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Galaxy S6 only charges via computer and won’t charge via regular charger, other problems

S6 side sync

There’s no doubt the #GalaxyS6 is a great phone but just like any other “greats” out there, some of its users may sometimes find it frustrating. So below are the expressed frustrations of some of our community members regarding their Galaxy S6 device.

If you are new to our site, don’t hesitate to visit other similar posts.

  1. Galaxy S6 only charges via computer and won’t charge via regular charger
  2. Galaxy S6 overheating and other hardware issues
  3. Galaxy S6 keeps getting harassing call and voice mail from one number
  4. What to expect of Android Marshmallow on Galaxy S6
  5. How to create a backup of Galaxy S6 files
  6. Galaxy S6 lag, freezing, email issues

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

 

Problem #1: Galaxy S6 only charges via computer and won’t charge via regular charger

I’m begging for some help here. PLEASE!  My cell phone will charge on a laptop or car charger only. It will not charge on a wall charger. I’ve changed out cords, I’ve changed out the charger box, I’ve changed and swapped everything. I even went and bought a brand new Samsung charger and yes it was a Samsung brand. I’ve also had other Galaxy S6 users test my chargers and they all work for them. Just not for my phone.

I’ve seen this problem posted on your page from another Galaxy S6 Edge user. He had the same problem and when you gave feedback, he did not reply any further. I can’t seem to find a fix for this problem anywhere. My phone is under warranty, the Samsung warranty for one year. When I called them they had me set it back to factory reset and that seemed to work for about a week. Now it’s back to the same problem all over again and I am at a loss.

For me to send it in to Samsung for repair, they are quoting me $250 for this issue even though it’s under warranty. I feel it’s something that could be fixed here on my end and I’m really hoping you can help. I did read on your website where it states to check older apps and I have deleted all unnecessary apps from my phone and only use the ones that are most important. I have less than 20 pictures on this phone since deleting everything back to factory. I am at a loss. Please if you have any kind of fix for this issue let me know. I don’t know what else to do.

Thank you again so much for any and all assistance in this matter.

God bless.  — Jennifer

Solution: Hi Jennifer. It’s interesting to know that the issue was temporarily fixed after a factory reset. That the problem eventually came back days after the last factory reset is an indication that a third party application may be causing the trouble. Keep in mind that when we say third party apps, it refers to any software you install after the initial setup. They may be apps from Samsung or Google but as long as they are not part of pre-installed apps, they are still considered “third party”. What you can do to rectify the problem is by booting your phone in safe mode before you charge it. This will ensure that only the pre-installed apps are running during the charging period. To do that, just follow these steps:

  • Press and hold the Volume Down and Power keys for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Once you see the Samsung logo, release the Power key immediately but continue pressing the Volume Down key.
  • Your phone should continue booting up and you will be prompted to unlock your phone as usual.
  • 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.

Problem #2: Galaxy S6 overheating and other hardware issues

My phone has got so hot that it burned & left a scar on my arm w/an imprint of the side & Edge of the phone. Then the following day I picked it up & it scalded my fingers. It was so hot and I couldn’t hold onto it and dropped it causing it to crack! They state I must pay $200 to replace it when it’s not my fault and continues to heat up so hot that it’s getting heat fracture’s causing it to crack even more!

PLEASE HELP ME…I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO CALL AN ATTORNEY TO HELP ME SO WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS DEALT WITH & GET A REPLACEMENT SENT TO ME? I’LL BE AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE AS SOON AS YOU CAN RESPOND AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE, GOD BLESS! — Billie

Solution: Hi Billie. If the phone’s screen or body had been cracked, your best bet at this time is to get it replaced. As much as we would like to help you, fixing the cracked part requires physical diagnostic and fix. Obviously, we cannot do that for you. Please call Samsung or any relevant party (wireless carrier or retailer) and ask for a replacement unit. Don’t forget to mention that the phone overheated. That should give them an idea that the device may have some internal hardware issues to begin with.

Problem #3: Galaxy S6 keeps getting harassing call and voice mail from one number

I keep getting phone calls from a fax number. I have stopped the calls to the phone. What is happening now is the number realizing I am not answering is generating voice mails. So, since last Wednesday until today I have gotten almost 250 voice mails. All it does is beep.

I have sent numerous faxes to that number which is in Chicago. No response. My carrier says “something” to change my number which is not an option. They will provide me with a program that will stop the mails at a nominal charge of $4.99 a month. I refuse to pay that to stop me from being harassed. They tell me that it would be a violation of the privacy act to find out who is using this fax. So much for that. The voice mails are coming in even as I type. They start at 9 AM and stop at about 6 PM. — Leo

Solution: Hi Leo. The best party that can help you with this problem is your service provider. If their only “solution” to this problem is to charge you further, why don’t you pay a visit to your local enforcement agency so they can throw in their 2 cents? There’s nothing that we can give or tell you to do to stop the voice mails from coming in. You either have to find a way with your carrier to stop the problem without incurring cost, or you can resort to legal action. Because the voice mails are persistent, the case can rightfully fall under harassment category in almost any country. You are therefore entitled to defend yourself from the hassle via legal means.

Problem #4: What to expect of Android Marshmallow on Galaxy S6

I have had a Verizon Galaxy S6 as my only phone for as long as they have been out. I am on my second one and the first one had a charging issue.

The first time Android rolled out the Lollipop update, my phone went from being awesome, to being worthless. Lagging, ridiculous battery drain to name a few major issues. Then, thank goodness, they finally rolled out an update to Lollipop. Well, unfortunately, while it helped the battery drain and sluggish somewhat, it  still lagged terribly in performance. Thank goodness the phone wouldn’t charge one day and I had it replaced under warranty. Every morning, for the last year and a half, I have cancelled the Lollipop update. But now with Marshmallow coming out I have no idea what I should do. Any advise? FYI…I’m a fairly technology savvy guy. Thanks a ton. Learned quite a lot from you guys. — Russ

Solution: Hi Russ. Just like you, the general performance of the new Android Marshmallow remains a mystery to us until now. We honestly don’t have any idea how this OS will fare on Samsung devices and in Galaxy S6 in particular. Our job here is to point out problems as we receive requests for assistance from our community. We haven’t even updated our devices in our lab to Marshmallow at this time so there’s no way for us to give a fair assessment to this product. As much as possible, we stick to official firmware version so we can’t tell if the unofficial Marshmallow versions out there are okay.

We know that Android Marshmallow is heavily tested on current flagship phones like the Galaxy S6 and Note 5 so there’s a higher chance that a lot of minor glitches and bugs must have been addressed at this time.

A few good rules of thumb to follow following a major OS update though include wiping the cache partition, doing a factory reset, and making sure that all installed apps are fully compatible. The last one is usually the most common reason for problems following an update. Some app developers may not roll out updates for their product. That can cause all sorts of trouble as the new operating system may encounter conflicts with apps that are not optimized to work with it. If unsure whether an app is updated to work with Marshmallow or not, contact the developer or simply uninstall it.

In the meantime, keep watching for more articles from us about Marshmallow as more and more Samsung devices are starting to get the update.

Problem #5: How to create a backup of Galaxy S6 files

No ringing sound on incoming calls, no sound on boot up, no sound when releasing the volume sound control button, except with ear phones. When calling, my voice mail can hear with or without head phones, but when I press speaker there is no sound. Incoming calls vibrate but no sound. Can hear ringing with head phones on. Have checked all settings and all are correctly set.

Just had screen and digitizer replaced. Can hear ringing with head phones on. Just typing this to you has lead me to believe there is a problem with the speaker. What do you think?

I don’t know how to back up my phone and don’t know if when I do back up if it saves all my app information. Not sure how to get backed up info back if I try a hard reset. Not really technologically savvy. — Christopher

Solution: Hi Christopher. The repair process must have disconnected the speaker that now results to this problem. You need to check all the circuits are connected, especially the speaker assembly.

For your question as regards to making a backup of your data, the best way to go is by official means. Simply download and install Smart Switch on your S6 and computer and you are good to go. For a detailed description on how to use this product, please use Google.

Problem #6: Galaxy S6 running slow, freezing, email won’t sync

I don’t know what happened but somehow my stock email app dropped my accounts and greyed out. At one point it wouldn’t even let me sign in, though I was certain of my password. I could have also deleted an app that worked along side the stock email app, maybe?

Now I’ve got my accounts logged in (first I created a new email and logged that in, it worked. Then I just changed my password to my old email and it allowed me to sign in.), but the icon is still greyed out and I cannot sync my contacts.

All of a sudden my phone is overheating, running slower, etc. And it’s always been so good to me. I can’t say I’m overwhelming it as I am a minimalist type and I don’t have any games or excessive apps.

Is there any tips you have/app suggestions that would help my phone get over this fit?

Thanks, in advance! — Sarah

Solution: Hi Sarah. There may be a firmware glitch or malware causing the troubles you mention here. The issues above are some of the common symptoms if a device is either having a problem with the cache and/or operating system, or if it’s infected with a malware. Consider wiping the cache partition first to see if it will make any difference.

For minor firmware-related issues brought by apps and firmware updates, wiping the cache partition often does the trick. It’s because this procedure will literally delete all cached files in the cache partition, which will force the system to create new ones during the next boot up.

This procedure is also very helpful in fixing issues like random reboots, boot loop, stuck during boot up and random freezes after updates. Here’s how you wipe the cache partition on your S6

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

If wiping the cache partition won’t help, don’t hesitate to perform a factory reset. It’s by far the most effective solution to problems like the ones on your phone right now. Don’t forget to create a backup of your files first before proceeding to these steps:

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power keys together.
  • When the device powers on and displays ‘Power on logo’, release all keys and the Android icon will appear on the screen.
  • Wait until the Android Recovery Screen appears after about 30 seconds.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option, ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • 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.
  • After the reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.

 

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

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.

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy S7 keeps freezing and turning itself on and off, other issues

S7 edge

Welcome to another post that provides answers to some #GalaxyS7 issues submitted by our readers. Don’t hesitate to consult our previously posted articles about Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge if you can’t find the solution you’re looking for here.

  1. Galaxy S7 keeps freezing and turning itself on and off
  2. Galaxy S7 suddenly stopped working and no longer turns on
  3. Galaxy S7 can’t send SMS/text message after updating to Marshmallow
  4. Cannot preview or buy a song in Galaxy S7 Google Music app
  5. Galaxy S7 has no audio or sound but audio works when Bluetooth headset is connected

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

Problem #1: Galaxy S7 keeps freezing and turning itself on and off

Hi. I got a Samsung S7 and the very next day in the morning it froze. I got it exchanged immediately without trying anything. My second handset worked pretty well for about a month and a half. And suddenly one night it heated up and shut down, just like my first piece.  I tried a number of rebooting and hard resetting techniques. The mobile would switch on and switch off by itself in a couple of seconds. Until finally it stopped responding to anything I did. Even after I plugged it in for charging for almost an hour.

The screen wouldn’t turn on at all. I realized I had to give it in too and get a new handset. But I’m paranoid now and am planning to sell the new handset. And I have kind of completely sworn off Samsung now. And i didn’t have a lot of apps installed either. Just WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, Kik Candy Crush and Temple run 2. Unless you can tell me that there is a way I can fix this issue with my third handset in 2 months, I have no plans of keeping it and will maybe completely shift to an iPhone. Sorry about the huge description I just wanted to be completely clear. Hope you can help. Thanks! — Ishraq

Solution: Hi Ishraq. We are not Samsung to give you an assurance that a new S7 will not go bad after a few months. Doing so would be like telling you to pick a particular car brand because you’ll never be at risk while driving it. Keep in mind that as a user, you are partly responsible in maintaining your device. The only sure thing that we can tell you is that there are millions of other Galaxy S7 users who do not experience the same exact problem like you do after a couple of months. Either you are simply unlucky to have received two defective products in a row, or you are misusing your phone. While not impossible, it’s highly unlikely that a brandnew Samsung Galaxy S7 would have the same exact problem. We think that the problem is user initiated.

The best thing that you can do is to do a factory reset and observe your phone for a few days to know if firmware/software bugs have developed over time. During the observation period, make sure that you don’t install third party apps. Try to observe the phone for at least 3 days. If you don’t want to do this, go ahead and switch to iOS as we will not ask you to stay with Android.

For reference, these are steps on how to perform a factory reset, also known as master reset, on your Galaxy S7:

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
  • Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
  • When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
  • Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
  • Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
  • Now highlight the option ‘Yes — delete all user data’ using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.
  • Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
  • The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

Problem #2: Galaxy S7 suddenly stopped working and no longer turns on

One day I went to the gym with my phone and wanted to listen to some music. I connected my phone to my Bluetooth wireless headphones. I started playing some music so I could workout. Then, I noticed that all of a sudden, the music stopped playing. I looked at my phone and noticed the red light on the top left corner of my phone is now lit up and even now, is still on. I found this strange because my phone was fully charged before I left for the gym. I decided to try and turn it back on by holding down the power button but the phone did not turn on. I decided to go home and charge the phone because I assumed that maybe for some reason it was just dead. My phone actually cannot charge nor will it turn on for me. Is there any solution to this problem? — Tiger

Solution: Hi Tiger. A red LED light indicates one of the following:

  • glows red when the device is connected to a charger and is charging.
  • blinks red when the device is connected to a charger but there is a problem with charging.
  • blinks red when the battery is low.

Your first task is to know if you can still turn the phone back on to a different boot mode other than normal mode. Actually, this may be the only thing that you can do at this point unless the phone can restart to, say, safe mode, or recovery mode. If the phone remains unresponsive even when it’s connected to a charger and no hardware button combinations can get it to turn back on, it’s probably suffering from a hardware failure.

To boot your phone in safe mode, here’s the steps that you can try:

  • Press and hold the Power key.
  • As soon as you can see the ‘Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE’ on the screen, release the Power key and immediately hold the Volume Down key.
  • Continue holding the Volume Down button until the device finishes rebooting.
  • You may release it when you can see ‘Safe mode’ in the bottom left corner of the screen.

If the device boots in safe mode, that’s an indication that a third party is the reason behind the trouble. However, if nothing changes and it remains unresponsive, try to see if you can boot it in recovery mode. Here’s how:

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
  • Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
  • When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.

Under recovery mode, you have a few options that you can try like wiping the cache partition and performing a factory reset.

Another boot mode that you can try is Odin or download mode. Enabling this mode is usually done if you want to manually modify your device’s firmware. If you haven’t tried it before, simply follow these steps:

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
  • Press and then hold the Home and Volume Down keys, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
  • When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.

In general, if a phone can boot to any of these modes but not to normal mode, that’s an indicator that the problem is on the software level. However, if the situation won’t change a thing, you can safely assume that there’s a hardware failure. In some rare cases, bad Power or Volume buttons can cause the phone to remain stuck in a certain mode, or force it to never turn on at all. If you are going nowhere, asking for a replacement phone may be your only recourse.

Problem #3: Galaxy S7 can’t send SMS/text message after updating to Marshmallow

Dear Droid Guy(s). My phone recently updated to marshmallow, and now I can’t send SMS text messages.  I can receive texts and make and receive calls.  I can send MMS text messages.

I’ve tried all the fixes listed in your article but they didn’t work. 

For some reason, I can’t see my message center number in the settings of my messaging app. I’m not using a third-party app, and, when click on “safe mode,” I can only choose whether to allow access to all links and whether to be alerted to potential threats.

I wiped the cache partition in recovery mode and did a factory reset of my phone, but neither of those fixed the problem.

My network is Credo Mobile and piggy backs off of Sprint – could this be part of the issue? I’ve contacted Credo, but wanted to contact you as well.

Thank you very much!  Your articles have helped me a lot in the past, and I really appreciate your help with this.

All the best. — Catherine

Solution: Hi Catherine. If the new firmware (Marshmallow) has blocked your access to Message Center, even after a factory reset, then the problem is with the operating system. Users are always given access to change the Message Center number in case an issue like yours happen. Make sure that you work with Sprint or Credo so they can notify their developer team to release a patch to address the issue. There’s nothing more than you can do on your end except this.

Problem #4: Cannot preview or buy a song in Galaxy S7 Google Music app

I tried to go into my Google Music to preview a song to purchase & a triangle w/red exclamation mark came up. I went into settings to see if I could figure out the problem & when I click on Google Play it comes up saying “unfortunately settings has stopped working” & takes me back to home screen.

I called Google and they had me clear cache, clear data, uninstall, reinstall & nothing helped. She told me to restore to an earlier version but it didn’t work. I was then told to go into setting>accounts>clik on google music & uninstall so it goes back to factory version, and she would give me 5 minutes & call me back. That was Saturday, I never heard back from her. It is still not working.

I have tried to reinstall Google music & reupdate my phone & it won’t let me do anything. It is still doing the same thing. Triangle/red exclamation, cannot preview or purchase any music & it’s back to factory version. I have just about had it with this phone.  Please help, apparently ALOT of people are having the same issues & Google isn’t helping. — Cheryl

Solution: Hi Cheryl. Google Music is just one of several Google services running on your phone. We recommend that you clear the cache and data, or uninstall the update for Google Services Framework app. This is a critical app for all Google services and if the issue lies on it, making sure that it’s working back to normal is priority. If wiping the cache and data of this app won’t change anything, we suggest that you go ahead and do a factory reset instead. Doing so will not only address a potential issue with Google Services  Framework app but also Google Music.

Keep in mind that the issue may remain even after a factory reset if it’s caused by a third party app or an unofficial modification of the firmware. Be sure to bring everything back to stock first and observe how Google Music behaves to know the difference.

Problem #5: Galaxy S7 has no audio or sound but audio works when Bluetooth headset is connected

Hello! I have problems with my Galaxy. 🙁 I have no sound on the phone and even when if I plug in my headset I don’t get any sound in it. But I found a temporary fix to it. When I connect a bluetooth headset to my phone I get sound. And the phone crasches often and on any video (Facebook, twitter, youtube ect) it is in slowmotion/lagging without the bluetooth headset. And when I connect to the bluetooth headset when a video is on the video goes to normal speed and I have sound on my bluetooth headset.

I have tried to clear all cache and I have wiped my phone. It didn’t work. Also many of the apps is crashing or being very slow. And sometimes when a app crash I can’t go to homescreen. After that the whole phone restarts. And sometimes it is not even restarting it is stuck when it it restarting.

I have tried to just leave it there to restart but it took over 2 hours so I hold in the power button for 4-7 secound and I restarted it manually. I don’t get any alarm sound and when someone is calling me I don’t hear a sound for that.

I would be really happy if you have a fix for this but if not I will live with it. — Rick

Solution: Hi Rick. There may be a third party app that’s causing a conflict with other apps or the firmware. Try to boot your phone in safe mode first (steps provided above), then see if the issue continues. If the phone appears normal while in safe mode, you can assume that one of your apps is to blame.

Otherwise, follow our suggestion for Cheryl above for resolution.

If the issue remains after you’ve factory reset the phone, the issue may be on your phone’s hardware, particularly the speaker. Have the phone replaced by calling Samsung or your carrier.

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy S6 not showing notifications when text messages arrive, other issues

S6 Edge

Here’s another collection of #GalaxyS6 issues submitted by our community. If you’re reading this, you may be looking for an answer to your own S6 issue. We hope that the solutions mentioned here will be of help.

  1. Galaxy S6 not showing notifications when text messages arrive
  2. Galaxy S6 won’t power on after charging
  3. Galaxy S6 freezes and gets stuck in AT&T splash screen
  4. How to recover photos from Galaxy S6 that won’t turn on
  5. Galaxy S6 not turning on
  6. Galaxy S6 showing several problems after Marshmallow update

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

Problem #1: Galaxy S6 not showing notifications when text messages arrive

Ever since the Marshmallow update, i am not receiving any text message notifications. Nothing shows up in the status bar, i don’t get the pop up notification, i don’t hear a sound, the blinking light doesn’t even turn blue like it used to when i had a notification. Even when I’m in a text message thread with someone else i can’t see that someone else is texting me. the only way i know that i have a text is if o go to my text app where it lists all my conversations and then i see i have all these text messages from people.

I’ve checked everything to make sure all my notifications were set correctly to receive notifications and NOTHING has helped. this is really annoying because I literally have no idea when someone is trying to contact me. I don’t have this problem with any other app like phone calls or Whatsapp or Instagram. It’s JUST texting. I’m using the standard texting app that comes with the phone. — Gillian

Solution: Hi Gillian. The first thing that you want to check is the “Show notifications” box under the app’s info page. You can do that by doing these few easy steps:

  • Open the Settings menu either through your notification shade (drop-down) or through the Settings app in your app drawer.
  • Navigate down to “Apps”. This may be renamed to something like Applications or Application Manager.
  • Tap the messaging app you’re using.
  • Tap on Storage.
  • Now make sure that Show notifications box is checked.

If this won’t fix the issue, consider doing a factory reset. Here’s how:

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power keys together.
  • When the device powers on and displays ‘Power on logo’, release all keys and the Android icon will appear on the screen.
  • Wait until the Android Recovery Screen appears after about 30 seconds.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option, ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • Press the Vol Down button again until the option ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted and then press the Power key to select it.
  • After the reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.

Problem #2: Galaxy S6 won’t power on after charging

One day all of a sudden phone froze then when it powered off it would not go back on. my oldest did some online research and followed the instructions to restore it (I am completely challenged when it comes to technology). anyway, she got it to power up again. We charged it to make sure the battery was full and then turned it off. We haven’t been able to get it to come back on since.

Tried plugging it in to the charger and it won’t even charge now. I also tried powering it on but holding down the power button, home button, and volume up like was suggested on your site and still nothing.

Someone said that it could be the charger port that’s bad, but the owner of the phone is my youngest child who is 12. She said it was fully charged when it wouldn’t turn back on.

I bought it used last November and the people always had it in the Otter box. In fact they gave it to us when we bought the phone. It worked fine when we bought it and was no problem for 5 months so I don’t think they sold us a bad phone or anything, but it was used.

I took it to Best Buy and the guy said “I guarantee I could find the problem and fix it if we could get it to power up”…not real helpful. We even tried different chargers etc.

I really appreciate any advice on what to do. It’s been off for a month now and my 12 year old is so sad about it…it was her Christmas present. Thank you so much. — Roxanne

Solution: Hi Roxanne. There are two possible reasons why a smartphone won’t power back on. One is a software or operating system glitch preventing the boot sequence from being completed. Usually, a software-related problem will still allow the phone to boot back on except in regular mode. In this case, you can try different hardware button combinations in order to power on the device. If pressing and holding the Power, Volume Up, and Menu/Home buttons won’t work (which is the way to access Recovery Mode), you can also try to restart the phone in Download Mode or Safe mode.

Booting in Download/Odin mode requires pressing and holding Power, Volume Down, and Home keys. In this mode, you can manually install an update or a custom operating system by connecting the phone to a computer. If you can boot your S6 this way, there’s a chance that you will still be able to install stock or custom ROM or firmware in order for the phone to boot back to normal mode.

You can also try to boot your phone in Safe Mode. Safe mode disables third party apps so if one of them is the cause of the problem, the issue won’t occur. To boot your phone in safe mode, follow the steps below:

  • Press and hold the Volume Down and Power keys for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Once you see the Samsung logo, release the Power key immediately but continue pressing the Volume Down key.
  • Your phone should continue booting up and you will be prompted to unlock your phone as usual.
  • 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.

However, if your phone remains unresponsive after doing all these procedures, you can safely assume that hardware malfunction is to blame. This means that you have to have the phone checked by Samsung or competent repair shop if you want a resolution.

Problem #3: Galaxy S6 freezes and gets stuck in AT&T splash screen

So I’m not sure where to even begin but at complete random, my S6 started having these issues. No physical damage, no water damage whatsoever, and no recent or major software updates as of recent. Also, the phone is not rooted. Essentially, I boot it up (at this point already factory reset) normally and it will become stuck on the AT&T screen. If it ever DOES make it to the lockscreen, upon any touch, it will freeze, reboot, get stuck, or repeat.

I tried this in safe mode a few times, seemed to be responsive. But this time in safe mode, I entered my pin and it suddenly went black, made an audible glitch sound and only displayed a white, horizontal line across the top. It has shown two other greenish lines at other times upon boot up at random.

I have tried clearing the cache, multiple factory resets, safe mode…what in the world would be causing these issues with no reason seemingly? AT&T is trying to hit me with a ridiculous 450 bucks for another and I’m tight on money. Thanks so much you guys!! — Salem

Solution: Hi Salem. We have one question: does the phone behave this way even after a factory reset and without apps? If yes, then you have a hardware problem. There’s no way for us to know what the exact hardware failure or malfunction might be but we bet you need a new phone.

If, on the other hand, the phone behaves normally after a factory reset without apps (and after observing it for at least a day), then that’s an indicator one of your apps may be to blame. Try to isolate which of your apps is the culprit and make sure not to re-install it again.

Problem #4: How to recover photos from Galaxy S6 that won’t turn on

Hi. I am having a problem getting my phone to boot up. I am currently travelling and have been using a Thai SIM card in my phone. Equally I have been taking photos on my phone and had ran out of space both on my camera and phone memory to the point that my phone had given me messages saying ‘insufficient storage space’ etc. I did not have any download apps on my phone other than what came with the phone originally (to save space for more photos) and unfortunately had not saved any of my photos because I was not able to view the photos due to lack of memory.

Earlier today my phone ran out of battery, thus I charged up as normal. When I came to turn it back on it powers up as normal, shows the first “Samsung Galaxy S6” message then the second one (the one that says ‘Samsung’ and has colour around it) with the usual booting up noise but then gets stuck on that and will not load further.

I have tried pressing and holding the menu key and pressing and holding the volume down key, to load in safe mode, but none of these things seem to work. I desperately do not want to do a factory reset because I have all my photos on the phone.

Please is there any solution whereby I can get into my phone, even just to back up my photos? I’m quite desperate! Many thanks. — Jennie

Solution: Hi Jennie. The first requirement in doing what you want, which is to backup important data, is to make sure that the phone boots up either in safe mode, or regular mode. If the device is totally unresponsive or won’t turn back on, there’s nothing much that you can do. In order to access the phone’s storage (Nand chip), the device must be powered.  If that’s not possible, then you can say that all your important files are now good as gone. Call Samsung to see if they can repair the phone or replace the battery for you. If that’s not possible, you simply have to accept the fact that your photos will forever be deleted.

Problem #5: Galaxy S6 not turning on

Over the past couple of weeks my phone would randomly turn off and only turns back on again if it was charging. I came to the conclusion that I was just overusing it, or the phone was overheating so I reduced the time I spent on my phone every time I used it. This seemed to work.

However, a few days ago while my phone was charging, I picked it up to quickly reply to a text, but while I was typing the phone turned off. I waited a few minutes before doing anything in case something would happen by itself. I tried turning it on but nothing happened. I gave up trying and just left it to charge to see what happened. about 30 minutes later it vibrated and turned on by itself. I let it charge to 100% before unplugging it.

This has happened twice more since and the third time is not turning on at all after at least 6 hours. during that time I’ve tried different plug sockets and just left it on charge but nothing is happening.

I am annoyed because there is no other way for me to socialise, search and store photos while on the go. Is there anything you can suggest I do before getting it checked properly? Thanks. — Grace

Solution: Hi Grace. As mentioned above, there are only two possible causes for your problem — software glitch, or hardware failure. Your first task is to isolate which of them is the true cause. You can refer to the solutions we provide for other users above.

Problem #6: Galaxy S6 showing several problems after Marshmallow update

After allowing an update to v6.0.1 to install overnight, phone no longer working as it was. Problem with overheating (to hot to hold), texting works once in awhile but never with sending a pic (after APN settings configured), seems alot slower accessing iNet (did google search and got message about 10 min later that search results avail), battery being drained alot faster than before.

Everything was working fine PRIOR to allow Marshmallow to be installed! Today is 5/30/16, update was done last week on Thu night and things just kept getting worse thru weekend. Phone was purchased about a year ago.

There a way to restore the previous version of Android, that was working just fine??? — Ed

Solution: Hi Ed. The first thing that you can try is to refresh the system cache. Follow the steps below:

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

If deleting the system cache won’t work, don’t hesitate to do a factory reset (steps provided above).

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy S6 keeps freezing and rebooting, among other power boot issues

S6

Ever experienced freezing and rebooting issues on your new #GalaxyS6 or #GalaxyS6Edge? Issues like these may not really be “issues” in a technical sense as they can also be signs of overheating or hardware failure. We hope that this post can give you an idea where to start in your quest to troubleshoot your issue. As a general rule of thumb in Android troubleshooting, doing a factory reset is paramount in fixing any software-related issues. Make sure you do it before submitting your device for repair.

Our article today discusses these topics below:

  1. Galaxy S6 Edge won’t boot up after charging it wirelessly overnight
  2. Galaxy S6 “recovery is not seandroid enforcing” error after rooting
  3. Galaxy S5 saying “remove the device” and install an app during charging
  4. Galaxy S5 screen issue after it was dropped and got wet
  5. Galaxy S6 won’t install system update
  6. Galaxy S6 keeps freezing and rebooting

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.

 

Problem #1: Galaxy S6 Edge won’t boot up after charging it wirelessly overnight

I have had a Galaxy S6 Edge for a few months now, and last night I put it to charge on a Samsung Wireless charger. This morning when I woke up the phone was unresponsive, the LED light is blinking like when I get notifications but the screen won’t turn on, the  LED light won’t turn red when I connect it to a charger and now I’m freaking out. If you could help me that would be amazing. — Jonathan

Solution: Hi Jonathan. If your S6 Edge no longer boots normally, try to check if you can still start it in other modes. You can either try to boot in download (Odin) or Recovery mode to do that. If you can’t do either of the two, the next best thing is to call Samsung and have the phone repaired or replaced.

Problem #2: Galaxy S6 “recovery is not seandroid enforcing” error after rooting

I tried to root my SM-G925F. It succeeded but I was in a bootloop with the S6 logo and “recovery is not seandroid enforcing”. I was trying to flash many different ROMs, they all failed. Finally I tried the G925FXXU3QOK9_G925FBOG3QOK9_G925FXXU3QOJO_HOME.tar and it failed at hidden.img. I renamed it “.tar” and flashed it as I saw on a forum but now I’m stuck in another bootloop with the S6 logo and an Android in a blue background with Galaxy spelt above it. I can’t go to the recovery mode. I am from France (bouygues). I really don’t know what to do now..– Oceane

Solution: Hi Oceane. We covered this issue on this post. Please check it and follow our suggestions.

Problem #3: Galaxy S5 saying “remove the device” and install an app during charging

Hi. My phone is Samsung Galaxy S6. I bought it as an used phone. It didn’t came with the original charger. It was working really fine and fast. Still working fast but there is a problem. When i plug in my phone charger it says to remove the device and install an app (voice command). And screen goes black and all the buttons stops working even the touch. Can’t even turn on the device. When i press the power button there is a small cross on the screen and that doesn’t even work. Even the charger doesn’t work. After a while when i plug in the charger screen comes on and it starts working. Is there any way you can help me to fix this problem? I will be really grateful if you do. Thanks.

Regards. — Masud

Solution: Hi Masud. Please do a factory reset so we’ll know if this is a firmware bug. Here are the steps to do it:

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power keys together.
  • When the device powers on and displays ‘Power on logo’, release all keys and the Android icon will appear on the screen.
  • Wait until the Android Recovery Screen appears after about 30 seconds.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option, ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • 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.
  • After the reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.

Make sure to create a backup of your personal data (photos, videos, contacts) before you proceed with factory reset.

Do not install any third party application after doing a factory reset. Wait for at least 24 hours so you can observe how the phone behaves. If the issue remains during this time, have yourself a new device.

Problem #4: Galaxy S5 screen issue after it was dropped and got wet

Hello there. I bought a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge in May, in USA and that was about the time i was coming back to Nigeria. So, not buying from authorized dealers here in Nigeria didn’t assure of any warranty nor was i told about any Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge warranty available, unlike the my previous S4.

so my phone fell into the closet, hitting the ceramic base and was half way in the water but my reflex was able to rescue it in split seconds. i brought it out and it displayed normally for 5 seconds before flickering and going off. i pressed the power button several times and even did some safe recovery mode options i found on your website. due to the irremovable battery and tight casing. All i could think of was to shake it vigorously, which i did and a little amount of water sprinkled out from the ear speaker. the screen did not crack despite the hard fall but i think i made a mistake of plugging the charger because i wasn’t thinking straight and all i wanted was to see it come on. it did come on but seemed like the battery drained as much as it was charging. while on the charging screen, it would flicker also, going on and off and i left it till the next day because it happened on sunday night.

The following morning, i pressed the power button again and it came on but it would flicker, go dim, a little bright and i noticed colourful dots all scattered though the background entire screen, like it’s a galaxy of stars. i noticed this pattern while charging the previous night also and some of the colourful dots would shine like a glittering star . but since the phone came on this morning, with the tiny dots everywhere, the icons on the display seemed transparent . i have put it off now.

i just would like to know if it would mean i have to change the screen or it’s fixable once the back is removed and totally dried of water.

despite the wide variety of phone engineers around, i don’t know who to really trust with this because it is not a regular phone you see that these engineers have worked on or are used to. so even if it’s with little fixes, they would charge extremely high for a sophisticated phone.

i don’t have a Samsung store nearby, i would have to travel to another state for some hours before seeing one. please just give me your honest suggestion concerning the screen. Thanks. — Mich

Solution: Hi Mich. You clearly have a hardware issue at hand. We don’t think the damage due to the fall and water exposure is limited to the screen area only. A full motherboard overhaul is needed to verify if all components are working normally. As much as we would like to help you, there’s just nothing that you can do to fix this issue right now. Visiting Samsung may get you somewhere but the repair will certainly not be free. Even then, there’s no guarantee that Samsung technicians can fully fix the phone. They will most likely advise you to get another phone.

Problem #5: Galaxy S6 won’t install system update

I was doing a software update and everything downloaded fine. Afterwards the phone said it must boot so that the installation can take place.  When starting with the installation it just say error but no code or number is displayed. A window pops up on the screen with the wording.

“Failed to update software. Failed to update firmware. Try again using PC software (Kies) or visit a Samsung service center.”

I do not no know how to do the installation using PC software (Kies) – What is the Kies?

Kindly help as I am currently in Swaziland and far from a Samsung outlet or service provider. Thank You. — Hermie

Solution: Hi Hermie. The error message you’re getting is an indication that your device refuses to install the update file it received. If the update was provided by your carrier in Swaziland, try to call them for direct assistance.

Alternatively, you can follow the instruction to update the phone via Kies. This is an official Samsung software that users can use to sync files on their phones and PCs or update a smartphone. If you want to try to update via Kies, make sure you have a working computer that has internet access. Once that’s taken care of, visit Samsung’s Kies site to download the software.

Problem #6: Galaxy S6 keeps freezing and rebooting

My phone keeps freezing and restarting constantly. When I went to check on the System Update it said that the operating system has been modified in an unauthorized way, and the Device Status is shown as “Custom”. I haven’t rooted my phone and to confirm my suspicions i use apps like “Root check”. Before it reboots it usually freezes and lines run across the screen. if I’m watching a video it emits a loud beep. I have factory reset it about 4 times now and it still has the same problem. I want to get a new phone probably but I don’t know if the same problem will be transferred to the new phone due to using the same Samsung account. Please help. — Felipe

Solution: Hi Felipe. The problem is not account-specific so getting a new smartphone and logging in your Google or Samsung account will not “transfer” it. The most likely reason for the current issue is due to a third party application. To check that, try to boot your phone in safe mode and observe. While in safe mode, no third party applications will be allowed to run. It’s a good tool to use to verify our hunch. Here are the steps to boot your S6 to safe mode:

  • Press and hold the Volume Down and Power keys for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Once you see the Samsung logo, release the Power key immediately but continue pressing the Volume Down key.
  • Your phone should continue booting up and you will be prompted to unlock your phone as usual.
  • 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.

If your phone works fine while in safe mode, that’s a signal that you should start uninstalling apps until the cause of the issues is eliminated.

Keep in mind that freezing and rebooting can also be signs of malfunctioning hardware. If nothing changes even when the device is in safe mode, start looking for options to have the device repaired or replaced.

 

 

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

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.

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Mobile data connection on Galaxy S6 stops working after Marshmallow update, other issues

S6 Marshmallow update

Hello TheDroidGuy community! Below are software-related problems and solutions for the #GalaxyS6 that you may find helpful. This post also includes three #Marshmallow -related problems so if you’re one of the unlucky users who encounter problems after an update, the solutions below may remedy the situation.

  1. Mobile data connection on Galaxy S6 stops working after Marshmallow update
  2. Multiple issues on Galaxy S6 after it was updated to Marshmallow
  3. Pre-owned AT&T Galaxy S6 won’t update Android OS
  4. How to unroot a Galaxy S6

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

 

Problem #1: Mobile data connection on Galaxy S6 stops working after Marshmallow update

Hello. I have a difficult one for hard core troubleshooters and Android experts… a friend told me you could be my last chance….

Last weekend I let my Samsung Galaxy S6 upgrade to 6.0.1 and I have lost mobile connectivity (Proximus – Belgium)

The phone is with a Proximus (Belgium) SIM card, but operating in roaming (not in Belgium at the moment). Roaming is enabled. The phone was operating in roaming before for several months and in different countries, never a problem, And to complete the roaming picture, the phone was sitting in the same country (Hungary) for a week before the Marshmallow upgrade: mobile data was perfectly working. ONLY after the upgrade did it stop working.

One last information about the roaming picture: before and after the upgrade the local provider I have been roaming on is Vodafone-HU.

Concerning all other phone functions: everything is working as usual, only mobile connectivity (any: 2G, 3G, 4G) is affected. I can make and receive phone calls, I have Wi-Fi connectivity, et cetera.

Now another peculiar symptom: if I leave the Network Mode in LTE/3G/2G (auto connect) the phone won’t connect at all to mobile data. Let me explain: If I check the SIM (About Device>Status> SIM cart Status) it shows:

Mobile Network type HSUPA

Mobile network state: Connecting

Service State: In service

Roaming: Roaming

If I manually select the Network Mode to 2G everything looks good:

Mobile Network type EDGE

Mobile network state: Connected

Service State: In service

Roaming: Roaming

But even in this case I still have NO MOBILE DATA connectivity.

I performed a network reset, a factory reset; I reconfigured the APN, problem is still there. I swapped my Proximus card with another: I have mobile connectivity in both devices! In other words my Proximus card works in another phone (I have mobile data) while at the same time another SIM card works in my Galaxy S6 (I have mobile data).

A possible incompatibility with the latest baseband release and Proximus? That would be hard to believe and easy to find on internet forums… but nothing.

I went to a Samsung specialized shop and the situation became even more puzzling.

We tried my Proximus SIM in another Samsung S6 (Edge) with 6.0.1: it did not work either. The same Proximus SIM however worked (there was mobile data) in an iPhone 5s

The only additional hypothesis we could formulate is that my SIM might be too old and incompatible with the latest (baseband) release.

I ordered and received a new nanoSIM from Proximus. The problem stayed the same.

Any help or suggestion on how to further approach the troubleshooting is deeply….. deeply appreciated 🙂 — Michele

Solution: Hi Michele. The reason for the problem is not with the SIM card. There may be an incompatibility problem between the current baseband version of your S6 and Android. As you can see, a smartphone like your S6 has multiple chips inside but the two major ones include the Application Processor (AP) and Communication Processor (CP), also known as your phone modem. Depending on your phone model, the AP and CP may be housed separately or combined in the same physical chip. The important thing to remember though is that each chip runs an independent OS (operating system) from each other (although their main aim is to work harmoniously). The AP runs Android OS while CP runs an independent code or operating system that works with communication protocol stacks of wireless carriers.

When Google updates Android (or release a major version like Marshmallow), hardware manufacturers that build CPs like Qualcomm, Samsung, or Intel, are supposed to also roll out an update for their chip’s firmware to make them run in sync with the phone’s OS. In other words, the recent update your S6 received should have already contained both Marshmallow from Google and the modem’s newest firmware.

This is where the issue probably lies. We say probably because there’s no way for us to know for certain if it’s the case. The problem you describe as well as the symptom presented seem to point to this issue though. In an ideal world, your S6’s modem firmware should automatically be upgraded together with Android update but it doesn’t happen at times. If you did not root your phone or flash any custom ROM on it, there’s no way for you to manually update to the latest baseband version. You have to call your wireless carrier/Samsung for direct assistance on how to install a new firmware or a phone replacement.

Problem #2: Multiple issues on Galaxy S6 after it was updated to Marshmallow | Battery drain issue, Wi-Fi gets disconnected when screen is locked, slow performance after updating to Marshmallow (Android 6.0)

Issues since Marshmallow. Battery life is appalling. Wi-Fi doesn’t connect when locked; needs to ‘wake up’. Phone is slow. Vibration settings do not always stay as they should. Notifications don’t work like they did; as in they don’t always display if I’ve got emails or texts. Settings are correct though. To hangup a phone call, I have to press red button twice, or even three times occasionally.

It’s like it’s delayed.

In addition to this, my Gear S2 classic constantly detects my driving as cycling.

Cannot seem to stop it.

Samsung have changed their Gear App store now, and you can’t search for apps by categories.

Really bad move, on a device which is already really poor for apps.

No social media etc. The apps are disappointing big time.

Think that sums it up for now.!! 😉 — Chris

Solution: Hi Chris. Android Marshmallow, despite having been released officially, is still developing at this time so it can be expected to create conflicts with some apps. It may or may not be the sole reason for these problems though. Switching to a major Android OS, like the update from Lollipop to Marshmallow, can be messy because apps designed to work with the previous OS may not be updated themselves. Even if you set apps to automatically download an update, some of them may remain not fully optimized to work with Marshmallow as their developers don’t intend them to be, or simply fail to build required adjustments. In other words, apps must be updated as well in order to minimize compatibility problems with the new operating system.

We don’t think Marshmallow is poorly coded but if there are weird problems after updating, the general rule of thumb is to wipe the cache partition first, then perform a factory reset if nothing changes. If these two solutions won’t fix any problem with, say, a particular app, then it’s an indication that that app may not be built for Marshmallow, or needs an update in order to work with it. The battery drain problem you are experiencing can be one of the manifestations of apps having conflicts with the new OS at this time.

For reference, below are the steps on what you need to do.

Wiping the cache partition of Galaxy S6

For minor firmware-related issues brought by apps and firmware updates, wiping the cache partition often does the trick. It’s because this procedure will literally delete all cached files in the cache partition, which will force the system to create new ones during the next boot up.

This procedure is also very helpful in fixing issues like random reboots, boot loop, stuck during boot up and random freezes after updates. Here’s how you wipe the cache partition on your S6:

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

Restoring default settings via Factory reset

Factory Reset and Master Reset offer the same results, although the latter is more thorough considering it doesn’t just delete everything but also reformat the data partition where most system files are saved. You can also use this procedure in case you cannot access Settings or if the phone cannot boot up successfully into Android GUI.

You will be required to boot in Recovery Mode just like wiping the cache partition as it is there you can find the option for the reset.

  • Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S6.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power keys together.
  • When the device powers on and displays ‘Power on logo’, release all keys and the Android icon will appear on the screen.
  • Wait until the Android Recovery Screen appears after about 30 seconds.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option, ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • 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.
  • After the reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key to restart the phone.

For your feedback regarding Gear App Store, consider contacting Samsung itself so they can do necessary changes on their end.

Problem #3: Pre-owned AT&T Galaxy S6  won’t update Android OS

Hi guys. Firstly your site is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

I have a Samsung S6 Edge that I bought here as a used handset. It was an original AT&T unit, uprooted. The security code was accessed and the card now carries a local 4G SIM without issue. The problem lies in the Android updates.

I am aware that AT&T have issued several patches and update for Android but no matter my unit says that there are no new updates, check back in 24 hours etc…

How do I get my unit to update in lieu of Marshmallow now becoming available? I don’t even have 5.1.1  yet. 5.0.2 is where I am at. Please help… Without resorting to resetting the factory settings what can I do to make my handset “current”?

Thank you for any help. — Simon

Solution: Hi Simon. Some carriers only roll out OTA (over-the-air) updates if a device is still  valid or registered in their system. If you are no longer using an AT&T SIM card at this time, or if the original owner of the phone has already deregistered the handset from AT&T’s system due to non-payment or severance of contract, then there’s no way for you to update that device via your current carrier. Your best bet is to manually flash a stock ROM. Keep in mind though that doing so can be risky; it can make your phone an expensive paperweight.

There are many online guides that you can find via Google but if you’re not familiar with flashing or rooting, make sure to research more about them first before doing them. We don’t usually recommend rooting or flashing as they can not only brick a phone, but can also compromise the security of the device. If you think that you can live with the consequences, then go ahead and do it.

Problem #4: How to unroot a Galaxy S6

My phone shut off one day, and would not start again. Long story short: it’s been sent back from Samsung (warranty) with the notification that it has been ‘rooted’, and there is ‘unauthorized software’, therefore I must pay 500 clams to get it repaired.

That being said,

  1. I am of an older age, and I am not as tech-savvy as I used to be;
  2. I do not know how to use most of the apps on the thing (nor do I really wish to; I’m a simple gal);
  3. I have looked up what ‘rooting’ is, and I am still rather clueless; all I know is that I didn’t do it;
  4. I absolutely refuse to pay for something that I have not done, especially since I do not have 500 clams burning a hole in my pocket.

I am not what you can do for me, but…help me, DroidGuy, you’re my only hope!  😉

Regards. — Barbara

Solution: Hi Barbara. Android operating system limits users from accessing critical system files in order to:

  • prevent accidental software modifications that might impact the device’s functions, and to
  • minimize the risk of compromising personal data.

This means that Android users does not have complete access to all folders and files on their device. To circumvent this limitation, “rooting” must be done. Rooting is basically a process of giving a user total access to every folder and files previously locked by Android. When you say a device is rooted, it means that a user has access to system files. It also means you can run applications that needs access to special system settings not readily available in an unrooted phone. While rooting is not entirely illegal in most countries, it does open a device to more security risks.

Wireless carriers do not provide rooted phones so if your handset came from your own service provider, somebody must have rooted the phone without your knowledge. Is it possible that someone you know may have rooted your phone without your knowledge? Rooting is a relatively easy process and anyone with a computer and an internet can easily do it.

The good news is if rooting is relatively easy, the unrooting process can be easy as well. If the only reason why you need to pay Samsung for a repair is because of rooting, you can actually unroot your device and restore the original software to factory.

The simplest method to unroot a device is by installing a carrier-provided Android update. Head to Settings>About device and check if there’s a software update available. If there’s no available update to download, the other way is to follow online resources by searching for topic in Google like “how to unroot a galaxy s6”. Google will provide plenty of sites to help you.

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy Note 4 keeps booting to Recovery mode, other issues

The #GalaxyNote4 is no longer the top-of-the-line smart device of its type today but it remains in use by millions of users. It’s therefore expected that a lot of issues can happen.

note4

In this post, we give you another five issues reported by some members of our community in the last few days:

  1. Galaxy Note 4 stuck and won’t boot normally
  2. Galaxy Note 4 keeps booting to Recovery mode
  3. Galaxy Note 4 becomes laggy after Marshmallow update
  4. Selecting Automatic option under Input Mode in Galaxy Note 4 SMS settings
  5. Galaxy Note 4 has multiple issues like freezing, crashing apps, black screen, random reboot

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

Problem #1: Galaxy Note 4 stuck and won’t boot normally

Actually my antivirus was showing one virus of King root file though it was not being deleted. I tried a lot so I installed clean master and cm security. Through those I cleared 1.3GB junk files and all. Now it’s showing flash messages of “unfortunately contacts has stopped.” When I OK it again, a second message “unfortunately media storage has stopped” pops up and on OK it, a 3rd message flashed “unfortunately touch wiz has stopped.”

I can’t reach home screen I just pull shutter from top and goes to settings and if in shutter options the Whatsapp or Facebook any kind of notification I click on it and Whatsapp works Facebook works. But if there is a missed call, it doesn’t open call app or log or anything. I could dial and while using Whatsapp and Facebook and settings the message of flash errors keep on coming. I do OK then work Whatsapp a while and all. Can’t open home screen or anything.

I have reset my phone thrice in the last 1-2 days. phone works then again suddenly it restarts. and again can’t reach home screen. any app won’t work, nothing. Please help me and my model no. is SM-N910W8. I don’t know whether it’s AT MOBILE OR T-MOBILE. I am in India and I think it’s Canadian phone. Please help and yes my soft keys and home button are not working. but if you say I could reset again my phone and download app of back button for soft keys and you can guide me to solve my solution using those keys. Thank you. — Vikas

Solution: Hi Vikas. If you’re saying the hardware buttons of your phone are not working right now, then that leaves you with nothing much to do. You have to find a way to have the phone checked for hardware issues before you can even try any other troubleshooting. Most of the troubleshooting that we provide in this blog are software in nature, which means that they can only be done if the phone still boots normally. If you are stuck somewhere, which prevented you from reaching the Homescreen, then your best chance for a resolution is to call Samsung so they can repair your device. Frankly, there’s no way for us to know what the real problem is, much less on how to fix your issue since we have to identify the true problem first. Letting Samsung check your device should help. If repair via Samsung is not possible, then simply find a way to have the phone replaced.

Problem #2: Galaxy Note 4 keeps booting to Recovery mode

Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this. I would like to apologize for my bad English. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 Note, Model # SM-N910W8. My mother gave me this phone after she got herself a Samsung Galaxy S7.

So what happened was when I was doing a factory restart, after the restart, my Samsung phone was booting in recovery mode. I can see the recovery booting on the top left corner of phone. After that, it pop up a green logo saying Installing System Update. It is stuck on that loading screen. The logo is flashing on and off. I cannot get into the recovery mode or bypass this problem. I tried doing VOL UP + HOME + POWER. and VOL DOWN + HOME + POWER. Nothing happens, it keeps trying to boot me to recovery mode, but it does not. Stuck on green logo with installing system update flashing on and off like it is doing something.

I cannot download Odin because I have a Mac PC. I am not sure how to use Odin and or get Firmware.

I can send you a video thru my email and show you the problem. I know it is not battery problem because I have bought a new battery. — Jelly

Solution: Hi Jelly. The only effective solution to your problem is by manually installing a stock firmware. Yes, you need to use Odin for that so it’s unfortunate that you find this option difficult. Odin was primarily designed to work with Windows machines but Mac users can now use it on their machines too. The thing is, using Odin in Macs is still a bit complicated compared to using a Windows PC. If you think you can’t manually flash a stock firmware, you must find a way to let someone do it for you.

Keep in mind that manual installation of firmware is inherently risky and may not guarantee a fix. Consider getting a replacement phone this option is out of the question for you.

Problem #3: Galaxy Note 4 becomes laggy after Marshmallow update

Sir, I bought my new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on 18 July 2016. I know it’s an old model but I saw its features were amazing at this price. Sir, when I got it the first day I was very much impressed by the phone’s performance, everything was awesome. No battery extra drain, no lags. But then I upgraded my Note 4 to Marshmallow. Then it started hanging a lot, it gets stuck a lot. Well it’s a new phone but still, RAM is only 1GB left after Marshmallow upgrade and I have used only 200MB of it so now 800MB is left. The factory phone out of the box had 2.5GB of RAM free which was amazing but then I upgraded the OS, it hangs up a lot. games gets lag a lot, everything is getting worse.

I did factory reset also. What I am thinking is that I should downgrade my phone on Samsung service centre but when I asked them to downgrade they told me that there is a risk to downgrade. There is no guarantee that It will start after downgrade and if it does not get started than they will change the motherboard of the phone which will cost 150 to 200 dollars, which is too much.

I regret daily that I upgraded the phone. before the upgrade it was outstanding. please someone help me. I am regretting a lot. The phone just get heated easily. Battery usage is ok. The only problem I want to solve is the extreme laggyness in phone and its hanging problem. Please someone help me. Please.

Thank you. — Aaryan

Solution: Hi Aaryan. Firstly, we want to emphasize the common misconception of many Android users that the lesser the remaining RAM left, the slower the phone becomes. The fact is, in Android, unused RAM is wasted RAM. Unlike Windows, the Android operating system is designed to use as much RAM as possible. The way Android handles RAM usage is very different than what most users are accustomed to when using a Windows computer.

In simple terms, RAM is a temporary storage designed to hold data. It is different though from the “permanent” storage solid-state memory that keeps other data like your pictures, videos, apps, etc. RAM keeps data that your phone’s processor usually needs to load apps and services faster. Android uses RAM more like Mac OS and Ubuntu in design, which likes to consume as much RAM as possible in order to do tasks faster. As you can see, loading apps from Android solid-state storage device takes longer time than when they are loaded from RAM. Android wants to maximize RAM as possible. The remaining 800MB of RAM in your device is more than enough and is an indication that your phone is not maximizing its RAM. The more you use your device, the better it becomes in managing RAM. If you think that lower RAM MB figure is the reason for the lag, think again. Your concern regarding RAM as the potential cause for your lag issue is simply unfounded.

Now that we’ve given you a simplistic view on RAM usage, let’s take a look at other potential causes for your lag issue. That your problem happens after installing Marshmallow is not a coincidence. You’re not the first one to report problems regarding Marshmallow update. The thing is, the real reason may not be the new Marshmallow OS itself, but rather third party apps you have installed. Keep in mind that updating your OS does not mean you update apps too. And this is where the problem usually lies as apps designed to work with the previous OS does not necessarily mean they will work in the same fashion when a new OS comes along. The point is, once you’ve updated the operating system, you must also make sure that your installed apps are updated to work with it as well. This is a fact that many Android users fail to understand. Since a factory reset did not change anything, the most likely reason for the continuous lag problem is incompatibility or app-related. To check, do another round of factory reset and observe the phone for 24 hours without installing anything. If the phone works fine with Marshmallow without your apps, then that’s a clear indicator that one of them is causing the trouble.

If the phone remains laggy after a factory reset and without the apps though, contact your carrier and tell them about it. The modified Android OS from them may be poorly coded so they should release a patch to fix it.

Problem #4: Selecting Automatic option under Input Mode in Galaxy Note 4 SMS settings

I don’t think I have a Galaxy “NOTE” but they were you’re only choices. I have Tracfone device. I CANNOT, for the life of me, find the menu for text messaging. I keep getting an error that some of my text will not be sent without being corrupted. It says to go to automatic mode. I cannot find automatic mode. There are no small dots at the main messaging screen on the “compose” icon. Under the main menu for emojis, text, etc. used by holding down the microphone key for a couple seconds, there is ALSO nothing under the system icon for changing to automatic mode. Can you tell me where I change to automatic mode? I am confused and frustrated. Thanks very much! — Mbrown

Solution: Hi Mbrown. Assuming that you are using the stock Samsung messaging app, SMS settings in both in Lollipop and Marshmallow versions can be accessed on the main page, where you can see your SMS threads. On the top right part of that page, look for “More” option and tap it. Once you’ve hit More, go to Settings>More settings>Text messages>Input mode. Under Input mode, make sure that “Automatic” is selected.

Problem #5: Galaxy Note 4 has multiple issues like freezing, crashing apps, black screen, random reboot

Hello. Over the past few days my Note 4 has been giving me lots of different problems. These include: freezing and crashing apps, the screen turning black randomly and taking a while to come back on, instantly restarting (rather than powering down first), getting stuck on the ‘Galaxy Note 4’ loading screen and then switching off again, or taking a long time to turn on. on a few occasions going to an ‘android update’ screen which tells me in the top left corner that it failed to boot.

I have tried several solutions including: a factory reset – didn’t work. A soft reset – didn’t work. Removing the (pretty full) SD card – didn’t work. I have also ordered a new battery, and so when this arrives I will see if this fixes the issue.

Also, I was wondering if getting the new Marshmallow update would solve these issues? Though the phone has not offered me this update yet. — Caitlin

Solution: Hi Caitlin. Letting current issues remain before jumping to another OS may not be a good idea at this time. Considering many post-Marshmallow update issues, we say you work on the resolution of the current crop of issues first before you install a new Android version. That factory reset did not fix the issue is a curios case, as that means either the reason is hardware in nature or third party apps.

We say you try to boot your phone in safe mode first and observe how the phone behaves for a full day. Booting the Galaxy Note 4 in safe mode will temporarily disable all third-party or download apps leaving pre-installed ones and core services running. If the issues won’t happen while safe mode is enabled, you can bet one of your apps is problematic. This procedure won’t tell you which of your apps is the problem though so you must still need to isolate the true cause further. To boot in safe mode, follow these steps:

  • Turn off the phone completely.
  • Press and hold the Power key and the Volume Down key.
  • When the phone starts to boot, release the Power key but continue holding the Volume Down key until the phone finished restarting.
  • Safe mode will be display at the lower left corner; you may release the Volume Down key now.

Alternatively, you can do another round of factory reset and observe the phone again for 24 hours (without re-installing your apps). If nothing changes, consider having the phone checked for possible hardware errors.

 

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy Note 4 overheating, freezing, and lagging due to battery issue, more battery charging problems

Note 4 battery

If there’s something that hardware makers of today’s smartphones must need to improve, it should be the battery. It’s no understatement to say that today’s Lithium-based batteries remain the greatest weakness of even the most powerful devices like the #Samsung #GalaxyNote4. Below are some of the common battery issues users encounter with their Note 4:

  1. Galaxy Note 4 overheating, freezing, and lagging due to battery issue
  2. Galaxy Note 4 won’t power on
  3. Galaxy Note 4 fast charging issue
  4. Bluetooth issue on Galaxy Note 4
  5. Galaxy Note 4 showing multiple problems including battery drain
  6. Galaxy Note 4 battery or hardware failure
  7. Prevent battery drain issue on Galaxy Note 4 by not installing Facebook app
  8. Galaxy Note 4 won’t power on after charging

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

 

Problem #1: Galaxy Note 4 overheating, freezing, and lagging due to battery issue

My Note 4 is constantly draining its battery really fast. Whether it’s charging or not, it randomly turns itself off and sometimes it won’t even turn on so I’ll have to constantly take the battery out and then put it back in again in order for it to turn on. My phone’s also constantly lagging and my phone freezes and I’ll have to wait a few minutes for it to turn back to normal. And my phone’s always overheating when it’s charging or when I have too many apps open (but I guess that’s normal). I’ve downloaded an app to make my background apps sleep and a battery doctor app, but nothing works. I’m considering buying another battery but I just wanted to be really sure that the problem is my battery. Please help. — Taylor

Solution: Hi Taylor. There’s high likelihood that the problem is only limited to the battery at this time so replacing it is important. The symptoms you mentioned like overheating, freezing, lagging are consistent with a bad battery issue (although they can also suggest a hardware problem sometimes). In some rare cases, a corrupt firmware can also show the said symptoms so while waiting for battery replacement, you can also try to do a factory reset and leave the phone clean without installing any third party app for at least 48 hours. This will give you enough time to observe how the phone behaves when the firmware is set to defaults and no third party apps to complicate things.  For reference, here are the steps on how to do a factory reset on a Galaxy Note 4:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Volume Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • Now highlight ‘Yes — delete all user data’ using the Volume Down key and press the Power key to begin the reset.
  • When the master reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key.
  • The Note 4 will restart but it will be longer than usual. When it reaches the Home screen, then begin your setup.

Problem #2: Galaxy Note 4 won’t power on

So I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. My battery wasn’t working so well so I decided to purchase a new one. I put the new battery in and my phone powered right now with no issues. I let the phone sit overnight and when I tried to turn it on the next morning the blue corner light was blinking but the screen wouldn’t turn on. I pulled the battery out and tried all things mentioned on here to try to get it to turn on and nothing worked. I even plugged it in to charge and no red light or anything is on. — Kevin

Solution: Hi Kevin. A new battery does not die all of a sudden under normal circumstances. If you’ve only used the new battery for a few days or weeks, the problem may be on the phone itself. Have you tried using the old battery to see the difference? If the phone still won’t boot up using that, there must be a hardware failure that results to your phone being unable to boot. Try to restart the phone in recovery mode by following the steps provided for Taylor above. If you will still be unable to boot the phone that way, make sure that Samsung or a reliable third party technician can check the device for hardware faults.

Problem #3: Galaxy Note 4 fast charging issue

I’ve accepted that the battery in my phone is terrible and it only last up to 6 hours that’s not a full day, it’s actually 1/4th of a day. Okay fine just charge it..the problem is- it takes 2 hours to charge the phone. Okay that’s kinda long to charge a phone that has a fast charger that can do the job in 30 min. So why when the fast charger breaks and I try to use a different charger it takes so long. I feel like they’re two extremes. (I do soft resets every wednesday.. it’s a ritual. I also clear out my apps hourly.) — Collin

Solution: Hi Collin. Fast charging requires that the phone and charger are both capable of doing so. Your Note 4 won’t fast charge if you are using a regular charger. For Samsung devices, it is recommended that you use the official Adaptive Fast Charger although other third party fast chargers can also do the job. The official Samsung fast charger provides a 2 Amp output compared to the standard one which usually gives a typical 1 Amp or 700mAH.

Problem #4: Bluetooth issue on Galaxy Note 4

Yesterday, 5.1.1 automatically downloaded and then has been installed. After Android 5.1.1 installation, Bluetooth doesn’t operate. A message appears on the screen “Bluetooth has stopped”. Pushing the “Ok” button restart again. Started in safe mode however the situation is the same. No chance to remove paired devices and re-assign again. When I’m lucky to switch off Bluetooth function, everything is normal so far.

What i observed:

  1. Bluetooth switched on
  2. Error message appears “Bt has stopped” however it works, the Bluetooth sign visible on the top of screen. Until Ok has not been pressed, Bluetooth works.
  3. As soon as OK is touched, Bluetooth stops and automaticaly starts again.

Until the message is on the screen, there’s nothing else to do. Maybe not related to this issue but Security Manager Service regularly starts and stops.

If i look at the running apps, under Bluetooth several process starts and stops parallel with Bluetooth service.

-gattservice

-BlueThoothPbapservice

-A2dpService

-BleAutoconnectService

-HeadSetservice

-HealthService

-BluetoothMapservice

 

Hope could help to fix this issue. Thanks. — Gabor

Solution: Hi Gabor. If booting in safe mode does not make any difference, that’s probably because the issue lies on the cache or on the firmware itself. What you can try to do first is to wipe the cache partition to ensure that the system cache is in good working order. Sometimes, a corrupted or outdated cache can cause some apps to fail or work normally. Here are the steps to do that:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Vol Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option ‘wipe cache partition’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • When the wiping of the cache partition is finished, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the power key.

Wiping the cache partition is an often effective solution for an issue such as yours but it won’t do anything to change the situation, makes sure to do  a factory reset (steps provided above).

Problem #5: Galaxy Note 4 showing multiple problems including battery drain

Hi. Unfortunately I have been having various issues with my device, from battery draining fast going from 35% to dead without warning, charging  various times per day, network signal very weak, Wi-Fi not very stable, photos not very easy to focus… I have tried all your advice on various articles such as hard reset, cleaning cache,  phoned network to see if there was an issue with signal.  Asked for a new sim card as mine was 5 years old..  complained to Samsung phone went to repair they charged “sub pba” but issues persist…Really don’t know what else to do.. Please advise. Thank you. — Sue

Solution: Hi Sue. There’s only so much that you can do on your end to fix issues on a device like a Note 4. The symptoms appear to be unconnected and may be the result of a general hardware failure. Our blog does not provide hardware troubleshooting and diagnostics so if you want to fix the issue yourself, you have to look for other online resources. However, we strongly suggest that you have the phone replaced if possible.

Problem #6: Galaxy Note 4 battery or hardware failure

My phone is 14 months old and has been working fine until yesterday when it just shut down. To get it to turn back on I have to remove the battery and put it back in again as the device  will not respond otherwise. I cleared the cache as I read on your site and also tried the factory reset without success. If I click my screen lock button the device will just go off and I have to remove the battery to start again. I’ve ordered another battery as it didn’t seem to be holding a charge but talking to you now I’m  at 74% so I am uncertain whether it is the battery or a malfunction with the actual device itself. — Naomi

Solution: Hi Naomi. There’s no telling what the problem might be unless you narrow down the possible causes yourself. Since you have already performed a factory reset once, the issue may be hardware in nature. Start with replacing the battery. If nothing changes after doing so, that suggests that the phone itself is having some hardware failure.

Problem #7: Prevent battery drain issue on Galaxy Note 4 by not installing Facebook app

I was quite pleased initially with the power usage on my Note 4, however about a week after I activated it I noticed the power to drain much faster. That set me to thinking, what changed? For me, that’s when I added the Facebook app to my Note 4. So I removed Facebook, well disabled it anyway, and my power issues vanished. I still access Facebook, but I use other browsers, most notably the Ghostery browser. Love my Note 4. Works great with no Facebook app. Try it for yourself if your having power issues with the Note 4. — Michael

Solution:  Hi Michael. Thanks for sharing this tip Michael. Almost all popular social networking and shopping apps are the leading causes of battery drain issue in smartphones regardless of operating system. This is because these apps need to constantly communicate with remote servers to update their content and update itself. This process can be power-consuming throughout the day if left unattended. Good to know that you are managing battery consumption on your device well.

Problem #8: Galaxy Note 4 won’t power on after charging

My Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was working perfectly. When I was about to go to sleep it was on charge and had about 80% showing. I decided to switch it off and leave it charging since I was going to have a busy day the following morning and wanted it at 100% charge. When I woke up and tried to switch it on the damn thing couldn’t turn on. I have tried soft reset, factory reset nothing. The screen is black and it makes no sound. Took it to a technician, but he was unable to make it to turn on. I am very surprised because it didn’t fall, get water etc but now it’s a brick. Please help. — Paul

Solution: Hi Paul. If a technician can’t turn the phone on, that suggests a hardware failure. Try using another battery to see if that will make a difference. If nothing changes, the motherboard may have been damaged during charging process. That means that your phone is as good as gone at this time.

 

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

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.

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy Note 4 keeps shutting down by itself, other issues

Note 4

Some of our #GalaxyNote4 owners may not yet be familiar with troubleshooting a random reboot issue so this is one of the issues covered in this post. If you want to look for other Note 4 troubleshooting, kindly visit this page.

  1. Galaxy Note 4 keeps shutting down by itself
  2. Galaxy Note 4 freezing and slow performance issues
  3. Galaxy Note 4 Wi-Fi not working properly
  4. Problems after updating Galaxy Note 4 to Android 6.0.1

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

Problem #1: Galaxy Note 4 keeps shutting down by itself

I have owned my previous Note 4 just over 1 year now. All was working great until a few weeks ago when the phone would just die. I did not notice at first that the battery was not drained I just assumed.  When it started happening more often I took note that it was not the battery as it was always over 40% or more  when the phone shut off. I would attempt to turn it back on without plugging in but it would get held up on the Sprint logo. Once I plug in it will turn back on and show more than 40% battery power.  If I did not try to turn it back on without plugging in first it would show the battery level at 40% plus.  I would then turn the phone back on.  The phone would not be hot when this occurs, It happen doing different things like talking, texting, taking photos/videos, or surfing, Facebook etc.

When I took it to the Sprint store they tested the battery and stated it was great. They told me the phone cache was nearly full so they deleted and stated it did not occur again for the duration of the two hours it was in their possession. I do not know if they utilized the phone or left it sitting there and I do not know if it was plugged in.  What I do know if that it occurred in the techs hands with in 5 min of my arrival when she was showing me how to clear the cache.  At that moment she stated she would order me a new phone. The weekend was horrible I stayed tethered to an outlet. Again just doing what I have done with my phone for the past year. I came from a Note 3 so there was plenty of stuff transferred from the N3.

Monday late day I received the new Note 4 with the prior battery. I get home and started adding Gmail back to the phone and it shuts off.  I plugged in and turned back on it had 28% battery… hmm not sure what to think it is a “NEW” phone.  Ok continue to set my phone up not yet adding any apps besides Google when the phone shuts off again, this time over 50% battery. Now I am not happy. I continue to add apps to the phone while plugged in hoping it is the battery and not the phone.  It occurs again this morning while checking email, texting and looking at Facebook.  I went to the store this afternoon, they are now ordering me a battery to check that although they tell me if that does not fix it then perhaps I have something in the phone that is causing it and they need to wipe the phone.

OK any other suggestions?  I use my phone for business and really need it to function at its most optimum…still tethered. — MarZia

Solution: Hi MarZia. There are a number of factors you must consider in fixing a random reboot issue. We know how frustrating it can be to experience this problem and it can take some time and effort to isolate what the true cause is. Below are some of the things that you must check to identify the reason for the problem.

Check for problem apps

Based on your problem description above, we noted that you haven’t actually considered looking into the aspect that an app may be to blame. Actually, a troubleshooting for this issue should start by considering if a bad app is causing the trouble. If you have plenty of third party apps, the first thing that you must do is to boot the phone in safe mode. While in this environment, your phone will prevent third party apps from running. If the issue fails to occur, that’s an indication that one of your apps is indeed the problem.

Kindly follow the steps on how to boot your phone in safe mode:

  • Turn off the phone completely.
  • Press and hold the Power key and the Volume Down key.
  • When the phone starts to boot, release the Power key but continue holding the Volume Down key until the phone finished restarting.
  • Safe mode will be display at the lower left corner; you may release the Volume Down key now.

Disabled services or system apps

If you are fond of tweaking or turning off apps from time to time, chances are you have unintentionally disabled critical system apps or services. Make sure that you check under Settings>Applications Manager and check if there are items under Disabled tab. Try to turn everything back on under this tab then restart your device to see the difference.

Check if the operating system is corrupted

Sometimes, firmware updates can cause incompatibility or even corrupt the OS itself. Although the possibility of a corrupt OS more commonly happens after rooting or installing custom ROM or OS, it can also sometimes occur for stock ones. If you modified your phone’s software in any way, we recommend that you revert back to stock. However, if your Note 4 still runs that carrier-provided Android version, it would be best if you do a factory reset. Doing so will restore all phone settings back to default. Make sure that you create a backup of your personal data like photos, vides, contacts, etc before you proceed. If you haven’t tried this procedure on your Note 4 before, just follow these steps:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Volume Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • Now highlight ‘Yes — delete all user data’ using the Volume Down key and press the Power key to begin the reset.
  • When the master reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key.
  • The Note 4 will restart but it will be longer than usual. When it reaches the Home screen, then begin your setup.

In case a third party app is causing the trouble, make sure to observe the phone for 24 hours after a factory reset without installing any app.

Battery may be loosely connected or not working properly

If you noticed, the first three procedures are meant to check if the cause of the random reboot issue is software in nature. If nothing seems to change after doing all of them, you can assume that the issue is bad hardware. At times, the issue can also be caused by loose battery so make sure that this is not the case by inserting paper at the bottom part of the battery to make it fit more snugly it its slot. If that won’t make a difference, simply use another known working battery.

Malfunctioning hardware

Finally, should the issue continues, it can be safely assumed that a part/s may not be working as expected at this time. A failing processor, for example, can     create an incomplete process in processing data leading to a bottleneck in the flow of information somewhere. Some bad hardware can also lead to overheating, which can, in turn, result to a full shutdown intermittently. Overheating may or may not be an indicator of a bad hardware. In order to prevent further damage, most electronic devices are designed to shut their system down automatically once internal temperature reaches a certain level.

If you think that a hardware failure is to blame for the problem, getting a phone replacement may be your best option right now.

Problem #2: Galaxy Note 4 freezing and slow performance issues

Hi. Since about Friday, 22nd April, 4 days ago, my phone has not been working as it should; it is very slow to respond in opening apps, typing on the keyboard, and will often just freeze for about 20 seconds when I’m on apps doing things, like WhatsApp typing a message, or SnapChat loading snaps and typing to friends. Sometimes even, it will just turn off and then turn back on again. I have tried deleting most recent apps to see if it made a difference, and it hasn’t. I have then cleared the cache partition, which has also not made much difference, although, this does seem to have reduced the amount of times my phone just randomly turns off and on again.

I can’t remember exactly the date, but within the last week my phone has had the update 5.1.1, which from my recollection, there was no problem with my phone straight after this update, its only now I’m having the issues. Ultimately , from looking online, it looks like the next best option is a factory reset. However ideally I’m trying to avoid this as i don’t want to lose personal data. Can you please tell me what actually does get deleted when you factory reset though? Will I lose all my contacts info, apps, photos (including ones on external SD card)? What do i need to do now, in order to be able to get these things back after the reset? — Charlotte

Solution: Hi Charlotte. We highly recommend that you perform a factory reset. This procedure will reset all phone and operating system settings back to default. If the cause of the problem is due to a corrupted firmware glitch, a factory reset should fix it.

This procedure will erase everything kept in the phone’s internal storage so make sure that you create a copy of your photos, videos, important documents, contacts, etc to a computer before you do it. Factory reset won’t affect the SD card though so you can safely leave the contents there.

In order to restore your personal data back to the phone afterwards, simply connect the phone to your computer and copy the files back to the gallery or documents folder. To backup your contacts, we recommend that you use Smart Switch.

Don’t worry about your apps as a full list of them is kept in your Google account. After a factory reset, simply open the Google Play Store and re-download them.

Problem #3: Galaxy Note 4 Wi-Fi not working properly

Won’t stay connected to Wi-Fi. Anytime that I try to do anything on Wi-Fi it just sets there and spins. I can’t send text like if I’m on a call and get a text and try to respond, it gives me an error message and fails. Everything else in the house has no problems with our Wi-Fi. I will be trying to do sometime while connected to Wi-Fi and it tells me that it’s trying to find network.

I have taken my phone into the Sprint store several times and called Sprint Costumer center at least 5 times…they tell me that it’s a Samsung problem so I then have talked to Samsung 3 time and they tell me that it’s Sprint…they have tried to factory reset my phone, they have done the ##72786# which pretty much just runs through the update again and still have the same issues. There seems to be more problems everyday…I pay for services that I can’t even use any apps that try to connect through Wi-Fi, it will connect and stay connected for at the most 15 minutes then lose the connection. — Angie

Solution:  Hi Angie. How does Wi-Fi performance work after a factory reset? Did you observe how the phone works after a factory reset without installing any apps? If you can’t answer these questions right now, simply do another factory reset and observe the phone for at least 24 hours. If Wi-Fi continues to remain spotty even without any apps installed, that’s an indicator that the problem may be a bad hardware. Your best choice in this case is to have the phone replaced.

On the other hand, if Wi-Fi works fine after wiping the phone of apps via factory reset, make sure to remove apps until you have eliminated the problem.

Problem #4: Problems after updating Galaxy Note 4 to Android 6.0.1

There are 4 problems that started immediately after updating to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on my Galaxy Note 4.

1st is whenever I restart the phone, its display turns off after 3 seconds even before the keyboard could pop up to type the Password. I have to press power button again & after at least 3 attempts I could get to type the password. Earlier it was possible to unlock the phone with Fingerprint scanner after restart now I have type Password only to unlock.

2nd phone freezes & even if I press power button several times display remains off but most of the activity keeps running in the background like Music Playing, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi/Mobile Data, SMS & other notifications. Only solution is to remove battery & restart.

3rd Problem is its battery is draining way faster than it was on Lollipop version.

4th problem is when I turn on Power Saving mode the notification area gets grey background which looks very ugly above the colorful wallpaper. — Sagar

Solution: Hi Sagar. The first three issues may be fixed by doing these things:

  • wiping the cache partition
  • doing a factory reset
  • updating all apps

The cache partition is a directory where Android save files used for apps to run smoother and faster. If you’ve noticed, apps usually load slower during the first time you run it since installation. But the next time you open it, it would be faster and even smoother. Of course, not everybody can notice that.

Wiping the cache partition is one way to get the phone out of Safe Mode or from being stuck on the logo during boot up. This procedure will delete all files stored in the cache partition. This is how it’s done on the Note 4:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Vol Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option ‘wipe cache partition’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • When the wiping of the cache partition is finished, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the power key.

The steps on how to do a factory reset is covered above.

Finally, if nothing changes, make sure that you only install apps compatible with Android Marshmallow. If you are not sure if a third party app is not yet updated to work with Android 6.0, uninstall it or contact its developer for information.

Your fourth concern is a design issue and not a problem at all. There’s nothing that we can do about that. Don’t use Power Saving mode is you don’t want how the screen looks.

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy S5 unable to install Snapchat, other app issues

Snapchat

Here’s another post of #GalaxyS5 app-related problems for you today. For those who are new to our site, don’t forget to visit other similar posts we published in the past.

In the meantime, these are the 7 particular topics we’re dealing in this article:

  1. Galaxy S5 unable to install Snapchat
  2. Multiple Galaxy S5 apps missing after installation
  3. Galaxy S5 apps keep freezing
  4. Galaxy S5 contacts deleted after an update
  5. How to get OTA update for AT&T Galaxy S5
  6. How to update AT&T Galaxy S5 to Lollipop
  7. Galaxy S5 date and time keeps changing

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

 

Problem #1: Galaxy S5 unable to install Snapchat

When I click on the SnapChat app it takes me to an Internet page and says this message:  “Supported Android Devices. Snapchat supports Android 4.1 and up. For the best experience, please update your Android device to the latest firmware and download the latest version of Snapchat?.

Please note: Some Snapchatters on Samsung Galaxy devices running 5.0 Lollipop are experiencing issues on the latest version of Snapchat ?. If you are experiencing a similar issue please try updating your device and then logging into Snapchat.”

I have no updates showing on my phone and I have uninstalled it and downloaded it again and I still can’t get in the app. — Cerys

Solution: Hi Cerys. We’ve encountered this same exact issues in other Android forums so we know that this is not isolated to your device. The problem is actually coming from the app itself. We’ve been raising questions to Snapchat developer team about this but we never heard from them. Basically, the app is not compatible with some Android operating system versions like the one running on your device. This is a Samsung or Google issue but rather a problem that must be fixed by Snapchat team. We don’t recommend that you contact them as they don’t seem to care enough about this error at this time. We do hope that they can release a patch to eventually take care of the problem soon.

Problem #2: Multiple Galaxy S5 apps missing after installation

I have been using a third party app called Allvoi (VOIP app). For sometime it hangs while registering. So I decided to uninstall and then install it again. I tried doing the same. Now in Google Play Store, the app is shown as installed. But it does not appear anywhere (not in application manager also). I noticed same thing is happening with Talking Tom Cat, Yahoo Weather, CNN and WordWeb also. These apps are show as installed, but do not appear anywhere. It will be great help if you can let me know how to resolve the issue. — ParthaBorah

Solution: Hi ParthaBorah. If there are more than 2 apps showing the same problematic behavior in your phone, the issue might be coming from a corrupted system cache or firmware. To fix that, you must first wipe the cache partition and do a follow up with factory reset if nothing changes. For reference, here are the steps on how to do them:

How to wipe the cache partition of a Galaxy S5

  • Turn the phone off.
  • Press and hold the following buttons together: Power, Volume Up and Home.
  • Release the buttons once the Android system recovery menu appears.
  • Use the Volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Cache Partition option.
  • Press the Power button to confirm selection.
  • Select Reboot System Now option after deleting the cache. Wait for the phone to reboot.

How to perform a factory reset on a Galaxy S5

  • Power down the Galaxy S5.
  • Press and hold the Volume up button, the Home button, and the Power button together until you see the Android on screen.
  • Use Volume down to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option and press the Power button to select it.
  • Use Volume down again to highlight Yes – delete all user data and press Power to select it.
  • Use the Power button to select Reboot system now.
  • When the S5 restarts it should be completely wiped and ready to set up again.

Problem #3: Galaxy S5 apps keep freezing

For several months now, my lock screen has been freezing when I try to unlock my phone. The screen comes on, but the phone doesn’t recognize that I’m trying to unlock it. I originally had the fingerprint scanner but it kept freezing,  so I switched to the pattern unlock (seems worse, honestly). It tends to happen at least a couple times a day and is really frustrating. I wiped the phone cache as well as the cache partition but it didn’t help. I tried switching to the Google Now Launcher (especially because I kept getting those stupid “touch wiz home has stopped working”)  error messages.  I was also having issues with the keyboard freezing, but  that seems to have mostly resolved since I switched to SwiftKey, but is sometimes still laggy when I first start typing. I have disabled almost all of the bloatware and don’t have any sketchy apps downloaded on my phone….I have more than enough extra memory and a high quality SD card. I switched to a larger capacity SD card to see if it would help, but it didn’t . — Sarah

Solution: Hi Sarah. Slow performance issues can caused by corrupted cache or operating system. Since you have tried to delete the cache partition, we suggest you try to do a factory reset to see a difference.

Keep in mind that poorly coded third party apps can also affect how other apps work. Once you have factory reset the phone, leave it at that state for at least 24 hours (without installing third party apps) so you can further narrow down the potential causes. You also want to remove the SD card to see if that’s causing the lag as well.

Problem #4: Galaxy S5 contacts deleted after an update

I upgraded to the new update as prompted to do so and my contact list has gone. I have taken out the battery and restarted the phone, held the home screen and volume and power button ‘wiping the cache’ whilst rebooting and nothing and have also tried ‘clearing cache’ and ‘clear data’ in my contacts storage but still nothing. Please help as I have NO contacts. I don’t want to restart factory settings as I will loose everything on my phone, is there no other way? Or can I not reinstall the old update? — Cheryl

Solution: Hi Cheryl. If that update was provided by your wireless carrier, there’s no way you can downgrade the firmware unless you’re willing to root the phone prior to installing a custom ROM. Also, recovery of your contacts is out of the question unless you have them duplicated somewhere. Doing a factory reset will not bring the contacts back and will not accomplish anything other than probably clear out some minor bugs in the system.

What you can do from now on is to ensure that all your important files like photos, videos, contacts, etc are backed up in another device to prevent losing them again. Flash drives like the one in your phone or SD card are still not 100% reliable and they can become corrupted anytime. Don’t take the risk of losing your files by not duplicating them. We seldom hear an issue like yours but they do happen so moving forward, make sure that all your digital valuables are kept safe.

Problem #5: How to get OTA update for AT&T Galaxy S5

I’m writing to share with you an additional, little-known solution I found today to the Galaxy S5 not upgrading to Lollipop. I’ve seen a lot of droid users asking about this issue  & wanted to share the solution that worked for me.

I had been trying to upgrade since the release came out in October 2015, and every time I would receive an error message that either I did not have enough space or just simply ‘unable to install’. I went through numerous troubleshooting tips like clearing the cache, moving things to the SD card. None of it worked. I went to the AT&T Support Center just before Christmas and walked out after waiting in line over an hour. Every time I called support, no one was any help and some of them weren’t even aware of the issue!

Well today I decided to try again. Called AT&T and by a great stroke of luck the support guy knew exactly what I was talking about. In fact, he had the same issue with his S5 and immediately told me what to do:

It’s the sim card. If your sim card’s last digit is an 8, then it won’t let your phone update to lollipop. I didn’t ask him for specific details as to why, but he highly suggested I replace the sim card and try again. I immediately went to AT&T, got the sim card replaced, and viola! Perfect.

Just wanted to share this tid bit. Thanks! — Angela

Solution: Hi Angela. Thank you for sharing this tip. Carriers use limited server bandwidth or capacity when rolling out updates for their customers so they usually do them in batches. Scheduling schemes when updates are released vary by carriers as well and it’s good to know that a simple tip from your carrier’s technical group helped you. This scheme may change though at a later date so that other users (another batch) can avail of the updates. So we don’t see this as a permanent way to update an AT&T device because obviously not everyone can simply replace their SIM cards to something that ends with a digit “8”. We welcome this tip though. Thank you very much. We’re glad to have found an effective workaround to share to Android community. For AT&T users who can’t wait for their turn to update their device, do this.

Problem #6: How to update AT&T Galaxy S5 to Lollipop

I’m having a problem with my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5. My operating system is quite old, and I wish to update it to 5.0 Lollipop. However, I live in Canada and use Speakout as my carrier. My phone on the other hand, is an AT&T Galaxy S5. From what I gathered on the Internet, AT&T won’t let you update unless you are on their network or at least in the US. Every time I go to the check for software update setting, it says “no update found” and “wait for 24 hours”. How can I bypass this issue? I would prefer not flashing the device, but I will if I have to. — Daniel

Solution: Hi Daniel. Your Galaxy S5 runs an Android version that can only update itself when it detects an AT&T SIM card. Of course, you also need to be connected to their network to do that so getting an over-the-air update in Canada is impossible. Your only way to get Lollipop on that device is by manually flashing it.

Problem #7: Galaxy S5 date and time keeps changing

Every time I boot this phone (which I got new under two months ago), the settings change from the date and time and time zone being provided by network to not being so. Shortly after every restart, a message pops up that brings this to my attention (though I don’t recall the exact wording of that message). I know how to change those settings back easily enough, but it also doesn’t seem like I should have to. I guess I have to admit this isn’t the biggest deal in the world…but it is annoying. Ideas? — Sonny

Solution: Hi Sonny. We’ve encountered an issue like this in other phone models before and there seems to be no pattern that we recognized as to what might be its true cause. As a workaround, try to avoid enabling “Automatic date and time” and “Automatic time zone” and manually setting date and time instead. You can also try to wipe the cache partition and do a factory reset to see if there’s a cache or firmware bug behind this annoying issue.

 

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

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.

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Boot and Lag Issues

Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung Galaxy S5 boot and lag issues are very common. A lot of users have experienced these issues whenever their devices receive a new update or app. Detailed below are the troubleshooting steps that you can try to resolve these concerns. Hope this works for you.

If you happen to own a Samsung Galaxy S5 or any other Android device for that matter, then feel free to reach us using this form or you can also send us an email at [email protected]. Be sure to religiously fill out the form as this will help us gauge the issue your getting and provide an accurate solution as well. We will do our best to respond to every email we receive. 

Problem # 1: Samsung Galaxy S5 is stuck in a boot loop

Hi. I have a Galaxy S5 that I am having problems with. Hope you can help me. First, if I shut my phone off and when I go to turn it back on, it just goes to the “Samsung Galaxy S5 powered by Android” screen for 5 to 10 seconds then vibrates and shuts off. It keeps doing this over and over. After a while though it will turn on. Second, when someone calls me and I swipe the screen to answer, the phone just freezes and then shuts itself off. Lastly, when I do get a call and it goes through, I can hear them but they cannot hear me. If I put my phone on speaker, it works just fine and I can have a conversation with them. Thanks. — Nathan 

Solution: Hello Nathan. Looks like your phone is going into a bootloop. Have you tried to modify the device prior to this? Bootloops usually happen if you have incorrectly customized the system files. It is noteworthy that it can still successfully boot up after multiple tries. Most phones won’t be able to do that anymore. Considering that your Samsung Galaxy S5 is also experiencing freezing and audio issues, it is best to perform a factory reset. This will completely wipe your device clean so be sure to make a backup copy of your files first if you still can.  There are two ways to do a factory reset.

First is by going to Settings> User and Backup> Backup and reset> Factory data reset. Double check that you have backed up everything then tap the Reset device option at the bottom of the screen. Choose Delete All on the next screen and wait for the process to complete. You’re done once the device has rebooted successfully.

The second approach is a little complicated but this is useful if you can no longer boot to the home screen. This just needs some flexible fingers and the perfect timing to be executed successfully. Here are the steps.

  1. Turn the Samsung Galaxy S5 off.
  2. Simultaneously press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power Continue holding them until the Android logo pops up on the screen. You will see a menu after you release the buttons.
  3. Scroll down on the menu using the Volume Down button and to highlight the wipe data/factory reset Press the Power button to select it.
  4. Utilize the Volume Down button again to select Yes – delete all user data and the Power button to confirm it.
  5. Wait for the reboot system now option to pop up and confirm the selection by pressing the Power button one more time.
  6. The Samsung Galaxy S5 should be completely wiped out and ready to be setup again once it comes back up.

All firmware / software issues that your device has been experiencing should be resolved by now. If the problem persists, consult a technician as this may already has something to do with the phone’s motherboard and or hardware functions. Hope this helps.

Problem # 2: Samsung Galaxy S5 is stuck on startup after installing an update

Hi. My Samsung Galaxy S5 continually tries to start after installing the latest update. At first it would get stuck on updating apps but now it gets stuck on start up. I have had the battery and sim out numerous times but to no benefit. Can you please help me? I live in a rural area and do not have easy access to technicians. Cheers. — Nick

Solution: Hi Nick. Seems like you too are experiencing a bootloop. It is possible that the system files have been affected during the firmware update. Same as the first issue, the best way to deal with this is to perform a factory reset. The steps have been detailed on the solution part above. Your Samsung Galaxy S5 should work again afterwards. Unless it has something to do with the device’s motherboard in which a technician is really needed in order to fix or replace it. Let us know if you need further assistance.

Problem # 3: Samsung Galaxy S5 runs slow and constantly freezes

Hi my name’s Kayla and I have a Samsung Galaxy S5. At first everything was working great and then it started lagging and running slow. I started rebooting regularly. I downloaded clean master to get rid of an extra garbage and started deleting cache more often. I noticed that this started when my phone wanted to perform an update. It was freezing, glitch-ing, lagging, restarting, and just not doing things right. I then did a whole factory reset. I had everything backed up beforehand and then restored it, but the factory reset fixed nothing at all. It’s very frustrating trying to type a single message and having to wait 10 minutes because it froze. Do you have a solution to this please?  — Kayla Awad

Solution: Hello Kayla. If the freezing issue has something to do with an app or the phone’s firmware, the factory reset should be able to resolve it. This process will completely wipe your phone’s data and settings thus making it like a brand new device. This should be the ultimate solution. However, other factors may affect the phone’s performance like too much app data and or a virus. We can check if these are the case. Try running your device in Safe Mode. This would help us determine if a third party app or a virus is causing this issue by forcing the apps to stop working. To go into Safe Mode:

  1. Power off the device then press and hold the Power button to turn it back on.
  2. Once the Samsung Galaxy S5 logo appears on the screen, release the Power key then immediately press the Volume Down Continue holding it down until the device has started back up.
  3. You will notice a Safe Mode mark at the bottom left corner of the screen if you have successfully boot it into Safe Mode.

Check if the freezing issue still continues. If it doesn’t, verify the apps installed on your phone and make sure they are clean. Remove any saved data related to a game that you are not sure or aware of. If the issue still persists, consider clearing the phone’s app cache.

  1. Power off the device.
  2. Simultaneously press and hold the Volume Up, Home, and Power
  3. Once you feel the phone vibrating, release the Power button but continue to hold down the Volume Up and Home
  4. Wait until the Android System Recovery screen appears before releasing the last two buttons.
  5. Use the Volume Down key to highlight the wipe cache partition Tap the Power button to select it.
  6. Once the step is complete, tap the Reboot System Now to restart the device and for it to enter into the regular mode again.

If the phone still freezes after doing the steps detailed above, then this is already hardware related (perhaps with the motherboard) and requires a technician’s expertise to be resolved. Let us know if you need further assistance.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

ENGAGE WITH US

If you or someone you know encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem.

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.

TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galaxy Note 4 screen turns black after phone fell, other issues

Here’s another article that caters to problems reported by some of our #GalaxyNote4 users over the past few days. We hope this material will help our ever-growing Android community.

note-4

These are the specific topics tackled in this one today:

  1. Galaxy Note 4 screen turns black after phone fell
  2. Galaxy Note 4 keeps booting to download mode | Galaxy Note 4 keeps rebooting on its own
  3. Number of storage space in SD card does not change after moving files from Galaxy Note 4 storage device
  4. Galaxy Note 4 keeps lagging even after a factory reset
  5. Galaxy Note 4 keeps freezing when doing tasks

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

Problem #1: Galaxy Note 4 screen turns black after phone fell

Hi and thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide as I am desperate at this point. I have scoured your site prior to sending this email and still cannot figure out a solution to my problem.

First, I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Model # SM-N910P that I bought second hand. It worked fine and had no problems whatsoever until I accidently dropped it face down onto a smooth concrete floor from about 2-3 feet. It had a very sturdy Iron Shield case on it so the rubber ridge of which protrudes above the face of the screen protected the screen from any visible damage (no visible crack, no scratches, etc.) After checking the screen to make sure I hadn’t broke it and after seeing no damage I breathed a sigh of relief and put the phone into my shirt pocket.

About 10 minutes later the phone rang and I pulled it out of my pocket but noticed the screen was black, even though it still continued to ring. I answered the call using my wired Skullcandy headset and noticed the screen was still black even though I was talking on the phone. I hung up the call, again using my wired headset to do so and screen has remained black ever since.

I have tried the removing battery and pressing power and home keys trick, the pressing home key for 1-2 minutes both with and without battery inside the phone and then waited 10 minutes before booting the phone…all without any change, screen still black. When I do the previous with battery in the blue light comes on as phone boots up and I hear the normal tones, noises, etc. I can also hear the normal notification noises and beeps but screen is still black. I hooked a data cable to my note 4 and connected to my laptop and phone pops up as media player and I was able to backup everything that was showing on my laptop as being in my phone. If I remember correctly I am pretty sure that showed and I was able to download everything that is critical on my phone, i.e., files that showed were Android, DCIM, Data, Pictures, Downloads, etc. so I think I’ve got everything backed up and will lose nothing if a factory reset would help. Frankly at this point I don’t care what else might be on the phone so not concerned about losing anything important. I have spent the entire weekend thus far scouring your site, suggestions, troubleshooting, posts, etc., and have also scoured the internet looking for suggestions without any luck whatsoever.

I am now writing to you in the hopes that there might be a known fix, solution or even suggestions you might have to help me get my phone back up and working with a working screen. I am going through a very costly divorce and cannot afford a new screen, digitizer, etc so I am praying for a miracle at this point. I married a girl 3 years ago who has two children, one of them autistic and should have listened to everyone when they warned me that she was just looking for a provider and a dad for her kids but for the past 3 years worked my butt off providing for and trying to be a good dad and husband and it was all for nothing. It is now costing me a ton to get out of this marriage and am lost without my phone. If it’s bad news and hopeless regarding my note 4 blank screen I want to thank you in advance and say that I really appreciate all of the selfless service you, your team and your site provides to people like me who need this type of help but don’t have but enough money just to survive. Thanks again and God Bless. —  Phil

P.S.: In the box below it asks for the android version but because my screen is blank I cannot see what the version is but assume that it is whatever came with the note 4 originally. Thanks again and I hope I hear back from someone sooner than later. — Phil

Solution: Hi Phil. Many phone users drop their phones from time to time. That’s a fact. That’s why phone makers like Samsung take this fact into consideration when designing their products. But built-in protection for drops in electronic gadgets can only help to a certain degree. Nasty drops almost always result to problems. The only way to know if the phone is unaffected after a drop is to continue using it. If nothing is different, then everything may continue to work as normal. If the opposite is true and you notice that something’s amiss, or in your particular case, the screen suddenly stopped working, then that’s an obvious indication that there is an on-going hardware problem.

We know that you’re hoping for a miracle but we are not your electronics gods here. A hardware problem must be fixed via repair. There’s no software troubleshooting or trick that you can perform to fix a bad screen. If one of the major components of the screen assembly came lose during the drop or got damaged, the only miracle that will fix it is repair. For instance, if the LCD was damaged, the phone must be opened up before that component can be replaced.

Now, you may think you can handle a component replacement, in this case a bad screen assembly. Well, it depends really. First of all, you must have the right tools to do the job. If you have them handy for some reason, you then need some basic electronics skills so you can follow a guide on how to do the procedure. Though experience is not necessary, it can really help in order to do the job properly. Component replacement can sometimes be a tricky business and may result to a bricked device if not done correctly. Doing the repair yourself is not free as you also needs to buy the replacement part (and make sure you get the right component for your phone model) and the tools. If you think you can handle all these things yourself, we suggest that you look for an online guide to help you. Our blog does not provide (or recommend do-it-yourself repairs) guides of this type so hit Google and search for them. We’re pretty sure there are a lot of websites that can provide you with one. Just remember, hardware repair is risky and may not always result to resolution (especially if done by an amateur). Do it at your own risk.

Or better still, simply bring it to a Samsung shop or a qualified third party repair shop so they can do a miracle on your device.

Problem #2: Galaxy Note 4 keeps booting to download mode | Galaxy Note 4 keeps rebooting on its own

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Lately the green Android has been popping up saying “downloading target” and my phone tends to shut off whenever I’m not actively using it. I can’t soft reset the phone more so hard reset it. Everytime I try it ends up leaving me phoneless for hours because the phone won’t come back on. None of the buttons are jammed, it isn’t the battery. I have 2 thinking that was the issue and even when I go to backup my data and factory reset in the settings it shuts the phone completely off.

The phone was originally with Sprint and is now with Boost. I’m not sure if that’s a factor in this situation. My phone is literally brand new. Is there anything I can do besides sending It off? — Darcel1991

Solution: Hi Darcel1991. if you can’t perform even basic software troubleshooting like factory reset on it, then you really have to send it off. There’s nothing that you can do in this situation to fix it.

Problem #3: Number of storage space in SD card does not change after moving files from Galaxy Note 4 storage device

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Running Marshmallow. I moved lots of apps, about 12 GB worth, to my SD card. When I read storage in the android system settings, it does not reflect my having moved all that to the SD card. The SD card does show the change. I’ve powered the phone down several times, cleaning system cache before restarting phone. No joy. I’ve done it several times. When I click on the storage amount, the break down shows apps, files, etc but it says calculating the amount and it never does finish calculating. I have ESFile app on my phone which shows the SD card exactly the same as the system display but it shows the device storage correctly, about 12 GB less, as it should. Any ideas? — Kate

Solution: Hi Kate. First, make sure that there’s no problem with the SD card you’re using. Get another SD card, insert it to your Note 4, format it, and move the files again. If the same issue happens on the second SD card, factory reset your Note 4. on other hand, if the issue won’t happen again on the second SD card, then that’s a clear indicator that the first SD card may be corrupted. Make sure that you reformat it using your Note 4 before attempting another transfer.

For reference, these are the steps on how to factory reset your Note 4:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Vol Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • Now highlight ‘Yes — delete all user data’ using the Vol Down key and press the Power key to begin the reset.
  • When the master reset is complete, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and hit the Power key.
  • The Note 4 will restart but it will be longer than usual. When it reaches the Home screen, then begin your setup.

Problem #4: Galaxy Note 4 keeps lagging even after a factory reset

Hello. I have a Note 4. Just recently it started “lagging” really bad whenever too many things were going on at once on my phone (i.e., I’d be writing a text and if one was coming in at the same time it would lag or freeze for a minute). Then it started shutting off and re-starting itself randomly when I was using it. And it will randomly shut off and restart itself even when I am not using it. It is 11:30 am here and my phone has shut off and restarted itself probably 10 or more times. I have done a soft reset, I have cleaned it, I have removed all unnecessary apps, nothing worked so we did a factory reset. It is still doing it.

I have had Note phones from the start, I have not been very happy with this version but it has always been tolerable until now. I have had the phone for just over a year and because manufacture warranty is out my provider is telling me to just buy a new phone! This is an expensive phone and I can’t continue with this series if I will have to purchase a new one every year. — Katreena

Solution: Hi Katreena. There’s no one-for-all solution for this type of issue. You must invest time and effort if you want to dig deeper to the true cause. The general rule in fixing severe lag in an Android device is to start with software troubleshooting first. Once you’ve exhausted all software troubleshooting, then you can assume that the issue is hardware in nature. Doing a factory reset is one of the software troubleshooting that you can try. Factory reset as a solution is useless if the issue is being caused by an app or  by other things though. If the problem returned after a factory reset, there’s a chance that one of your apps is to blame. We recommend that you do another round of factory reset but this time, after doing it, make sure that you don’t re-install the apps right away. Observe the phone for 24 hours so you’ll see any difference in performance. If the issue occurs during the observation period, then there must be a hardware issue that must be addressed. Contact Samsung or any relevant party so the phone can be repaired or replaced.

Problem #5: Galaxy Note 4 keeps freezing when doing tasks

Hello. I have a Samsung Note 4 that is a little over 2 years old. It has lately started to stick and freeze from anything to browsing the Internet to typing a text message. The keyboard sticks and then typed and bunch of letters. Sometimes it will stick, lag, freeze then completely restart itself. This will happen several times a day. I have tried deleting all my apps, clearing my cache files and I’ve even done a factory reset on it and it is still having these problems. I’m currently still paying off this phone so what can I do to fix this problem cause I’m going to have it for a while longer and these problems are very very frustrating for the simplest of tasks. Please help! Thank you. — Sam

Solution: Hi Sam. The first thing that you want to do is to ensure that ALL your apps are compatible and updated. This will help minimize the bugs and may even fix the problem. Do it for all your apps. Uninstall apps that are not compatible or not updated. Or you can try to follow our suggestion for Katreena above to do a factory reset and observe the phone for a day without any third party apps. This will help you determine if the issue is being caused by software or not. Lag can be caused by a bad hardware like a malfunctioning processor so if the software troubleshooting won’t resolve the problem, get yourself a new phone. Unlike other hardware issues wherein a component can simply be taken out and replaced, lag, most of the time, involves multiple connected hardware components so fixing it is complicated and not always successful. It’s more economical for service centers like Samsung repair shops to recommend replacement instead of going-through a time-consuming repair diagnosis and repair. If you got your phone from your carrier, call them and ask for a replacement.

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

Galaxy Note 4 “Downloading don’t turn off the target” error, keeps rebooting by itself, other issues

Note 4

If you’re struggling to find answers to your #GalaxyNote4 problems, our post for today may help. No smartphone or phablet is immune from trouble so it’s perfectly normal to hit a snag from time to time. We hope that the advice we give here today can help you in your own Note 4 problems. And don’t forget to visit more Note 4 troubleshooting in this page.

Below are the issues we’ve covered in this article:

  1. Galaxy Note 4 showing “Downloading don’t turn off the target” error and keeps rebooting by itself
  2. Galaxy Note 4 randomly freezes and restarts after uninstalling Dr Ketan ROM
  3. Snapchat app causing Galaxy Note 4 to crash
  4. Galaxy Note 4 wi-fi won’t turn on
  5. Galaxy Note 4 browser tabs won’t close
  6. Galaxy Note 4 Fast Charging feature not working

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

 

Problem #1: Galaxy Note 4 showing “Downloading don’t turn off the target” error and keeps rebooting by itself

Hello. Well, my Samsung Note 4 has been rebooting itself for over a week now. The first day, it rebooted a couple of times before showing me the little Android Robot and the message: “Downloading don’t turn off the target”. Therefore, I went in a hurry to a phone shop, and they told me to remove the battery and to replace it. It worked, my phone did turn on.

However, since, it freezes after phone calls, or when I go to Facebook, YouTube. It also reboots itself. And, the worst part is that sometimes (mostly when I leave it on a table or in my pocket), it stops responding and the screen turns black. It does not respond if I either plug it to my laptop, or charge it or press any touch for a long time. Usually, I have to wait a couple hours to a day before it starts responding to the charger and showing up that is battery is low.

Therefore, I brought it to an authorized phone service. They changed the battery, and little gold-like piece that connect the battery to the phone, because they said it was oxidized. They also told me that it will work from now on. However, when I came back home, it starts again freezing and rebooting. Now my screen is black and it doesn’t respond at all.

So, I would like to have a different opinion before going back to see them. This is so irritating! Thank you very much for your help 😀 — Elsa

Solution: Hi Elsa. The cause of the symptoms you mention here may be software in nature so instead of having the battery and the metallic contact replaced first, you should have tried the software troubleshooting steps. Since you’ve ruled out that it’s not a battery problem, one of the basic software troubleshooting may be able to fix the problem.

Wipe the cache partition

Let’s start by making sure that the cache partition is refreshed. Sometimes, a corrupted or outdated system cache or cache partition can make a difference in fixing weird behaviors. The system cache stores downloaded items from Play Store and other app-related files in order for the system to load app faster. Every time you tap an app icon on the screen, one of the background processes that happens is the system attempting to access the cache partition to load an app quickly. This process is repeated every day and every time you open an app. After some time, the cache gets full and disorganized so it’s highly recommended to regularly clear the cache partition.

Following an update, there’s a chance that the cache partition will become disorganized, cluttered, or contain outdated and irrelevant files. While updates like Lollipop are supposed to automatically create a new cache, this does not always happen in reality. One of the main reasons why so many users are complaining about slow performance, lag, or freezing issues after updating to Lollipop is a corrupted cache partition. We think that this is also the reason for your case. If you haven’t tried clearing the cache before, here are the steps to do it:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Volume Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight the option ‘wipe cache partition’ and press the Power key to select it.
  • When the wiping of the cache partition is finished, highlight Reboot system now and hit the power key.

Restore all settings to defaults via factory reset

Sometimes, deleting the cache partition may not help because the problem lies deep in the phone’s firmware or operating system. To fix such a problem, you need to do a factory reset. Doing so forces the device to revert all app and settings back to defaults. As factory version of most firmware have been tested and quality checked thoroughly, restoring everything to defaults may fix the problem. For reference, please follow the steps below in order to factory reset your device:

  • Turn off the Galaxy Note 4 completely.
  • Press and hold the Volume Up and the Home keys together, then press and hold the Power key.
  • When the Note 4 vibrates, release both the Home and Power keys but continue holding the Volume Up key.
  • When the Android System Recovery shows on the screen, release the Volume Up key.
  • Using the Volume Down key, highlight wipe data / factory reset and press the Power key to select it.
  • Now highlight Yes — delete all user data using the Volume Down key and press the Power key to begin the reset.
  • When the master reset is complete, highlight Reboot system now and hit the Power key.
  • The Note 4 will restart but it will be longer than usual. When it reaches the Home screen, then begin your setup.

A third party can, at times, also be blamed for this issue so try to observe the phone for some time (preferably 24 hours) without before installing any third party app so you’ll see a difference.

Manually install a stock/official firmware

OTA (over-the-air) updates provided by your wireless carrier can sometimes lead to more problems than fix them so if you’re amenable to fixing the issue yourself, consider installing an official operating system yourself. This can be done by booting your phone in Odin mode and manually installing the ROM. If you want to do this, try to look for detailed guides online.

Check the Power button

There had been a few cases in the past that the cause of a problem like this is due to a bad hardware button, particularly the Power key. If you’ve exhausted all the software troubleshooting, make sure to have someone replace the hardware buttons.

Problem #2: Galaxy Note 4 randomly freezes and restarts after uninstalling Dr Ketan ROM

Things were working perfectly fine before flashing Dr. Ketan Rom Version L16G (based on 5.1.1) Link -(https://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/snapdragon-dev/n910g-dr-ketan-custom-rom-t2928568)

How did I mess up things… please see steps below:

1-Flashed this rom

2-Flashed suggested boot loader

3-Tried to boot up the phone (everything worked well)

4-Was not happy with this rom’s glitches so decided to go back to my stock firmware based on 5.0.1

5-Wiped complete system and installed my stock firmware

6==>> Here came the real pain

Below are the issues I am facing right after this procedure.

Issues I am facing after this:

1- phone is hanging in every minute

2- Automatic shut down after a long hang

3- Power button does not work (directly) to boot up the device.

    i- need to go to download mode(Vol Down+Power+Home button) and then volume down to restart the phone. And second step is..

   ii- need to remove the battery and then can boot up with power button directly. (This needs to be done on every boot).

4- Sometimes device gets boot up with above methods and other time it gives an Error on download mode screen.

Error Message:

“Could not do normal boot.

ddi : mmc_read failed

ODIN MODE

PRODUCT NAME: SM-N910G

…….

……

……:

I have tried every possible thing which came to my mind however issue still persist. Your help is highly appreciated.. You can save my hard earned money.

I am a gadget lover, however not rich enough to afford these expensive devices. I have put almost every single penny from my savings to buy this product. A big thanks in advance for your help. Looking forward for your response. Thanks! — Hemendra

Solution: Hi Hemendra. As much as we would like to help you, the best party that can pinpoint where the point of failure may be is the developer of the ROM itself. We have no idea what modification the custom ROM you used did to your device’s system files so there’s no definite fix for this right now. It’s highly possible that some critical folders or files have been tampered with during customization that now manifests in problems you mention. The best that we can suggest when a user encounters problems after flashing or customizing a software is factory reset and re-installation of official ROM. If neither of these two worked, try to post a query under the XDA thread you mention here.

We don’t know if the developer is still actively supporting its product so there’s no guarantee if you can get direct assistance.

Problem #3: Snapchat app causing Galaxy Note 4 to crash

My SnapChat app is causing my phone to crash. The only way I can use Snapchat is when my device is connected to a power source, I.e.: has to be plugged into the charger. When my phone is unplugged and I try to open the app, my phone screen goes black and it tries to restart itself. Even when the app is fully closed, and I get a notification, it automatically causes phone to crash. This is the only app that does that. All others work fine. I am running the latest version of Snapchat and tried all the small fixes such as re-installing the app, factory reset of the phone, soft reset of the phone, clearing the cache. Problem still persists. — Justin

Solution: Hi Justin. Snapchat crashing Android is well-documented in many other forums so this is definitely not an issue specific only to your handset. Kindly contact SnapChat support using this page so they can provide you direct help.

Problem #4: Galaxy Note 4 wi-fi won’t turn on

Hello, this is Mioara. So as i was talking on the phone earlier today my Note 4 really crashed like it restarted while I was talking on the phone. At first i didn’t notice that my Wi-Fi was not working properly because i had no intention in opening Wi-Fi because i keep it open 24/7. Meanwhile as the time passed i needed some files from WhatsApp. Wi-fi was deactivated. i activated 3G. The internet connection was ok, i got the files i needed. After i have made several restarts on the phone wi-fi doesn’t activate.

When i press on the wi-fi icon to activate it, it changes its color from grey to light green and after a while it closes by nature becoming again grey. Please help. i hope i wouldn’t have to do factory reset because i’ll lose too many files like SMS, applications and so on. You know better what else. — Mioara

Solution: Hi Mioara. Boot your phone in safe mode, then try to turn Wi-Fi again. If it works normally while in safe mode, consider uninstalling apps until you have eliminated the source of the problem. If nothing changes though, make sure to do a factory reset.

To boot your Note 4 in safe mode, please follow these steps:

  • Turn off the phone completely.
  • Press and hold the Power key and the Volume Down key.
  • When the phone starts to boot, release the Power key but continue holding the Volume Down key until the phone finished restarting.
  • Safe mode will be display at the lower left corner; you may release the Volume Down key now.

Problem #5: Galaxy Note 4 browser tabs won’t close

Dear Team. I need your urgent assistance regarding my issue which is:

I can’t close my internet tabs on my Note 4 (Android 5.0) considering that I’ve tried all the recommended actions such as the developer option way but with no use, also considering that I am using the Internet Explorer (the world blue ball icon) and everytime I try to switch among the tabs or even try to close one it returns me back to the current page I am using. 

You will find 2 screen shots that might explain the issue better. 

First one: from the Internet tabs that in use now. 

Second one: my android version. 

Unfortunately I can’t attached them as it gives me an error message on the Outlook saying the email has “unfortunately stopped working” (which is my second issue. 🙂

Appreciate your feedback and support. — Mahmoud

Solution: Hi Mahmoud.  Make sure that you clear the cache and data of your browser as the first troubleshooting step. When a specific app malfunctions, there’s a possibility that its cache and/or data was corrupted for some reason. If not cleared and the phone continue to use it, the problem will never be fixed. Therefore, it is necessary to delete the app’s cache so that the system will be forced to create a new cache for the app.

  • From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
  • Tap Settings and scroll to ‘Applications’ section.
  • Touch Application Manager.
  • Swipe left or right to display contents of ‘ALL’ tab.
  • Scroll to and tap the desired app.
  • Tap the Clear Cache and Clear Data button.

If nothing changes, make sure to follow our advice for Mioara above.

Problem #6: Galaxy Note 4 Fast Charging feature not working

This is my second Note 4 device after i got a replacement due to have problem with fast adaptive charging. When i bought this phone, it only worked for 2 weeks for the fast adaptive charging and then it recognizes as USB charging which takes more than 5-7 hours for complete charge. I had to replace with another device under the warranty.

After I got a second Note 4, it is doing the same thing after 8 months of using it. I troubleshooted everything that i could. I took it to the AT&T service center; they only assumed that it might be a hardware problem. I already tried to use my friend’s Fast adaptive charger, and it won’t work. I also let my friend use my fast adaptive charger with cable and it worked on his Note 4. Therefore, it’s definitely problem from the device.

I doubted about the USB charging port connection. I bought the USB charging port Flex and replace it myself. After the complete installation, nothing has been changed! When i plug the fast adaptive charger to the new port , the device still recognizes as USB charging Not Fast Adaptive Charging (AC). So then, i realized it might be a software problem??

Please help with this problem. It is so annoying about the Fast Adaptive Charging. — Brian

Solution: Hi Brian. We don’t think the problem is software related but if you suspect it, try to do doing a factory reset.

Other possible causes of fast charging feature not working is a bad battery. As you can see, the battery has a built in chip that regulates voltage, current, etc. This chip also monitors ambient temperature around the battery in order to prevent damage due to overheating. Heat can come from both inside and outside the device itself. If there are many apps and services running during a charging session, that can cause the processor to run constantly, which in turn can produce heat. Fast charging may also not work if you expose your phone to direct heat source like putting it near a fire. If the heat threshold is tripped due to rising ambient air, fast charging or the entire charging process will be stopped by the system. Try to turn off the phone during charging and see if that will make a difference.

Also, make sure that you push the USB cable harder when you plug it into the device to ensure good contact.

If the issue persists though, you either have to simply bear the normal charging time, or consider investing in another device.

 

Engage with us

If you are one of the users who encounters a problem with your device, let us know. We offer solutions for Android-related problems for free so if you have an issue with your Android device, simply fill in the short questionnaire in this link and we will try to publish our answers in the next posts. We cannot guarantee a quick response so if your issue is time sensitive, please find another way to resolve your problem. 

If you find this post helpful, please help us by spreading the word to your friends. TheDroidGuy has social network presence as well so you may want to interact with our community in our Facebook and Google+ pages.

How to fix lag and slow performance issues on a Galaxy S5, other unrelated problems

s5

Hello everyone! Here are other #GalaxyS5 problems submitted by some users during the last few days. Don’t forget to also visit this page for more S5 troubleshooting tips and solutions.

  1. Galaxy S5 screen has yellow-green tint and unresponsive
  2. Galaxy S5 keeps saying it is on roaming mode
  3. How to fix lag and slow performance issues on a Galaxy S5
  4. Galaxy S5 won’t connect to home Wi-Fi
  5. Galaxy S5 won’t power on after charging
  6. Galaxy S5 camera won’t focus properly

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, or you can install our free app from Google Play Store.

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.

Problem #1: Galaxy S5 screen has yellow-green tint and unresponsive

I woke up the other day and my phone was working fine.

I plugged it in to charge (factory charger), then quickly grabbed my phone to head out the door. Only to realize it didn’t charge? As the phone was still black.

Later on I could hear my notifications, yet the screen was still black.

Removed the battery, and I had screen visibility again. HOWEVER my screen had a slight yellow-green tint to it and it was dimmer than usual, AND my screen is COMPLETELY unresponsive.

The screen dimmed and yellowed even more, to the point it is barely visible.

The power button does not turn off the phone, only removal of the battery.

I tried a soft reset as described on the site (removal of battery, hold the power button down for one minute, then replacing battery), and the brightness returned a little, yet the screen was still unresponsive and had an odd tint to it.

I tried to start the Android System Recovery mode to wipe Cache Partition and Reboot yet the screen was almost black and very hard to see, however after removing the battery and replacing several times I finally got some brightness again, followed the steps to wipe cache and reboot and still have response when I touch the screen.

And was greeted by the same text, Whatsapp and Gmail notifications as Ive seen for the past 2 days. Along with an “Unable to Download” error message (although I wonder if that is because I removed both SIM card and SD card for the above?)

I can use my S Voice and soft keys, volume buttons and that is it.

Im completely at a loss!

Help! — Aleashia

Solution: Hi Aleashia. Was your phone dropped or got wet before the screen problem occurred? If any of these two happened, there’s high likelihood that the screen assembly got damaged. There is no software issue that we’re aware of that can cause the problem you described here that’s why the troubleshooting that you’ve tried did not change anything. Sometimes, exposure to direct sunlight for an extended period of time or any heat source can also cause damage to hardware components. To resolve the problem, you need to call Samsung for repair or have the device diagnosed and repaired by a qualified technician.

If your S5 is still covered by a manufacturer warranty, we highly recommend that you call Samsung first. Otherwise, any third party technician can take a look at it and possibly repair whatever the trouble is.

Problem #2: Galaxy S5 keeps saying it is on roaming mode

My mobile data suddenly stopped working. My S5 was working all the time then I bought a new phone, S5 Neo, and tested the SIM to S5 Neo. Mobile data was working on the new phone. I set up the new phone and chose Australia settings although I’m in UK because I will be sending the phone to Australia.

When I put back the SIMto my old S5, my mobile data won’t work anymore and it’s giving me error “Data Roaming. You have lost connectivity…”

It seems my phone S5 is now thinking that I’m on roaming and not in UK when I’m in fact in UK.  I only get this error when I’m outside UK where my network is based and it requires me to tick the roaming field.

I checked everything, APN etc, and they are all correct. I called customer service and their advice is to reset the phone to factory default. I don’t want to do that so if you can assist that will be greatly appreciated.

You can reply on my facebook page. I already liked your page also:)

Thanks. — Bing

Solution: Hi Bing. If you inserted your SIM card (in the new phone) while setting it up, the situation may have sent a request to your wireless carrier that you are not in the UK because the phone’s system is saying Australia. The first thing that you need to do is to ensure that such request is cancelled. Call your carrier again and check if their system shows that your account is not on roaming status. Doing so will prevent potential overcharges as well as fix the problem easily. This will also prevent you from doing a factory reset.

Problem #3: How to fix lag and slow performance issues on a Galaxy S5

No new apps, and I run a pretty clean phone- no games, minimal media, never multiple things running at once. Recently, my phone has been running super slowly — the keyboard is lagging when I type anything (especially in text messages), there are delays between screens, and everything is just sluggish.

I’ve wiped the cache partition, deleted non-essential apps, and cleared out photos and downloads. I don’t keep music or videos on my phone, everything is in the cloud. I was using Swiftkey, but got rid of it- I thought that might be the problem, but the native keyboard is just as slow. I’m not sure what else I can do, save a hard reset, which I’m reluctant to do because of some voicemails I don’t want to lose. I’m open to any advice you can give.  Thank you so much. — Jenn

Solution: Hi Jenn. Slow/unstable performance can be an indication of a software or hardware problem. To know which of these two is the problem, you must first try doing software troubleshooting. If the issue remains after doing all you can do in terms of software troubleshooting, you can assume that a hardware malfunction is to blame.

It’s good to know that you’ve tried wiping the cache partition but another troubleshooting step that you can try is to restart the phone in safe mode. If a third party app is creating a conflict with other apps or the operating system, booting your S5 in safe mode is a good option.

Also known as diagnostic mode, safe mode prevents third party apps and services from running. If the issue fails to occur while safe mode is enabled, that’s a clue that one of your apps is the culprit. If you haven’t tried doing it in the past, simply follow these steps:

  • Turn the device off.
  • Press and hold the Power key.
  • When ‘Samsung Galaxy S5′ appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  • Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  • Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  • Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  • Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

If you continue to suffer lag while texting even when Safe mode is on, the next logical troubleshooting step is doing a master reset. Here’s how:

  • Power down the Galaxy S5.
  • Press and hold the Volume up button, the Home button, and the Power button together until you see the Android on screen.
  • Use Volume down to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option and press the Power button to select it.
  • Use Volume down again to highlight Yes – delete all user data and press Power to select it.
  • Use the Power button to select Reboot system now.
  • When the S5 restarts it should be completely wiped and ready to set up again.

Once you’ve fully reset the phone, try to replicate the problem again. Make sure you don’t install any app before testing how texting works. If the phone continues to show lag and/or slow performance issues, you can assume that a hardware error is causing them. A repair may or may not fix the issue depending on what component is not working properly.

Problem #4: Galaxy S5 won’t connect to home Wi-Fi

Hello. I have been having wi-fi connection issues with my S4 since the beginning of time, but not until recently after upgrading my internet modem has it been unbearable. 

So my modem has a secured wi-fi (otherwise my HOME) and an open xfinity hotspot. The connection strength is equal on both, but for some reason my phone prefers the open xfinity to the Home wifi. Problem is that the open xfinity doesn’t seem to work correctly on my phone — web pages wont load and connection timeouts. I’ve tried to “forget” this open wi-fi but it keeps connecting. How can I set my phone to be locked on my HOME wi-fi? Thanks for the help. — Kirby

Solution: Hi Kirby. First of all, make sure that you delete the phone’s system cache. Temporary information and logs needed by the system to load apps are stored in the cache partition. Making sure that the cache partition is up-to-date may fix the issue easily. Here’ how:

  • Turn the phone off.
  • Press and hold the following buttons together: Power, Volume Up and Home.
  • Release the buttons once the Android system recovery menu appears.
  • Use the Volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Cache Partition option.
  • Press the Power button to confirm selection.
  • Select Reboot System Now option after deleting the cache. Wait for the phone to reboot.

After wiping the cache, try to observe how your phone behaves when trying to connect to Wi-Fi again. If the same thing happens, consider doing a factory reset.

Problem #5: Galaxy S5 won’t power on after charging

Hi. My phone died from drained power. So I put my phone on charge until it was 100% and when I turned my phone back on, a funny screen popped up saying something like “Android software update 11/12” and then my screen just went black.

I literally tried everything from reading other people’s Issues and your solutions, even a factory reset that did not even want to work. So I have a screen of death and a phone of death.

The phone did not get any water damage or fell or any of that sort, it just stopped working.

Please help as soon as possible. I need my phone for work related issues and I can not afford to be offline. And since it is Sunday there won’t be an open place who can help me.

Kind regards. — Anél

Solution: Hi Anél. As much as we would like to help you, our support for this type of problem is very limited, especially that your phone won’t even power on. The most that you can do is to try booting it in other modes (like safe mode, recovery mode, download mode) so you’ll know if it’s still responsive. Otherwise, you have to have the battery or hardware checked.

Problem #6: Galaxy S5 camera won’t focus properly

My camera alternates between not being able to focus on things that are far away and not being able to focus on things that are close. Its one or the other. Only sometimes, for a short period will it focus on things from both distances. I have already tried clearing the camera data and cachr and that didn’t work. And I’ve put it in safe mode to see if it was from an app, but the problem still persisted. The only thing I haven’t done is reset the whole phone, which I haven’t done because I was hoping there is another option or way to fix it, as resetting it annoying. This problem had been on and off ever since I had this phone, for two months, and it’s very inconvenient. — Lizzy

Solution: Hi Lizzy. The Galaxy S5’s camera focusing mechanism is implemented by a combination of both hardware and software processes. Because there’s no pinpoint way to know exactly what may be wrong, the general rule of thumb is to do software troubleshooting first. If the issue won’t be fixed by basic software troubleshooting, then you can assume that the camera’s hardware is problematic. Be sure to wipe the cache partition, boot the phone in safe mode, and do a factory reset.

If you think the problem is hardware-related, contact Samsung or your carrier for a replacement.

Samsung did admit before that a very limited number of early S5s had camera problems although they had already addressed the issue. It’s still worth calling them though to see if there’s something that they can do about your unit in particular.

 

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