Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Problems, Errors, Glitches and Solutions [Part 3]

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (SM-T700/SM-T705) shipped with Android 4.4.2 KitKat and maxed out at Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Samsung ended software support years ago, but as of 2026, plenty of these tablets are still in daily use — and still running into the same Wi-Fi, battery, and software issues they always have. This is Part 3 of our ongoing troubleshooting series for the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. If you did not find your issue here, check [INTERNAL LINK: Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Part 1], [INTERNAL LINK: Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Part 2], and [INTERNAL LINK: Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Part 7] for additional fixes.

Important: The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 no longer receives security patches or OS updates. If you are still using this tablet for banking, email, or anything involving personal data, consider upgrading to a newer model that still gets monthly security updates.

Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Won’t Stay Connected to Wi-Fi

A Wi-Fi connection that drops repeatedly or shows “Saved” instead of “Connected” is one of the most reported issues on the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The wireless adapter in this tablet occasionally struggles with newer router firmware and security protocols, especially WPA3-only networks.

Step 1: Restart the Wi-Fi Adapter

Turn off Wi-Fi from the quick settings panel, then perform a soft reset by holding the Power button for 10 seconds until the screen goes dark. Wait 60 seconds, power the tablet back on, re-enable Wi-Fi, and reconnect to your network. This clears the wireless adapter’s cached state and forces a fresh handshake with the router.

Step 2: Forget and Re-Add the Network

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, long-press your network name, and tap Forget network. Then reconnect by selecting the network and entering the password again. This forces the tablet to negotiate a completely new connection, which resolves most authentication loop issues.

Step 3: Set a Static IP and DNS

If the connection drops intermittently, the DHCP lease from your router may be expiring or conflicting with another device. Assign a static IP:

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi and long-press your network name
Tap Modify network → check Show advanced options
Change IP settings from DHCP to Static
Enter an IP address outside your router’s DHCP range (e.g., 192.168.1.200)
Set Gateway to your router’s IP (usually 192.168.1.1)
Set DNS 1 to 8.8.8.8 and DNS 2 to 8.8.4.4 (Google’s public DNS)
Tap Save

Step 4: Check Router Compatibility

The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. If your router is set to WPA3-only, the tablet cannot connect — switch the router to WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode or WPA2-only. Also verify that MAC address filtering is disabled on the router, or add the tablet’s MAC address (found at Settings → About Device → Status → Wi-Fi MAC Address) to the allowed list.

If you are using an older Wireless G router, the Tab S 8.4 may have difficulty sustaining a stable connection due to the limited bandwidth. Upgrading to at least a Wireless N or AC router can resolve persistent drops.

Step 5: Reset Network Settings

As a last resort before factory reset, go to Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings. This clears all saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and mobile data settings. You will need to re-enter all Wi-Fi passwords afterward.

Can’t Download on 4G LTE (SM-T705 Only)

The LTE variant (SM-T705) occasionally shows an upload-only arrow in the status bar, preventing downloads over the mobile connection. This is almost always a network configuration issue rather than a hardware fault.

Quick Fixes

Toggle Airplane Mode — Turn Airplane Mode on for 15 seconds, then turn it back off. This forces the tablet to re-register with the cellular tower and often resolves one-directional data issues.
Verify your data plan — Check with your carrier that mobile data is active and you haven’t exceeded your monthly data cap. Prepaid plans in particular may silently throttle or block downloads once the data allowance is reached.
Re-seat the SIM card — Power off the tablet, remove the SIM card, wait 30 seconds, re-insert it, and power back on. A slightly misaligned SIM can cause intermittent data issues.

Check Mobile Network Settings

Go to Settings → Connections → More Networks → Mobile Networks and verify:

Mobile Data is toggled ON
Data Roaming is enabled (if you’re traveling or near a coverage border)
Network Mode is set to LTE/3G/2G (Auto connect) — not locked to a single band

If the tablet consistently shows upload-only, try manually selecting your carrier under Network Operators instead of leaving it on automatic. This forces a fresh registration with the network.

APN Settings

Incorrect APN (Access Point Name) settings prevent proper data connectivity. Go to Settings → Connections → More Networks → Mobile Networks → Access Point Names and verify the APN matches your carrier’s recommended configuration. Contact your carrier directly or search their support site for the correct APN values if you’re unsure.

Battery Drains Fast or Shows Erratic Percentage

The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 uses a 4,900 mAh Li-ion battery (part number EB-BT705FBE). After more than 10 years on the market, most surviving units have batteries well past their useful lifespan. A healthy Li-ion battery retains roughly 80% of its original capacity after 500 full charge cycles — by 2026, most Tab S 8.4 batteries are severely degraded.

Symptoms of a Dying Battery

Symptom	Likely Cause
Battery percentage jumps 20–40% in seconds	Worn-out battery cells can’t hold consistent voltage
Charges from 80% to 100% instantly	Battery calibration is off, or cells have reduced capacity
Tablet dies before reaching 0%	Battery voltage drops below minimum threshold prematurely
Gets hot during charging	Internal resistance has increased from cell degradation
Less than 2 hours of screen-on time	Battery capacity is critically low

Software-Side Fixes

Before replacing the battery, try these steps to rule out software issues:

Check battery usage — Go to Settings → General → Battery and look for any app consuming an abnormal percentage. Rogue apps running in the background are a common cause of rapid drain on older tablets.
Disable sync for unused accounts — Go to Settings → General → Accounts and turn off auto-sync for any accounts you don’t actively use.
Reduce screen brightness — The Super AMOLED display is beautiful but power-hungry. Keeping brightness at 30–40% can significantly extend battery life.
Factory reset — Back up your data, then go to Settings → General → Reset → Factory Data Reset. A clean slate eliminates years of accumulated app conflicts and background processes.

Battery Replacement

If the battery still drains rapidly after a factory reset, replacement is the only real fix. The Tab S 8.4 battery is not user-removable, but the replacement process is straightforward with the right tools:

What you need: Phillips #00 screwdriver, plastic spudger/pry tool, safety pin or SIM ejector

Remove the two small screws near the charging port (use the safety pin to pop off the plastic covers first)
Pry the back cover off gently using the plastic spudger — start from one corner and work your way around
Disconnect the battery ribbon cable from the motherboard using the spudger
Carefully lift out the old battery (it may be held down with adhesive)
Place the new battery, reconnect the ribbon cable, and snap the back cover into place

After replacement: Drain the new battery to around 5%, then charge it to 100% with the tablet powered off. This calibrates the battery gauge for accurate percentage readings.

Replacement batteries (EB-BT705FBE, 4,900 mAh) are available from third-party sellers on Amazon for $15–$25. Some kits include the necessary tools. Buy on Amazon

Warning: Opening the tablet voids any remaining warranty (though by 2026, all Galaxy Tab S 8.4 units are well past warranty). Lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous if punctured — do not use metal tools to pry the battery out, and work in a well-ventilated area.

iFixit has a detailed battery replacement guide with photos that walks through each step visually.

App Icons Missing from the App Drawer

If apps you know are installed no longer appear in the app drawer or home screens, the launcher has likely frozen or cached data has become corrupted.

Fix 1: Soft Reset

Hold the Power button for 10 seconds to force restart the tablet. This clears temporary memory and restarts the launcher process. In most cases, the app icons reappear immediately after the reboot.

Fix 2: Clear the Launcher Cache

Go to Settings → Application Manager (or Settings → Apps)
Swipe to the All tab
Find TouchWiz Home (or Samsung Experience Home if on Marshmallow)
Tap Clear Cache, then tap Clear Data
Restart the tablet

Clearing the launcher data resets your home screen layout, so you’ll need to rearrange widgets and shortcuts afterward, but all installed apps will reappear in the app drawer.

Fix 3: Check Disabled Apps

Go to Settings → Application Manager and swipe to the Disabled tab. Any app listed here won’t show in the app drawer. Tap an app and select Enable to restore it.

Fix 4: Install a Third-Party Launcher

If the stock launcher continues to hide apps, install a third-party launcher from the Google Play Store. Nova Launcher and Microsoft Launcher both work on Android 6.0.1 and provide a more stable and customizable app drawer experience than the aging TouchWiz launcher.

Fix 5: Factory Reset

If none of the above fixes work, back up your data and perform a factory reset. You can do this through Settings → General → Reset → Factory Data Reset, or through Recovery Mode:

Power off the tablet completely
Press and hold Volume Up + Home + Power simultaneously
Release when the Samsung logo appears
Use Volume buttons to navigate to Wipe data / factory reset and press Power to confirm
Select Yes — delete all user data and reboot

Developer Options Not Showing After Enabling

On the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 running Android 4.4.2 or later, the Developer Options menu is hidden by default. To enable it, go to Settings → About Device and tap Build Number seven times. You should see a toast message confirming developer mode is enabled.

Where to Find Developer Options

After enabling, the Developer Options menu appears at the bottom of the Settings screen, just above About Device. On Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, it may appear under Settings → General → Developer Options instead.

If Developer Options Still Won’t Appear

This is a rare bug that was reported on early firmware versions (Android 4.4.2). Try these fixes:

Restart the tablet — A soft reset (hold Power for 10 seconds) may cause the newly enabled menu to appear.
Update the firmware — If you’re still on Android 4.4.2, update to the latest available version (Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow) through Settings → About Device → Software Update. Note that Samsung’s OTA servers may no longer serve updates for this model, so you may need to use Samsung’s Smart Switch desktop software or flash the firmware manually via Odin.
Factory reset — As a last resort, a factory reset followed by immediately enabling Developer Options (before installing any apps) has resolved this issue for most users.

Enabling USB Debugging

Once Developer Options is visible, go to Settings → Developer Options and toggle on USB Debugging. You’ll see a confirmation dialog — tap OK. Connect the tablet to your PC via USB, and your computer should recognize it as a debugging device. You may also need to install Samsung USB drivers on your PC.

How to Switch User Accounts (Owner vs. Standard User)

The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 supports multiple user accounts, but Android does not allow you to swap the owner account with a standard user account. The owner account is permanently assigned to whichever account was set up first during initial device setup.

What You Can Do

Change account details: Go to Settings → General → Users, tap on the user you want to modify, and update the name, email, and other personal information. This effectively transfers the “identity” without changing the account type.

Add a new user: Go to Settings → General → Users → Add User. The new user gets a separate app environment, home screen, and settings. However, the original owner retains administrative control (ability to remove users, install apps for all users, etc.).

Full swap (requires factory reset): If you truly need the second person to be the device owner with full admin rights, the only option is a factory reset. Set up the device fresh with the intended owner’s Google account as the primary account during initial setup.

WhatsApp Won’t Install or Says “Not Compatible”

WhatsApp officially dropped support for Android 4.4 (KitKat) and older versions in 2024. If your Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, WhatsApp should still install from the Google Play Store as of 2026 — but support for Android 5 and 6 could be dropped at any time.

If WhatsApp Says “Not Compatible”

Check your Android version — Go to Settings → About Device → Android Version. If you’re on Android 4.4.2, you must update to at least Android 5.0 (or ideally 6.0.1) for WhatsApp to work.
Update the Play Store — Open the Play Store, tap the menu icon, go to Settings, and tap the Play Store version number to check for updates. An outdated Play Store can incorrectly report device incompatibility.
Sideload the APK — If the Play Store refuses to install WhatsApp, download the APK directly from whatsapp.com/android. Before installing, enable Settings → Security → Unknown Sources to allow sideloading. This bypasses Play Store compatibility checks.

WhatsApp on Wi-Fi-Only Tablets

WhatsApp requires a phone number for verification. On the Wi-Fi-only model (SM-T700), you can still use WhatsApp by entering any phone number you own during setup — the verification code will arrive via SMS on that phone. After verification, WhatsApp works over Wi-Fi without needing cellular connectivity on the tablet.

Chrome Homepage Keeps Changing to Samsung Rewards or Unwanted Pages

If Google Chrome on the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 keeps opening to a Samsung Rewards page or another unwanted site, the homepage has been overridden — either by Samsung’s bloatware, a browser hijacker, or cached redirect data.

Fix 1: Set the Homepage Manually

Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu (top right)
Go to Settings → Homepage
Toggle the homepage ON
Enter your preferred URL (e.g., https://www.google.com) or select Chrome’s default page

Fix 2: Clear Chrome’s Data

Go to Settings → Application Manager → All → Chrome
Tap Clear Cache, then tap Clear Data
Reopen Chrome — it should start fresh with the default new tab page

Clearing Chrome’s data removes all saved passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history from the tablet (though anything synced to your Google account will restore when you sign back in).

Fix 3: Check for Malware

On older Android versions that no longer receive security patches, browser hijackers are common. If the homepage keeps reverting even after you change it, check Settings → Application Manager for any apps you don’t recognize. Uninstall suspicious apps, then clear Chrome’s data again. Consider installing Malwarebytes for Android (free version) to scan for threats.

Fix 4: Disable Samsung Browser Push

Some Samsung firmware versions aggressively push the Samsung Internet browser and related Samsung Rewards promotions. Go to Settings → Application Manager → All, find Samsung Push Service, and tap Disable. This prevents Samsung from injecting promotional content into your browser experience.

When to Replace the Galaxy Tab S 8.4

The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 was an excellent tablet in 2014, but by 2026 it faces serious limitations: no security updates since roughly 2020, an Android version that increasingly lacks app support, aging hardware that struggles with modern web pages, and batteries that are past their rated lifespan.

If you are experiencing multiple issues from this list simultaneously — persistent Wi-Fi drops, rapid battery drain, app compatibility problems — it may be more cost-effective to upgrade rather than continue troubleshooting a 12-year-old device. Samsung’s current Galaxy Tab A9 starts around $150–$200 and offers years of guaranteed software support, dramatically better performance, and modern security protections.

For readers still committed to keeping their Tab S 8.4 running, the fixes in this guide should resolve most software-related issues. Hardware problems like battery degradation and charging port wear are the most common reasons these tablets eventually need to be retired.

[INTERNAL LINK: Best Samsung Tablets] | [INTERNAL LINK: Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Part 1] | [INTERNAL LINK: Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Part 2]