Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 Problems, Errors, Glitches and Solutions [Part 4]

We’ve come up with part four of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 troubleshooting niche. Rest assured we will continue to provide you with the best solutions available on certain issues encountered on this device. Read on and enjoy!

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As usual, you can send your concerns via [email protected]. We may not be able to respond to every email we receive but rest assured I will read every single one of them so your effort won’t be wasted. And for those who prefer to reach us via social networks, feel free to post your problems on our Facebook wall or on our Google+ page.

There could be a lot of articles like this for the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 in the following weeks.

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Unable to find the latest update for KitKat on Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 SM T210

Problem: Hi! I am using Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 SM T210. I know the latest update for KitKat was released months ago. The problem is my device does not show the current update from the Settings menu. Every time I check for updates, it keeps telling me that my system is up to date. I thought of doing it manually using Kies, but that way is too risky as I do not have much knowledge about Android. It may or may not brick my device. Kindly help me on this problem. Thanks! – Tayyab Aslam

Troubleshooting: Hello Tayyab. A major update like this should be readily available on your device if it has been released in your country. These software updates should be available in OTA or when extended means Over-the-Air. This means that if you are connected to the internet, your tab should automatically detect the update and will prompt you to download it. It will then let you choose if you want to Install Now or Install Later. Make sure that your tab has Automatic System Updates on. In your case, if there’s no prompt, the first thing that we need to look at is your software version. To check this, you can go to Settings then open up the About Device page. The software version for KitKat 4.4.2 is T217SVPUBNH4. If you see that version number on your device, then it means that you are already on the latest firmware form.

Take note that there are only two official ways in upgrading the device. That is through OTA and KIES. Since OTA is not helping you, don’t hesitate to try and install the update using KIES. Just follow this simple setup. Assuming you have stable internet connection, the first step is to download and install the Samsung KIES Utility on your PC. Once installed, run the utility program. Connect your tablet to the PC using a USB cable. The Samsung KIES Utility should automatically detect your device. On the home screen of the said utility, a button should be available for you to go through the latest firmware upgrade. Just follow the on-screen instructions and if it has been successfully installed, your tablet should automatically restart. Unplug the device once the reboot is complete. KitKat 4.4.2 should now be installed.

The tablet is not updated but OTA is not automatically downloading? Checking for updates under Settings>System Update>Update is not helping at all? Samsung KIES Utility can’t detect the latest firmware update? Fret no more! You can manually install the KitKat 4.4.2 update by following this intricately detailed step by step instructions. Odin v3.09 should be the main player of this manual update as this is where the contents of the update will be extracted and run. You should carefully go through the instructions as one wrong move can potentially harm your device. It is advisable to seek help from someone who is well versed with Android devices and its high end tweaks. Confirm the update once you have completed the process by going to Settings>About Device. More update links are available from this page which is specific to the country where the update can be applied.

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Screen went black after installing a software update

Problem: My tablet sent me a notification saying it needed a software update, so I clicked OK and it started to do its thing. I did not touch it while the update was happening. When it reached 100 percent, the screen went black. I waited a few minutes then tried to turn it on and nothing happened. I tried charging it but still nothing. I’m not really sure what to do now. Any advice?? – Randi

Troubleshooting: Hi Randi. It looks like your tablet attempted an OTA (Over-the-Air) firmware update for KitKat. Since this is a major update for all Android devices, a lot of changes have been applied to your gadget. Hence, it is inevitable that certain issues will be encountered before, during, or after the installation.

To further isolate the issue, have you noticed if the start-up sound still chimes if you turn the device on? If it does but the Samsung logo doesn’t come up, try doing a soft reset to your tablet. A soft reset can help your device get a fresh start. All you need to do is press and hold the power button down for 30 seconds or until your tablet turns off. Wait for a few seconds then turn it back on. This should normally do the trick.

If it still gives you a black screen, then your system has crashed and needs to be recovered. To enter Recovery Mode, you need to shut the device off first. Once done, you have to press and hold the Power, Volume Up, and Home buttons at the same time for 5 seconds or until you see it enters the Recovery Mode. On the options presented, look for Wipe Data Factory Reset, and select it by pressing the power button. Go back to the main page and reboot the system. Your tablet should boot up as normal afterwards.

Another trick that an avid Android fan recommended is to hold the soft button (HOME BUTTON or the BACK BUTTON, whichever works for you) at the front and the side power for 30 seconds. You should press these buttons at the same time. The device should restart automatically and should be working regularly once it boots back up.

Lastly, a trip to Samsung’s service center can also help you resolve this issue. Their technicians should be able to fix it or replace it.

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Unable to play a converted video on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0

Problem: I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 SM-T210R and a Samsung Galaxy S4. I am trying to convert the movies that I have on DVD to a format that I can watch on my Galaxy Tab 3. I have downloaded so many programs and tried to convert the video but then, every time I try to watch it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, I will get the error “Cannot play video.” I have a 64GB micro SD card and I would like to store some of my favourite movies into it so that I can view it anytime I want. I have even tried the best players and I just can’t figure out the right settings and what program to use. It plays fine on my S4. Please help! Thank you very much in advance! — Melinda

Troubleshooting: Hi Melinda. It is very important to note the type of file format that your Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 supports in playing movies. You can convert your DVD to MP4 with codec, MPEG-4, H.264, AVI with codec, DivX and WMV. Any of these file types is playable on your tablet. There are indeed a lot of programs that you will find online which can rip and convert DVDs to a format compatible with your tablet. But how do we know the best program to use? A trusted online source stated 4 features:

  1. Ease of Use. The interface should be user friendly and does not require a programmer to explore the program.
  2. Quick to Convert. High speed equals less time ripping DVDs equals satisfaction guaranteed.
  3. High Quality. A very good video and audio output should be considered first and foremost as a fuzzy video and poor audio can be stressful and unpleasant to watch.
  4. Safe and Clean. The ripper should not contain any viruses, spywares and or malwares which can harm your device.

After an extensive search on the World Wide Web, the WinX DVD Ripper came out on top. It meets all the above requirements and can absolutely play movies on your Samsung Galaxy Tab. The link contains a full blown description of the program and its capacity. How to’s have been included as well so it would be easy for you to install and use. If you have not tried this one yet, then this is the perfect solution for you.

You also need to make sure that each video size is not over 4GB as this is the limitation for SD cards that has been formatted to FAT32. This is the usual format used by SD cards.

On an end note, if you prefer to sync/transfer the movies straight from the PC to your Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, use Samsung KIES instead. You can even choose the file location therefore your 64GB SD card will be utilized. The full description and tutorial can be found here. Hope this helps!

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Playing videos from an external SD card on Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

Problem: Can you play videos (AVI or MPEG4 format downloaded to a PC) directly from a micro SD card inserted into the SD card slot on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, or would the videos need to be transferred onto the internal memory? – Fae

Troubleshooting: Hey there Fae! Good question. In a perfect scenario, there’s basically no reason why the movies won’t play straight from an external SD card especially that AVI and MPEG4 files are supported by your tablet. Of course, we also need to ensure that your SD card has high enough read speed so that your device can access data easily from it.  There is no need to transfer the videos to the internal storage and is not even required.

What we recommend is to use the Samsung KIES in transferring your videos from a PC to your tablet. This ensures compatibility and will reduce issues when playing the files on your Samsung tablet. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection or a USB cable to start the transfer. You can even choose the file location before a transfer is made. You can find the full walk-through here.

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Tablet stops charging at 60 percent

Problem: My tablet won’t charge to more than 60 percent. I’ve tried rebooting the device but to no avail. I’ve also tried turning it off while charging. Also, it charges really slowly. The tablet is about 8 months old and rarely used. – Andrew

Troubleshooting: Hello Andrew. The issue that you have with your tablet rarely happens to this device. There is a big possibility that the battery is damaged. You may have allowed the battery to run down until it’s emptied. When did this start to happen? Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary happening to your tablet, such as; frequent reboots, blank screen or easy battery drain? These can contribute to poor battery performance. Have you tried a different charger? A defective charger can also affect the batteries charging time and conduct.

If you have tried all the things stated above, then the only thing left to try is to refresh the connection of the battery cable to the device. This involves prying open the back cover and can be tricky. Keep in mind as well that this may also void the warranty of your tablet. If you’re more interested in fixing the issue than keeping the warranty, follow the steps outlined below.

You need to get the back cover off the tablet using a plastic pry tool. If it is not available, a metal knife can be used as a substitute but you should be gentle as this can damage the device.  Once opened, the battery should be the first thing that you will see inside. Attached to the bottom part of the battery is the cable which is pinned to the device. Disconnect the battery cable while being careful of the circuit board. Reconnect the battery cable, make sure you’ll hear a click, and replace the back cover. Connect the device to its original charger. The screen should flicker when it detects the connection. Let the device charge for 5 minutes then turn it on. Make sure that your Wi-Fi is turned off then let the tablet sleep while charging. It is recommended that you leave the tablet charging for 6 hours or until fully charged. This should resolve the charging issue with your battery.

Tip: Don’t drain the battery as this can shorten its life span. Make sure you plug it into its charger when prompted to do so by the device or when it’s below 20 percent. It is even recommended with Samsung Galaxy Tab 3.0 to power it on while charging.

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 Camera on Facebook Messenger App freezes the tablet

Problem: The camera part in the Facebook Messenger App is not working. I can’t take a picture or video because every time I click it, the App freezes up. I’m using Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 – Mark 

Troubleshooting:  Hi Mark. Thanks for reporting this as this is considered to be an emerging issue with Android users. This has nothing to do with your tablet or its settings. This is a bug in the Facebook Messenger App that came with the recent update of the application. Rest assured this has been reported to the Facebook development team and they are working to get this fixed.

As a temporary workaround, we would recommend clearing the cache of the specified application. Too much cache stored in an application can cause it to freeze and malfunction. To delete the cache, go to Settings then select the General option. On the list is the Application Manager. Open it then tap on the Facebook Messenger icon. One of the buttons should say Clear Data. Press that button and allow the device to get rid of the trash. Reboot the tablet and launch the application again. If the freezing still happens, uninstalling the application would be good at this point. Completely remove the application from the tablet then just download it again from the Google Play Store. Re-installing an application is like giving it a fresh start and can resolve most freezing and in-app issues.

If the suggestions above failed to resolve the issue, what we can do is wait for the Facebook team to release a fix for this bug.

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 Wi-Fi slider on Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 won’t stay on

Problem: I have a Samsung Tab 3 7.0 SM-T310. The Wi-Fi slider won’t stay on. It goes back to off. I dragged it from the top downward and the Wi-Fi icon still shows gray. Every time I tap it to turn on, it turns a light green but after a few seconds it goes back to gray. I have checked the date on the tablet and it is correct. I changed the date and shut it down then started it back up but to no avail. – Sylvia 

Troubleshooting: Hi Sylvia. It was very wise of you to check if the time and date of your tablet is current. This is definitely one of the things that we have to check if we encounter Wi-Fi connection issues. There are a lot of things that can kindle this issue. This can be hardware related but most of the time, it has something to do with the software especially after an upgrade. Nonetheless, the situation with the Wi-Fi slider can also involve the firmware of the product. The good thing is, software issues can easily be fixed with some troubleshooting. Hardware issues on the other hand can be a little pain in the neck.

That being said, a soft reset would be helpful. It’s like doing a full power cycle to your device.  You can perform a soft reset by holding the power button down for five to ten seconds or until the screen shuts off. Leave it off for a few minutes then turn it back on. See if the Wi-Fi slider stays on this time.

If the Wi-Fi still won’t turn on, we may have to take a look at the hardware side of the tablet. A flex cable may have come undone or the Wi-Fi antenna may have come loose. In this case, we can try a few things but remember to be gentle as we don’t want to damage the device any further. Hold the tablet firmly with your hand and shake it slightly or carefully tap the back with your fingers. This is to make any loose cables or connections inside back to its proper place. You may have to do this a couple of times as it will take a few attempts to get the cable back to the right area. After it’s done, test the Wi-Fi again. If it works then we can conclude that it’s a hardware issue.

If it’s still not cooperating, we need to check the applications installed in the tablet as some of these apps can cause problems with the Wi-Fi. Think back to before this happened. Have you installed any application right before this issue started to happen? If you have, uninstall the said application and see if your Wi-Fi will function normally again. It’s still not staying on? Then a hard reset is needed at this point. Make sure to back up your personal information before doing a hard reset. Please see this page for a full tutorial on backing up your data and doing a hard reset. This will get your tab back to the way it was when it was first purchased. This should be considered as the last resort.

If none works, then it’s time to get your phone repaired by a certified Samsung technician if you are still within warranty. If the warranty has run out, you may consider taking the tablet apart to find and attempt to fix the problematic hardware which can be as simple as pressing a wire or cable back into place.

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Music files from the Google Play Music doesn’t play/save to the external SD card

Problem: I have a Galaxy Tab 3, running Android 4.1.2. I use the Google Play Music app for playing music. Right now, my music is stored in the Music folder in the device’s internal storage. But I would like to move it to the external SD card. I know how to move it. What I can’t figure out is how to tell the music player app where the music is stored. No matter where I put the files, the app always looks for them in the same Music folder. According to Google’s Help, I should be able to go to the app’s Settings screen, and under Downloading look for Storage Location. But I don’t have a Storage Location option in the Settings screen. I know the SD card is working OK, because I have used it for other types of files. I also know that I can use my file manager to click on a music file anywhere in the system, and that will launch the tune in the app. But I don’t want to have to do that each time I want to pick some music to play. Any help would be appreciated. –Mike

Troubleshooting: Hi Mike. Are you aware that not all Android devices supports external SD card memory? Google Play Music app doesn’t have the capability of storing music into your SD card if you’re running it on Android Jellybean, which is your firmware version. Try to update your firmware to Android 4.4 (KitKat) first and you should be able to save it directly to your external SD card. Once your device is running Android 4.4, you can save and play music from your SD card by opening the Google Play Music app. On the menu icon, go to Settings>Storage Location>External. The Storage Location option should be available in this platform.

However, if you want a faster way, consider rooting your device. There’s no need to perform a software update if you opt to root the tablet. Rooting will give you access to all programs and applications and will allow you to save files directly to your external SD card. There are no restrictions and you can now enjoy listening to music from the SD card. Keep in mind though that rooting will void the warranty of your tablet. It is up to you if you opt to do this or not.

Another way is to save your music offline instead of constantly streaming it. Google Play Music allows you to do this but only by the album, song or playlist. You can use your external SD card and all you need to do is follow these simple steps. Hope this works!

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5 thoughts on “Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 Problems, Errors, Glitches and Solutions [Part 4]”

  1. Hi i have Samsung Tab3. it start download from play store but after finishing download an error occurred while starting installation.

  2. My Samsung galaxy tab 4 10.1 the camera in facebook messenger not working. . Please help

  3. I deteted some apps on my samsung galaxy tab3 tm-t211 and now i cant watch d movies on my sd card neither can i download movies from my laptop to it anymore,however i can watch d movies on d sd card when i put it in my s4 phone,please help asap.tanks in advance.

  4. OK my son’s galaxy 4 tab has just a gray screen u cannot cut it off to restart it. It was just sitting on his bed no one touched just now stays on a gray screen why?

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