What to do if your Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus has a screen flickering issue [Troubleshooting Guide]

The screen flickering issue on your Samsung Galaxy S8+ could be just a minor issue with some of the apps and the firmware or it could be a complex problem with the hardware. We have received complaints from some of our readers who have encountered this issue with their new device and we understand how frustrating it would be that a premium phone that you bought for several hundred dollars is now having some kind of issues you don’t understand. That’s the reason why we publish this kind of articles because we want to help our readers who may need guidance on what to do when these things happen.

So, in this post, we will try to consider every possibility and rule out each of them until we can pinpoint what the problem really is all about and what needs to be done to fix it. But the most important thing we need to know is whether we can fix this problem on your end and we can bring the phone to work without the screen flickering issue because if not, then you should immediately bring it back to the store and negotiate a replacement. No one would want to deal with this problem and considering the amount you paid for the device, you should enjoy it without any issues at all. So, continue reading below to know what to do.

Now, before we go to troubleshooting, if you are currently experiencing a different problem, try to visit our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues owners encountered with their device. Find issues that are similar to yours and feel free to use our solutions or troubleshooting guides. If they don’t work, however, and if you need further assistance, contact us by completing our Android issues questionnaire. All we need is information so we can help you. Don’t worry, it’s free.

How to troubleshoot Galaxy S8+ with screen flickering issue

Problem: Hi droid guys. I have a new Galaxy S8 Plus phone and since yesterday, the screen started flickering. It doesn’t flicker most of the time but at random times in a day and it’s really annoying because it will affect the way you use the phone. I just want to have a phone that’s working perfectly fine just like when I first bought this phone a few weeks ago. I’m not sure why the screen started flickering so if you guys have any idea why this is happening and what I need to do to fix it, then please help me. Thanks.

Troubleshooting: Basically, we only have a couple of things we need to do to determine if this problem can be fixed on your end or if you need help from a technician. So, without further adieu, here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Reboot your phone in safe mode and see if the screen still flickers

When in safe mode, your Samsung Galaxy S8+ disables all third-party apps and services. So, if one of them caused the flickering, the problem shouldn’t occur while in this environment. In this case, all you gotta do is find the app that’s probably causing the problem and then try to update, reset or even uninstall it to see if the problem gets fixed by doing that. You may have to uninstall more than one app.

Here’s how you reboot your phone in 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. Uninstall apps that are causing a problem.

If you’re suspecting an app or two, here’s what you need to do about them assuming the screen doesn’t flicker in this mode…

How to update apps on Galaxy S8 Plus

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap Play Store.
3. Tap the Menu key and then tap My Apps. To keep your apps automatically updated, tap the Menu > Settings 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.

How to clear apps cache and data on Galaxy S8+

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap Settings > Apps.
3. Tap the desired application in the default list or tap 3 dots icon > Show system apps to display preinstalled apps.
4. Tap Storage.
5. Tap Clear data and then tap OK.
6. Tap Clear cache.

How to uninstall apps from Samsung Galaxy S8+

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap Settings > Apps.
3. Tap the desired application in the default list or tap 3 dots icon > Show system apps to display pre-installed apps.
4. Tap the desired application.
5. Tap Uninstall.
6. Tap Uninstall again to confirm.

However, if the screen flickering issue still occurs in safe mode, then the next step has to be done.

Step 2: Backup your files and data and reset your Galaxy S8+

To rule out the possibility that this problem is caused by a firmware issue, you need to reset your phone. However, all the files you stored in your phone’s internal storage will be delete which includes all your pictures, contacts, messages, etc. so take time making a backup of things you don’t want to lose. After which, disable the Factory Reset Protection of your phone so you won’t be locked out and only then you can reset your device.

How to disable Factory Reset Protection on Galaxy S8+

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Cloud and accounts.
4. Tap Accounts.
5. Tap Google.
6. Tap on your Google ID email address if multiple accounts are setup. If you have multiple accounts setup, you will need to repeat these steps for each account.
7. Tap 3 dot icon.
8. Tap Remove account.
9. Tap REMOVE ACCOUNT.

How to Master Reset your Galaxy S8+

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

Or, you can reset your phone from the Settings menu…

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap Settings > Cloud and accounts.
3. Tap Backup and restore.
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 the back button to the Settings menu and tap General Management > Reset > Factory data reset.
7. Tap Reset device.
8. If you have screen lock turned on, enter your credentials.
9. Tap Continue.
10. Tap Delete all.

Step 3: Bring the phone back to the store and have it replaced

After the reset and the screen flickering issue continues, you have no other choice but the bring the phone back to the store and have it replaced. The technician will check for anything that might have caused the problem and if his diagnosis is that the phone can’t be repaired, you may be provided with a brand new unit as a replacement.

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