settings are configured incorrectly then you have frequent dropped calls as the outcome. Should you think that this is causing your trouble, try to revert the settings back to its prior configuration before the onset of the problem. However, tracking the error might be too difficult to accomplish especially if you’ve already made a lot of changes. As remedy, you can just do a network settings reset on your device instead. Please note though that your network information including your network credentials and passwords will be erased in the process. That being said, be sure to write them down before you proceed with these steps:
- Tap Apps from the Home screen.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down and select More Networks option.
- Tap Mobile Networks.
- Tap Access Point Names.
- Tap Menu.
- Tap the option to Reset to default.
After resetting the network, restart your device then do a test call to assess.
Perform a factory reset (optional)
If nothing else works and you run out of other options, then consider a factory reset as your last resort. This reset often resolves complex issues in mobile devices particularly those that are triggered by software bugs afflicting the system structure. The only downside to note from this reset is that all your personal information will be erased including apps, downloads, settings, and other critical data stored on your phone’s internal memory. That being said, be sure to backup your information before you proceed. Once everything is set, follow these steps to reset your Galaxy A3 to factory defaults:
- Tap Apps from the Home screen.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down to and select Backup and reset.
- Tap Reset device to continue.
- Scroll to and tap Factory data reset.
- Tap Erase everything to confirm action.
Wait until your device completes the reset process and then proceed with the initial setup afterwards.
Seek More Help
You can seek more help by contacting your service provider/carrier. You can ask and confirm about possible outages that are affecting the network services in your place. Or you can request further assistance in troubleshooting dropped call problem on Galaxy A3 using advanced tools/software from Samsung Support.
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