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Samsung Galaxy Note8

What to do with your new Samsung Galaxy Note8 with a screen flickering issue [Troubleshooting Guide]

Hardware problems are always very difficult to fix in a phone with all components glued together to resist water from entering and messing up everything. Such is also the case with the new Samsung Galaxy Note8 with IP68 rating (water and dust resistance). However, there are times when hardware issues occur and one of the most common ones is the screen flickering.

But just because the display of your new phone is flickering doesn’t meant it’s a hardware problem. We’ve also encountered this kind of problem with other phones before but they caused by apps or firmware issues. So, we really just can’t be certain what the problem with Note8 is when it has this symptom. We need to troubleshoot to know more about the problem and that’s what we are trying to accomplish in this post.

If you’re one of the owners of the new Note8 and are experiencing a similar concern, continue reading this post as it may be able to help you fix it.

If, however, you’re looking for a solution to a different problem, then take time to visit our Galaxy Note8 troubleshooting page for we have already provided solutions to some common issues with this device. Try to find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions and workarounds we suggested. If you can’t find something similar and you badly need help, consider contacting us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire. Make sure to provide us with the information we need so that we can help you better. Don’t worry, it’s free.

What to do about the Galaxy Note8 with a flickering screen

A brand new phone should work without a hitch but there are always times when you can get something that has issues out of the box. We can’t control these things and if you’re one of the owners that face this kind of problem, the least you could is troubleshoot your device to know if this is something that can be fixed without any help from a tech. With that being said, here’s what you need to do about it…

Step 1: Reboot your phone in safe mode and observe

We immediately need to rule out the possibility that the screen flickering is caused by a third-party app. We’ve seen cases wherein some apps may cause the display to flicker from time to time especially CPU and graphics-intensive games.

When the problem is at the app level, it can easily be fixed since third-party apps can easily be removed together with all their files and data. That’s why it’s imperative you do this procedure first. Here’s how you run your Note8 in Safe mode…

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

After you’ve successfully brought your device to run in this environment, continue using it to know if the flickering continues because if it disappeared, then it’s a clear sign the problem is caused by one or some of the third-party apps you installed. In which case, try to check if there are apps that need to be updated and take time to update them. Here’s how it’s done…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Play Store.
  3. Tap the Menu key and then tap My Apps. To keep your apps automatically updated, tap the Menu > Settings then tap Auto-update apps to select the check box.
  4. Choose one of the following options:
    • Tap Update [xx] to update all applications with updates available.
    • Tap an individual application and then tap Update to update a single application.

If you are already suspecting an app or two, try clearing their caches and data first and if that won’t work, uninstall them and then reboot your phone in normal mode to know if the problem still occurs.

How clear apps cache and data on Galaxy Note8

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

How to uninstall applications from your Galaxy Note8

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

On the other hand, if the flickering continues while in safe mode or if the problem remained even after doing all the procedures above, then there’s a chance it’s a firmware issue. Move on to the next step.

Step 2: Delete all system caches as some may have already been corrupted or obsolete

We’ve also encountered this kind of problem before that started shortly after an update. It suggest that they system caches have something to do with it. We cannot actually pinpoint which cache is causing the problem as there are thousands of them in your phone and average users don’t have access to them. So, to rule this possibility out, you just have to delete all those caches at once and the system will rebuild them during the boot up process.

Just boot your phone up in Recovery mode and then wipe the cache partition and then leave everything else to the system…

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

After this, closely observe your phone to know if the screen flickering remained and if so, then the last step may help you get rid of it.

Step 3: Bring your phone back to its original configuration

We will still be ruling out the possibility that this problem is due to a firmware issue so we need to try to bring the phone back to its factory default settings. However, all your files and data that are saved in your phone’s internal storage will be deleted so make sure you make a backup. After which, take note of your Google ID and password or better yet, disable the Factory Reset Protection in your phone so that you won’t be locked out after the reset.

How to disable Galaxy Note8 Factory Reset Protection

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

How to perform the Master Reset on your Galaxy Note8

  1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
  2. Turn off the device.
  3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
  4. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
  5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight “wipe data / factory reset.
  6. Press Power button to select.
  7. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
  8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
  9. When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
  10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Alternatively, you can also reset your Note8 from its Settings menu…

  1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
  2. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  3. Tap Settings > Cloud and accounts.
  4. Tap Backup and restore.
  5. If desired, tap Back up my data to move the slider to ON or OFF.
  6. If desired, tap Restore to move the slider to ON or OFF.
  7. Tap the back button to the Settings menu and tap General Management > Reset > Factory data reset.
  8. Tap Reset.
  9. If you have screen lock turned on, enter your credentials.
  10. Tap Continue.
  11. Tap Delete all.

If the flickering continues after the reset, then bring your phone back to the store to have it checked or even replaced.

Connect with us

We are always open to your problems, questions and suggestions, so feel free to contact us by filling up this form. This is a free service we offer and we won’t charge you a penny for it. But please note that we receive hundreds of emails every day and it’s impossible for us to respond to every single one of them. But rest assured we read every message we receive. For those whom we’ve helped, please spread the word by sharing our posts to your friends or by simply liking our Facebook and Google+ page or follow us on Twitter.

How to manage Samsung Galaxy Note8 mobile data and Wi-Fi Settings [Tutorials]

The two most common ways for your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 to have Internet connectivity is either through network or mobile data or via Wi-Fi. There might be other ways to get internet but you need to learn how to manage these two as they’re the most important and probably the easiest way to get online. Therefore, in this post, I will walk you through on how to turn on/off both mobile data and Wi-Fi on your phone and manage each settings.

If you’re still learning how to use your phone, then this post maybe a lot helpful for you than for those who are already a wiz when it comes to technology. Continue reading below if you think you must and I hope you’d learn from this.

But before we jump to our tutorials, if you found this post while looking for a solution to a problem with your phone, then I suggest you visit our Note8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed the most common problems with this phone. Find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire.

How to manage Galaxy Note8 mobile data and network settings

In this section, you will learn how to turn mobile data on and off in your Galaxy Note8, add or edit Access Point Names, which is very important when you’re connecting to the internet via mobile data or sending MMS, switch between 2G and 4G network, manually select network, etc. I hope we’d be able to help you through these tutorials as we made them as simple as they can be.

How to turn on / off mobile data on your Galaxy Note8

It’s a pretty straightforward process and all you gotta do is flip the switch and you would be able to connect to the internet using your provider’s mobile data network. Once turned, you may also send and receive MMS (texts with pictures or special characters). However, the speed depends on what your provider offers. If 4G is available, then you may have a really fast internet connection but please note you may be charged separately for this so you better call  your provider to make things clear. But here’s how you enable or disable mobile data on your Note8…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Data usage.
  4. Tap Mobile data.
  5. Slide the Mobile data Switch to the ON or OFF position.

How to add or edit Access Point Name (APN) on your Galaxy Note8

Turning the mobile data on doesn’t mean you can get internet connectivity immediately. There are times when you have to configure the Access Point Name (APN) so that your phone can successfully connect to your provider’s network. You need to do this especially if you bought your own phone from a third-party and use it with your provider. Phones given by your service provider or those that came with a plan are already configured to work seamlessly with the network so you really don’t have to do this procedure in such case.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Mobile networks.
  4. Tap Access Point Names.
  5. If available, tap the T-Mobile US LTE (the bullet point fills with green). If not available, tap the ADD.
  6. To reset your APN settings, tap the Menu (3 dots) icon and then tap Reset to default.
  7. Verify and update the following settings for the Data APN:
    • Name: provider-specific
    • APN: provider-specific
    • Proxy: <Not set>
    • Port: <Not set>
    • Username: <Not set>
    • Password: <Not set>
    • Server: <Not set>
    • MMSC: provider-specific
    • MMS proxy: <Not set>
    • MMS port: <Not set>
    • MMS protocol: provider-specific
    • MCC: provider-specific
    • MNC: provider-specific
    • Authentication type:<Not set>
    • APN type: <Not set> OR Internet+MMS
    • APN protocol: IPv4/IPv6
    • APN roaming protocol: IPv4
    • Enable/disable APN: <greyed out unless there are multiple APN’s>
    • Bearer: Unspecified
  8. Tap Menu (3 dots) icon > Save.
  9. Tap the desired APN profile you want to use. The bullet point fills with green next to the APN profile.

How to switch between 2G / 4G networks in your Galaxy Note8

You don’t have to make a switch networks more often. In fact, if your phone comes with a plan, you may not have to switch between these networks at all. But there are always times when you need to especially when you’re travelling and there’s no available 4G coverage in the area and you badly need mobile data connection.

    1. From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon.
    2. Tap Settings > Connections.
    3. Tap Mobile networks.
    4. Tap Network mode.
    5. Tap one of the following desired band settings:
      • LTE/4G/3G/2G (auto connect)
      • 4G/3G/2G (auto connect)

 

  • 2G ONLY

 

How to make your Galaxy Note8 manually select network

The device detects and registers on wireless networks inside your provider’s calling area. You can manually select a network only in areas where your provider does not own GSM spectrum.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Mobile networks.
  4. Tap Network operators.
  5. Tap Search now.

How to turn on / off data roaming on your Galaxy Note8

You may use this feature if you’re travelling so that you won’t lose your connection but when you’re at home or in the area covered by your home network, you really don’t need to turn this feature on.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Mobile networks.
  4. Slide the Data roaming switch right to the ON or OFF position.

How to turn on / off airplane mode on your Galaxy Note8

It’s also called “flight mode” since it’s often used when in flight or aboard an airplane and that’s the reason why it’s represented by an airplane icon. It basically turns off all wireless communication of your phone in one tap.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Airplane mode.
  4. Slide the Airplane mode Switch right to the ON or OFF position.

As far as mobile data is concerned, these are all the things you could do.

How to turn on/off Galaxy Note8 Wi-Fi and manage its settings

Having internet connectivity via Wi-Fi is the most convenient especially if you’re on prepaid or bought a phone outside of your provider. There are a lot free public Wi-Fi anywhere that could just connect to not to mention that Internet Service Providers nowadays are competing who offers the fastest service. So, using this method, you could get a free and really fast connection that’s why it’s imperative you know how to manage Wi-Fi settings in your Galaxy Note8.

How to turn on / off Wi-Fi on your Galaxy Note8

More often than not, all you gotta do is flip the Wi-Fi switch and then you’ll get a decent connection.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Wi-Fi.
  4. To turn on, tap the Wi-Fi switch to ON.
  5. To turn off, tap the Wi-Fi switch to OFF.

How to scan for available Wi-Fi networks and connect to using your Note8

If you haven’t tried connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot for some reason, then this is what you need to do. It will show you how to scan for available networks within range and connect to one. There are also times when the phone glitches that you need to do this so that it can find the network it’s supposed to connect to.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Wi-Fi.
  4. If necessary, tap the Wi-Fi switch to ON.
  5. A list of networks populates.
  6. Tap the MORE to add a Wi-Fi network that does not display.
  7. Tap the desired Wi-Fi network you want to connect to.
  8. If necessary, enter the password.
  9. Tap Connect.

How to delete / forget a Wi-Fi network on your Galaxy Note8

This one is actually more of a troubleshooting procedure than just a guide. It’s helpful when your phone can no longer connect to your network or hotspot it used to connect. Assuming the password to the network wasn’t changed but your phone can’t connect to it, all you need to do is refresh the connection between your phone and the network and that means you have to delete it and let the device scan and connect to it again. Here’s how to delete a Wi-Fi network on your Galaxy Note8…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Connections.
  3. Tap Wi-Fi.
  4. If necessary, tap the Wi-Fi switch to ON.
  5. Touch and hold on the Wi-Fi network you wish to delete.
  6. Tap Forget network.

I hope that these tutorials can help you manage your internet connection and probably fix some problems that are related to connectivity.

Connect with us

We are always open to your problems, questions and suggestions, so feel free to contact us by filling up this form. This is a free service we offer and we won’t charge you a penny for it. But please note that we receive hundreds of emails every day and it’s impossible for us to respond to every single one of them. But rest assured we read every message we receive. For those whom we’ve helped, please spread the word by sharing our posts to your friends or by simply liking our Facebook and Google+ page or follow us on Twitter.  

How to fix your Samsung Galaxy Note8 that won’t charge [Troubleshooting Guide]

Charging issues are oftentimes more complicated than any other power issues and premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note8 are among the list of devices that often encounter these problems. It’s not due to their hardware but due to some unknown reason or causes and since the phone is still new, it may take a little while before we can consider a problem widespread.

In this post though, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your Note8 that doesn’t charge. We will take into consideration every possibility and rule them out one after another so we can determine what the cause is and what needs to be done to try and fix the problem. If you’re one of the new owners of this smartphone, then continue reading below as this post maybe able to help you fix the problem.

If you’re looking for a solution to a different problem, then take time to visit our Galaxy Note8 troubleshooting page for we have already provided solutions to some common issues with this device. Try to find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions and workarounds we suggested. If you can’t find something similar and you badly need help, consider contacting us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire. Make sure to provide us with the information we need so that we can help you better. Don’t worry, it’s free.

What to do about your Galaxy Note8 that’s not charging


A charging problem might be a sign of a firmware issue but it could also be a lot worse than that. It actually depends what happened to the phone prior to the problem. So the course of our troubleshooting will be to find out what the cause it and then we’ll try to do some things that may make your phone respond to its charger again. Without further adieu, here’s what I suggest you do about this problem…

Step 1: Make sure the issue is not due to physical and/or liquid damage

Smartphones are fragile and electricity and water don’t mix really well. So, if you know that your Note8 got dropped on a cemented pavement and then this problem started, it’s obvious it suffered from a physical damage and most likely the drop would leave a dent or scratches on your phone’s outside cover or even break the display. If, however, you’re sure the phone didn’t suffer from any form of physical damage but got submerged in water prior to the problem, then it’s more likely a liquid damage.

Your Galaxy Note 8 has the IP68 rating, which means it’s water-resistant but not waterproof. Liquid can still find its way into it and that’s why Samsung made it a point to put in a liquid damage indicator and you can find it when you pop the SIM card tray out and look into the SIM slot. You should see a small sticker in there. If it’s white, then liquid damage isn’t the cause of the problem, however, if the sticker turned pink or red, then it’s confirmed the reason why your Note8 isn’t charging is becuase of liquid damage.

However, if there’s no sign of either physical or liquid damage but your phone is still not charging, then it’s time to look at it at a different angle.

Step 2: Physically check the charger, cable and your phone’s charging port

Maybe there’s just something blocking the current from flowing so the next thing you should do is check the port on the charger for some debris, dirt or corrosion. To the same to the charging port on your phone as well as physically check both ends of the cable you’re using. Anything that doesn’t belong might be hindering the current from flowing. You can give it a blast of compressed air if you find something unusual.

If you have other device, you can also try charging them using the charger of your Note8 but don’t charge them too long. Just try to see if they respond to your charger because if they do, the charger’s fine. The next thing you should check is the cable. Try connecting your phone using the original cable to a computer or a laptop. Assuming it still powered on, it should notify you that it’s connected to a computer or your machine will pop up that a device is connected through a USB port. If your phone gets detected by your computer, then the cable is working perfectly and the problem might be with the phone. In this case, move on to the next step.

Step 3: Turn off the phone, plugged it in and see if it heats up

Assuming your phone still has enough battery to power it up and if you haven’t tried charging it while powered down, then you should. It will give you information if this issue has something to do with the firmware or some apps. Also, be mindful enough to know if it’s heating up while plugged in. You cannot afford to neglect this considering the fact that it’s very dangerous if a phone is heating up while charging.

If the phone charges while powered down but heats up, stop charging and bring your phone to a technician as it’s probably an issue with the firmware. If the phone doesn’t charge but heats up, do the same.

However, if the phone charges fine while turned off and doesn’t heat up, then you must continue troubleshooting and you can rest assured now that the hardware is fine.

Step 4: Try charging your phone while in Safe mode

We now try to see if one or some of the third-party apps you installed on your phone is causing this problem. Try to isolate the issue by running your phone in safe mode so that all third-party apps will be temporarily disabled. If one of the caused the Note8 to not charge, then your device should be able to charge properly while in this mode. It may seem rare but I’ve personally encountered apps that messed up my phone’s charging capability before that’s why this has to be ruled out. Here’s how you boot your phone up in Safe mode:

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

If the phone charges fine while in this mode, then it confirms our suspicion that one or some of the apps you installed is causing the problem. Try finding that app and then remove it from your Note8 by uninstalling it:

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

When you’ve already installed a lot of apps and you don’t have a clue as to which of them is the culprit, then you better just make a backup of your important files and data and just reset your phone.

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

Step 5: Bring your phone back to the store

If your Note8 won’t charge while in safe mode or if it won’t turn on anymore due to a drained battery, then there’s nothing much you can do about it. You cannot troubleshoot a phone that won’t power up. So, bring it back to the store and let the tech handle the problem for you. For a week old phone, usually, the store will replace it no questions asked and that’s your best bet.

However, if there’s still enough  power or battery, try backing up your important files and data and then do the reset prior to resetting your phone. If possible, disable the Factory Reset Protection so that you won’t be locked out of your device after the reset.

How to disable Galaxy Note8 Factory Reset Protection

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

How to do the Master Reset on your Galaxy Note8

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

Connect with us

We are always open to your problems, questions and suggestions, so feel free to contact us by filling up this form. This is a free service we offer and we won’t charge you a penny for it. But please note that we receive hundreds of emails every day and it’s impossible for us to respond to every single one of them. But rest assured we read every message we receive. For those whom we’ve helped, please spread the word by sharing our posts to your friends or by simply liking our Facebook and Google+ page or follow us on Twitter.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 went completely dead, turned itself off and won’t charge anymore [Troubleshooting Guide]

Ever since we started providing support to our readers way back 2012, one of the most common issues we encountered with almost all Galaxy models is when the phone just turns itself off without apparent reason and no longer responds when the user tries to turn it back on. Such is the case with some of our readers who own the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. We often refer to this problem as the “black screen of death” because the device actually becomes unresponsive when this occurs.

There were cases that we’ve actually fixed the problem but we also have readers that we referred to technicians because even after doing some troubleshooting procedures, their phones continue to be unresponsive. I will tackle this problem again in this post and this time, we’ll try to determine the cause and the problem itself. Then, we’ll try to formulate a solution that may bring the phone back to life.

Now, before we move on to our troubleshooting guide, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, make sure you drop by our Note 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common problems reported by owners of this device. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you or if you need further assistance from us, don’t hesitate to contact us through our Android issues questionnaire.

Troubleshooting Note 8 that went dead and neither turns on nor charge


There are times when a seemingly complicated problem is actually just a minor hiccup. We don’t need to jump to some complicated procedures when troubleshooting a possible black screen of death problem. Instead we’ll work our way up following a systematic step-by-step method. This is what you need to do about it…

Verify there’s no physical or liquid damage

For a phone that went completely dead, this is this first thing you should do. As to the physical damage, you can easily spot some dents or scratches on the outside. If the phone fell on a hard pavement or floor, the screen might crack or break. If there’s no sign of physical damage, try liquid damage.

The first thing you should look into if you’re trying to find out if your phone is suffering from liquid damage is the USB or charger port. Your Galaxy Note 8 is water-resistant but it’s not waterproof so it’s always possible that liquid is the cause of this kind of problem.

Upon checking the USB port and there’s no sign of liquid, try to check the Liquid Damage Indicator to know if water has found its way inside your device. Remove the SIM card tray and look into the SIM slot; look for a small sticker. If it’s still white, then there’s no liquid damage however, if it turned red, pink or purple, then it’s confirmed that there’s liquid damage. Either it’s physical or liquid damage, you should bring the phone to a tech.

On the other hand, if your Note 8 doesn’t have any signs of both physical and liquid damage, then move on to the next step.

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Do the Forced Reboot procedure

The Note 8 packs a really impressive hardware but it’s still not free from minor firmware-related issues like system crashes. If the firmware crashed for some unknown reason, you may also get the black and unresponsive screen, then your phone won’t charge; it’s because the firmware isn’t responding.

Unlike previous models of Galaxy devices that have removable batteries, you cannot do the battery pull procedure with your Note 8. However, you can simulate battery disconnect which basically has the same effect as with the battery pull. To do this, press and hold both the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds. If the problem is indeed just due to a system crash, then your phone should boot up normally after properly doing the forced restart procedure.

If the phone doesn’t boot up after attempting for the first time, then do it again just to be sure you’re doing it right. Remember, there’s a different effect if you pressed the Power key before the Volume Down button. You should press both simultaneously or you can try pressing and holding the Volume Down button and without letting go of it, press and hold the Power key.

Try charging your phone

I understand the phone may not charge even if you connect it to its charger if its firmware crashed but we need to confirm. So, connect the AC adapter to a working wall outlet and connect the phone to it using the original cable. Leave the phone be for 5 minutes and if the charging signs aren’t showing up after that, then do the forced reboot procedure once again but this time while the phone is connected to its charger.

It’s possible that the battery got completely drained and the system crashed just before the phone died due to lack of power. By pressing and holding the Volume Down and Power keys while the phone is connected to the charger, you’re actually forcing it to restart and use its charger as the source of power instead of its battery. If it successfully turns on after this, then allow it to fully-charge its battery and this might be the end of the problem. After all, the main problem here is that the phone went completely dead but now it’s up and running.

However, if it still won’t turn on after doing this procedure, do the following two procedures to know if your phone is still capable of powering up its hardware.

Attempt to turn it up in Safe mode

Another possibility that we have to consider at this point is the fact the third-party apps (or any app for that matter) may also cause this kind of problem especially if some of them keep crashing. Applications that you downloaded and installed will run only in normal mode, if one or some of them is causing the problem, then you should be able to boot your device in Safe mode wherein all third-party apps are temporarily disabled. Follow these steps to see if your phone can still boot up in safe mode…

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

If the phone successfully boots up in this mode, then next thing you should do is find the apps that cause the problem and uninstall them.

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

Try to boot your phone up in Recovery mode

You need to do this if your phone couldn’t boot up in safe mode and remained unresponsive when you tried to. In recovery mode, all hardware components are powered up but the Android interface and all other files and apps will not run. The purpose of this procedure is for us to know if your phone is still capable of running in this mode because if so, you can actually do a couple of things that might just fix the problem; you can try wiping the cache partition and do the Master reset.

How to run Note 8 in recovery mode and wipe cache partition

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

How to boot Note 8 in recovery mode and do the Master reset

You only have to do this if your phone successfully run in recovery mode but couldn’t successfully boot up after wiping the cache partition. Take note your files and data will be deleted if you can successfully do this procedure…

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

If the phone can’t boot up in recovery mode, then bring it back to the store to have the tech check it out. If you still need our help, then contact us.

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How to create, delete and manage contacts and caller groups on your Samsung Galaxy Note8 [Tutorials]

You may already have hundreds of contacts in your phone and if you’ve already imported them over to your new Samsung Galaxy Note8, you must know how to manage them properly so it would be easier to find a contact when you’re trying to send text or make phone calls.

In this post, I will guide you on how to create a new contact, delete an existing one, create a caller group and add a number to it, export and import your contacts list, etc. If you’re new to Android, this will help you a lot as everything here follows almost the same set of instructions in managing contacts. So, continue reading below for the instructions.

But before we jump to our tutorials, if you found this post while looking for a solution to a problem with your phone, then I suggest you visit our Note8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed the most common problems with this phone. Find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire.

How to add a new contact in your Galaxy Note8

Adding contacts to your Galaxy Note 8 is pretty straightforward but as easy as it may seem, some owners may find it a bit difficult especially that it requires a little bit of typing for the contact’s name, email and even the phone number itself.

    1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
    2. Tap Contacts.
    3. Tap the Create icon (+ with a face).
    4. Choose location to save contact:

 

  • Phone
  • SIM card
  • Google

 

    • (a list of any other accounts will appear)
  2. Enter details into the Name, Phone, and Email fields.
  3. If desired, tap View more to enter additional contact information.
  4. When done, tap SAVE.

How to add a contact to speed dial in your Galaxy Note8

Everybody knows how important speed dial is that’s why we always recommend to our readers to setup one especially for emergency numbers. If you got yourself a new Galaxy Note8, here’s how you setup the speed dial…

  1. From any Home screen, tap Phone > CONTACTS tab.
  2. Tap the 3 dots icon in the top right.
  3. Tap Speed dial.
  4. Tap the number you want to assign the speed dial number. The #1 slot is always assigned to Voicemail and cannot be changed.
  5. Tap the contact you want to assign to the speed dial number.
  6. Tap the arrow in the left corner to go back to the Phone app.

How to delete a contact from your list on your Galaxy Note8

We don’t usually delete a contact from our list but there are times that it’s easier to delete a contact and create a new one than to edit it. In this case, this tutorial might be very helpful for you.

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Contacts.
  3. Tap the desired contact.
  4. Tap the 3 dots icon.
  5. Tap Delete.
  6. Tap DELETE to confirm.

How to create a caller group in your Galaxy Note8

Creating a caller group is sometimes helpful to say “categorize” our contacts, although it’s not really that necessary. However, if you are in a situation wherein you need to include a contact to a group, here’s how you create one…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Contacts.
  3. Tap the 3 dots icon.
  4. Tap Groups.
  5. Tap Create.
  6. Enter the name for the group, adjust the ringtone, add member then tap SAVE.

How to add a contact to a caller group in your Galaxy Note8

And this is how you actually add a contact to the caller group you just created…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Contacts.
  3. Tap the desired contact you wish to add to the group the tap Details.
  4. Tap EDIT.
  5. Tap Groups.
  6. Place a check in the Groups you wish to assign to the contact.
  7. Tap the arrow to go back to the Contact profile.
  8. Tap Save.

How to Import / Export contacts in your Galaxy Note8

Importing your contacts means you’re restoring them and you usually do this right after the reset to download all your contacts back to your phone and be visible through the Contacts app and other apps that may have access to them. Exporting them, however, is the opposite; you’re actually creating a file that contains all your contacts and usually it’s saved into the SD card so it will be safe during a reset. Usually, the file that will be created is a .vcf file which is also recognizable to other applications that deal with contacts…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Contacts.
  3. Tap the 3 dots icon > Manage contacts.
  4. Tap Move contacts from phone.
  5. Tap the account you want to move the contacts to, then tap MOVE. This makes sure your contacts are stored online.
  6. Tap Import/Export contacts.
    • To import contact, tap Import then select SD card. Choose the contacts to import, select Internal storage and then select Done > IMPORT > OK.
    • To export contacts, tap Export then select SD card. Choose the contacts to export, then tap DONE > EXPORT > OK.

I hope that you find these tutorials helpful one way or the other.  

Connect with us

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What to do if your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 charges slowly but drains battery pretty quickly [Troubleshooting Guide]

There are times when a phone starts to drain its battery quickly. In fact, some owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 have contacted us regarding this problem. We really don’t know for sure why it’s happening but we’ve already encountered similar issues in the past so it’s not really the first time we’re dealing with this kind of issue.

Based on our experience, the most common cause is when there are a lot of apps that run in the background especially graphics and CPU intensive game apps. As you know, apps aren’t closed when you hit the home button, they still run in the background and use resources. Well, this is just one of the possibilities.

But you know what, more often than not, the quick battery drain issue is always accompanied with a slow charging problem. When connected to its charger, your Note 8 doesn’t use the fast-charging feature and the time it takes to charge the battery at a normal pace is almost doubled. So when if the phone is powered on while charging, you can see the battery icon with a bolt in the center but the percentage doesn’t go up. Others may even mistake it for a “not charging” issue.

I will tackle this problem in this article so if you’re one of the owners of the Note 8 that’s bugged by a similar issue, continue reading as this post may be able to help you. But before we proceed, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, visit our Note 8 troubleshooting page as we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. Browse through the page to find problems that are similar with yours and use our solutions. If you still need our help after that, fill up our questionnaire and hit submit.

Troubleshooting Note 8 that charges slowly but drains battery quickly

The purpose of this troubleshooting guide is for us to determine why your Note 8 is draining its battery quicker than the charger can push electricity into its battery. I believe that the latter is simply the result of the former but then again, we have to do everything we can just to make your phone work flawlessly again. With all that being said, here’s what you should do about this issue:

Reboot  your phone in safe mode

This is based on our suspicion that apps running in the background are a cause of the problem. By starting your phone in safe mode, you’re basically running it in its bare bones with only the core services and apps are accessible. In this environment try to observe your phone if it still drains its battery quicker than it should be.

If it drains the battery normally or even slower than normal, then it’s confirmed that there are apps that suck up more juice than others. You have to find that app and never to forget to properly close it after use. In this case, there’s no issue with your phone, proper apps management is what you need.

However, if the battery still drains quicker even in safe mode, then you have to continue troubleshooting your phone to know more about the problem.

Before you proceed, here’s how you run your Note 8 in safe mode…

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

Wipe cache partition

Corrupt system caches may also cause quick battery drain and it’s one of the possibilities that we really have to rule out before we continue troubleshooting. Run your phone in recovery mode and then wipe cache partition so that all system caches will be deleted and replaced. After which, observe your phone if it still drains its battery faster than usual because if so, then you really have to reset your phone.

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

Backup files and reset Note 8

If the cause of the problem is neither your apps nor the caches, then it’s time to bring the phone back to its factory default settings. We can do this by resetting all settings but at this point, I think it would be more practical to just resort to master reset which more thorough and effective. So, make sure you make a backup of your important files and data and then reset your phone from the recovery mode…

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

After the reset, don’t install or restore anything yet. Instead, observe your phone closely to know if it still drains its battery quickly and if so, the next step should be done.

Check phone for liquid damage

You only have to do this if the reset failed to make your phone charge normally. All you need to do is check the USB port for some traces of moist or liquid. Then try to check the device’s Liquid Damage Indicator to see if it’s tripped or not. If it’s tripped, the small sticker should emit red, pink or purple color. It shows white if it’s not tripped.

To check the LDI, remove the SIM card tray and look into the slot and then find the small sticker that would tell you if the phone suffers from liquid damage.

Should your phone show signs for liquid or even physical damage, you should bring it to the tech to have it checked out. However, after doing all these things and your phone still drains its battery quickly, then you should let the tech handle the problem for you because as far as basic troubleshooting is concerned, you’ve done everything you could to fix the problem to no avail.

I hope that this troubleshooting guide can help you fix issues with your phone.

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How to fix your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that’s stuck in boot loop [Troubleshooting Guide]

Booting problems are often caused by firmware issues and the same is true with a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that cannot continue starting up because it’s stuck in a boot loop. This problem is often occur when the phone is booting up and you would know your phone has it if it reboots a few moments before reaching the home screen.

It may occur without apparent reason but there are cases wherein a phone enters this state after a firmware update which gives us a hint that it’s more of a firmware-related problem than a hardware. But the thing is we’ve seen boot loop issues in the past that were caused by failing batteries. So, we have to troubleshoot your phone so that we would know what the issue really is all about and that we can try to formulate a solution that might fix the problem for good.

Before we proceed with our troubleshooting, if you have other concerns with your Note 8, make sure you visit our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed a lot of issues with this device. Browse through the page to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. If you still need our help after that, then contact us by filling up our questionnaire.

Troubleshooting Galaxy Note 8 that’s stuck in boot loop

In troubleshooting your phone with this problem, we have to consider every possibility and rule them out one-by-one until we can easily determine what the issue really is. This way we can try to find a solution or two that may fix it for good. Don’t worry though as we won’t be suggesting procedures that can potentially damage your phone or make the problem worse. With that being said, here’s what I suggest you do about this:

Reboot in Recovery Mode and wipe cache partition

More often than not when the phone gets stuck during the boot process or enters a boot loop, it’s a firmware issue and the best way to address it is by deleting all system caches from the cache partition. Caches are temporary files created by the firmware or apps and they are prone to being corrupted especially during firmware updates. At this point, we really don’t know what the issue so we will try with a procedure that’s safe to do but very effective. Follow these steps…

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

After following the steps above, you would immediately know if the problem is fixed or not because if it is, your device can reach the home screen, however, if the problem still persists, move on to the next procedure.

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Try running your phone in Safe mode

Another possibility is that some of the apps may have crashed and they might be the reason why your phone cannot boot up successfully. Having this problem won’t tell us which of the apps is the culprit that’s why we need to try to run your device in safe mode. Doing so will tell us if the problem is due to an app and in what category the apps belongs.

Assuming the phone successfully boots up in safe mode, it’s clear that the problem is due to a third-party app because in this environment, all of the applications you downloaded and installed will be temporarily disabled. If however, the phone cannot boot up in safe mode, it could be that one of the pre-installed apps is causing the problem but since they are embedded in the firmware, we can already consider it as a firmware-related issue.

Now, here’s how you boot your Note 8 in safe mode…

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

If successful, the next thing you should do is find the app that’s causing the problem and then uninstall it. You may have to uninstall more than one app to fix this problem…

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

Perform the Master Reset on your Note 8

You only have to do this if your phone cannot boot up in safe mode and if wiping the cache partition doesn’t work. This is you last resort and among these three procedures, this one is the most effective in dealing with firmware-related issues. But the thing is you may lose all the files and data saved in your phone’s internal storage and you may not be able to recover them even if the problem is fixed. That’s a compromise you would have to take just to try to fix this problem.

As long as the firmware has not been modified in any way, a reset should be able to fix this problem…

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

If the problem still persists after the reset, then bring your phone to the service center so that a Samsung technician can take a look at it. As far as basic troubleshooting is concerned, you’ve already done what you need to do.

I hope this troubleshooting guide can help you.

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Facebook keeps crashing on Samsung Galaxy Note8 [Troubleshooting Guide]

Facebook is one of the pre-installed apps on your Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Needless to say, it’s embedded in its firmware but we have readers who have been complaining about the app saying that it keeps on crashing. Either they’re getting the usual “Unfortunately, Facebook has stopped” error or the app closes by itself without any warning.

It might be just a problem with the app itself or it could be a sign of a firmware issue. We really don’t know what the problem is just by having an app that crashes from time to time. We have to troubleshoot the phone so that we’ll have a clearer perspective on what’s really happening with your device and what needs to be done so that everything will be back to normal.

If you’re one of the owners of this phone and are currently bugged by a similar problem, continue reading as this post may help you. However, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, then I suggest you visit our Note 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed a lot of problems with this phone. But if you need further assistance, feel free to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to send the information. Rest assured that we will look into your concern.

Troubleshooting Galaxy Note8 with FB app that keeps crashing

First of all, I want you to know that this problem is often very easy to fix especially if it’s an issues with the app. So, our troubleshooting will start by making sure it’s not just an app problem and then we’ll move to more complicated procedures that will have an impact on the firmware itself but let’s hope that you won’t reach that far.

Reset the Facebook app

The app that’s installed on your phone actually serves as a client. All the information you can find through that app is stored in the cloud and just being downloaded when you use it. The first thing you should do about this problem is to reset the app and by reset I mean clear its cache and data. All the caches created by the system for that app will be deleted including the files that were downloaded while you were using it. Your preferences will also be deleted and the app itself will be brought to its default settings. But none of your timeline posts, photos, messages, etc. will be deleted. In other words, it’s a safe procedure to do but very effective in dealing with app-related issues:

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Apps.
  3. Find and tap Facebook.
  4. Tap Storage.
  5. Tap Clear cache.
  6. Tap Clear data and then tap OK.

After this, open the app again to see if it still crashes and then try to login to your account. If it’s still crashes, move on to the next procedure.

Open app in Safe mode

Let’s try to isolate the problem to know if third-party apps have something to do with it. You have to disable all third-party apps by running your Note8 in safe mode. If the app works perfectly fine while in that environment, then there’s an app that’s causing the problem. You then need to find it and uninstall it so that Facebook can work without crashing. This is how you run your phone in safe mode:

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

And this is how you uninstall an app on your Note 8:

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

Update the Messenger app

Facebook is pre-installed on your phone but the Messenger is not and based on reports from our readers who have encountered similar problems, updating the Messenger may fix the problem. It seems that there’s a compatibility issue between these apps and an update may be able to patch things up. There’s no guarantee the problem will be fixed by this but we just have to see how the phone behaves after doing this:

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Play Store.
  3. Tap the Menu key and then tap My Apps. To keep your apps automatically updated, tap the Menu > Settings then tap Auto-update apps to select the check box.
  4. Find and touch Messenger and then tap Update to update it.

If the problem still occurs after this, it would be better if you just uninstall it for now. After all, you can reinstall it back once the problem is fixed.

Wipe cache partition

We will now look into the possibility that this problem is due to some corrupt system caches. These files get corrupted all the time and when it happens, performance issues may occur which include crashing of some apps. It’s another possibility that we need to rule out so follow these steps to wipe the cache partition on your Note8:

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

Once the phone has successfully rebooted after wiping the cache partition, try to check if the problem still occurs and if so, try the next procedure.

Reset all settings in your phone

By doing this, you’re actually bringing all the phone’s settings to their defaults. This will rule out the possibility that the problem is due to some incorrect settings in your phone.

  1. From a Home screen, swipe up or down from the center of the display to access the apps screen.
  2. Navigate: Settings Settings icon > Backup and reset.
  3. From the Reset section, tap Reset settings.
  4. Review the info then tap RESET SETTINGS.
  5. If presented, enter the current PIN, password, or pattern.
  6. To confirm, review the info then tap RESET SETTINGS.

Try to see if the Facebook app still crashes after this because if so, then you have no other choice but to reset your phone.

Perform the Master Reset

Unlike the previous method, this one brings the phone back to its out-of-the-box configuration as well as delete all your files and personal data. However, it’s a very effective method in fixing problems that have something to do with the apps and the firmware. Make sure to make a backup of your important files and data prior to the reset as they will be deleted and could no longer be restored.

Prior to the reset, make sure you disable the anti-theft feature of your phone by removing your google account so that you won’t be locked out of your device after the reset.

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

I hope that this troubleshooting guide can help you fix the problem with your phone.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 keeps showing “Unfortunately, Chrome has stopped” error [Troubleshooting Guide]

Your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 actually has two pre-installed web browser; the Internet and Chrome. The former comes with firmware and may have been modified by Samsung while the latter is one of Google’s mandatory apps that should come with every Android device. The error message “Unfortunately, Chrome has stopped” is clearly notifying you that Chrome has crashed for some reason.

When it comes to apps that keep crashing, they’re often a sign of a minor problem but considering the fact that Chrome is embedded in the firmware, there’s also a chance that it’s a sign of a more complicated system issue. We need to troubleshoot your phone to determine what the problem really is all about so that we can try to find a solution that not only fixes it but also prevents it from occurring again in the future. If you’re an owner of this device with a similar problem, continue reading as this post may help you.

Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem in your Note 8, visit our troubleshooting page as we have already addressed some of the most common issues reported by our readers. Find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you or if you need further assistance, then fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Troubleshooting Note 8 with “Chrome has stopped” error

First off, this error often won’t affect the general performance of your phone and only occurs when you open the app. In other words, everything that you do except web browsing using the app won’t be affected by it. If you want to spend time troubleshooting your phone due to this problem, it’s all up to you but if you want to troubleshoot later, then there’s no problem at all. After all, you still have Internet that you could use to do the same task. However, if it’s something you don’t want to set aside, then follow the procedures below to fix this problem.

Clear cache and data of the Chrome app

By clearing the apps cache and data,  you’re actually resetting it back to its default settings. If the problem is caused by some corrupt files regardless whether those files are caches or data files, this procedure will surely fix the problem. It’s important that you do this procedure first before anything else since the error specifically mentions Chrome being the app that crashes. Here’s how you do it…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > Apps.
  3. Find and tap Chrome.
  4. Tap Storage.
  5. Tap Clear data and then tap OK.
  6. Tap Clear cache.

More often, this is the only thing you have to do to fix this problem. However, if it persists after doing this, then try doing the next step.

Open Chrome in Safe mode

The purpose if for us to know if the error is triggered by a third-party app or if it’s with Chrome itself. By booting the phone in safe mode, you’re actually disabling all third-party apps and if one or some of them is causing the problem, then the error should not show up while in safe mode.

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

If your Note 8 doesn’t pop up the error in safe mode, then find the app that’s possibly causing the problem and then uninstall it. It would be trial and error and you may have to uninstall more than one app to fix this problem. This is how you uninstall an app from your phone…

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

If the error still shows up in safe mode, then the problem could be in the firmware. Try the next procedure.

Try to Reset All Settings

At this point, it’s safe to assume that this problem is more of a firmware issue than anything else but for the sake of your apps, files and other personal data, I suggest you try to reset all settings in your phone so that it will be brought back to its default settings. This procedure basically has similar effects as with the actual reset only that none of your apps, files and other data will be deleted. Follow these steps to do this method…

  1. From a Home screen, swipe up or down from the center of the display to access the apps screen.
  2. Navigate: Settings Settings icon > Backup and reset.
  3. From the Reset section, tap Reset settings.
  4. Review the info then tap RESET SETTINGS.
  5. If presented, enter the current PIN, password, or pattern.
  6. To confirm, review the info then tap RESET SETTINGS.

If the error still shows up after this, go after the caches.

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Wipe cache partition

Sometimes system caches get corrupted and when the firmware continues to use them, performance issues including app crashes may occur. Delete those caches so that they will be replaced with new ones and you can only do so by wiping the cache partition…

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

If the problem still continues to bug you after this, then you have no other choice but to reset your phone.

Backup your files and reset your Note 8

You don’t have to do this immediately if you’re kind of busy. After all, you can still use your phone normally even with Chrome crashing. However, if you decide to just go with it, then make sure you backup your important files and data. Then, take note of your google ID and password so that you won’t be locked out of your device after the reset. Once everything is set and ready, follow these steps to reset your phone through Recovery mode:

  1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
  2. Turn off the device.
  3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
  4. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
  5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight “wipe data / factory reset.
  6. Press Power button to select.
  7. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
  8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
  9. When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
  10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Or, you may want to reset it through the Settings menu…

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

I hope that this troubleshooting guide can help you. If you need more help, contact us any time.

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How to fix Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Black Screen of Death [Troubleshooting Guide]

UPDATE: We’ve published another post that tackles the black screen of death but this time we know what works and what not. Visit Fixing Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with Black Screen of Death (easy steps) for the solution to this problem.

The Black Screen of Death (BSoD) is one of the most dreaded problems among Samsung owners and it seems like many Galaxy Note 8 owners are also experiencing this problem. Some of our readers have contacted in regards to this problem that’s why we need to address this issue for the benefit of our readers.

Based on our experience, this problem may range from a very minor firmware glitch or crash to a more complicated hardware issue. The best thing we can do about it is rule out the possibility that this issue is just with the firmware. If it is, we actually have a shot at fixing it but if it’s a problem with the hardware, then we have technicians who can check your phone and fix it. If you’re one of the owners of this phone and bugged by the same issue, continue reading as this post may help you.

Before we move on to our guide, if you have other issues with your device make sure you visit our Note 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. Find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you still need our help after that, then fill up our questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Troubleshooting Note 8 with black screen issue

Our priority here is to know what the problem is so that we can try to formulate a solution that might fix it. I will provide you with some things you can do to rule out each possibility and if at the end of our troubleshooting the problem is still not fixed, then it would be a sign of a more serious issue and you may need to consult a technician for that. Here’s what I suggest you do about this…

Force restart your Galaxy Note 8

Many of the problems we encountered before that resulted to a black and unresponsive screen were caused by a system crash. When this happens, the phone may become unresponsive that it won’t respond no matter what you do.

Usually, for phones with removable battery, we will pull the battery out of them and they would work the next time you attempt to turn them on. The Note 8 however, doesn’t have a removable battery so we cannot do such procedure. However, we can still simulate the battery disconnect by doing the Forced Restart procedure which basically has the same effect ot the phone.

  • Press and hold the Volume Down key and without letting go of it, hold down the Power key. Keep both keys pressed for 7 to 10 seconds or until the screen lights up.

If your device turns on after doing this, then the problem may have been just a minor glitch in the system or a crash. It’s a fix but there’s no guarantee that the problem would no longer occur in the future.

Try charging your Galaxy Note 8

If the Forced Restart procedure didn’t fix the problem, the next thing you should do is make sure there’s enough battery to power up the phone. Plug the charger to a working wall outlet and connect your phone to the other end of the cable. Regardless whether it displays the usual charging signs or not, let it charge for at least ten minutes just to make sure the battery is charged even a little bit.

After giving the battery some time to charge, try turning the phone on to see if it does. Or better yet, do the forced restart procedure again but this time while the device is plugged in. If the phone turns on and boots up successfully, then you can rest assured that there’s no serious problem with your device but a drained battery. However, if it still refuses to turn on, then you have to try other methods.

Try running it in safe mode

There’s a possibility that the problem is caused by an app or two and more often than not, it’s the third-party apps that have a tendency to cause conflict in the system. We have to rule out this possibility and to do that, try running your phone in safe mode. In this environment, all third-party apps and services are temporarily disabled so it follows that if this problem is caused by one of them, your phone should start up into this mode. You only have to do this if you already tried charging your phone and tried the forced restart to no avail. To try running the Note 8 in safe mode, follow these steps…

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

Assuming your phone turned on into this mode, try rebooting it normally to see if it starts in normal mode this time. If not, then you have to boot to safe mode again, look for apps that cause the problem and uninstall them one by one:

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

However, if the device still refuses to respond, then move on to the next step.

Attempt to start it up in Recovery Mode

What we’re doing here is trying to start your phone in every mode to see if it’s still capable of turning on into one of the important environments because if it does, you can rest assured now that the hardware of your device is fine.

Assuming the problem is with the firmware, there’s a chance it will run in recovery mode wherein you can do a couple of things that have really great impact on your phone’s performance. If successful, the first thing you should do is wipe the cache partition to delete and replace all system caches. If that doesn’t work you should try doing the Master reset which will bring the phone back to its factory default settings.

How to run Note8 in Recovery mode and wipe cache partition

  1. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
  2. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
  3. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe cache partition’.
  4. Press Power button to select.
  5. Press the Volume down key until ‘yes’ is highlighted and press the Power button.
  6. When the wipe cache partition is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
  7. Press the Power key to restart the device.

How to do the Master reset on Note 8 via recovery mode

Take note that all your files and personal data will be delete and you may not be able to recover them after the reset. But you have no other choice now but to do this procedure:

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

If these procedures don’t help or if your phone cannot boot up in recovery mode, then you have to bring it to the shop to have a technician take a look at it.

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What to do when your new Samsung Galaxy Note 8 won’t turn on [Troubleshooting Guide]

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a great device but it also has its shares of problems, errors and whatnot. It’s expected that you may encounter a problem or two while using a smartphone but do you know what to do when those problems occur?

In this post, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your new Note8 that won’t turn on. We will try to consider every possibility and rule them out one by one until we can easily determine what the problem is, what causes it and what we need to do to fix it and even prevent it from happening again in the future.

If you’re a new owner of this phone and are currently bugged by this problem, continue reading below as this post maybe able to help you.

However, if you are trying to find a solution to your problem, then try to visit our Galaxy Note8 troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed some of the most common issues you may encounter. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you or if you need more help, feel free to contact us by completing our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit. We will try to find a solution to your problem and publish in on our site.

How to troubleshooting Galaxy Note8 that won’t turn on

There’s only so much we can do about a phone that doesn’t power on so all we can do is try some things that might bring the phone back to life. We also have to try to determine the cause why your new device no longer responds.

Step 1: Check for any signs of physical and liquid damages

If the phone got dropped prior to this problem, then it’s very much possible that the cause is physical damage and it would be very obvious because any physical impact that leaves the phone to malfunction should also leave dents, scratches or any physical deformities on the outside. These are the things you need to check and if you can find some, then don’t waste your time troubleshooting and bring your phone back to the store so that the tech and check it for you.

As to the liquid damage, there’s an indicator for it and you can find it inside the SIM card slot. Just pop the SIM tray out and look into the slot. There’s a small sticker in there. If the sticker is white, then the problem isn’t due to liquid damage, after all, it’s water-resistant. However, if the sticker turned pink, purple or red, that’s the sign your phone is suffering from liquid damage. Still, you have to bring the phone back to the store and everything will be up to the tech.

However, if you can’t find any sign of physical and liquid damage, then move on to the next step.

Step 2: Try charging your Galaxy Note8

It’s possible the battery got drained that’s why your phone can no longer power up. Plug the charger to the wall outlet that you know is working and then connect your phone to the charger using the original data cable.

Even if the phone is powered off, when it detects that there’s current flowing through circuits from the power adapter to its battery, the charging signs would show; the charging icon will be displayed on the screen and the LED at the top of the display will glow red. If none of these signs show, give your phone at least ten minutes to charge.

Another reason why you have to do this is for you to know if your phone’s hardware is working perfectly fine. If the phone doesn’t charge or doesn’t show those charging signs, then it’s possible the problem is with the hardware. Try doing the next step, but if the phone charges fine but won’t power up, move on to step 4.

Step 3: Do the Forced Reboot procedure while the phone is plugged in

The firmware plays a big role in the charging process contrary to what many believe that it’s just a hardware thing. The firmware or the operating system actually sees to it that correct electric current is being pushed to the battery especially that Galaxy devices now have adaptive fast charging capabilities. However, there are times when the firmware crashes and when it happens, the phone may not charge as the system no longer responds the way it should.

In case of crashes, the Forced Reboot procedure should be done to make the phone respond again. This procedure is actually the same as the battery pull method we often do to phones with removable batteries. But since your Note8 doesn’t have  removable battery, you have to press and hold a combination of keys to simulate the battery disconnect. In this case, press and hold the Volume Down and the Power keys together for 7 to 10 seconds while the phone is charging. If the phone boots up normally, then the problem was caused by a system crash and while we already brought the phone back to life, there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again. At least now you know what to do if it becomes unresponsive again.

Step 4: Try to run your Galaxy Note8 in Safe Mode

Assuming your phone charges fine but won’t boot up, there’s a big possibility that it’s actually just an issue with the firmware since the hardware responds well with the charger. So, you now have to try booting it up in an environment wherein only built-in apps and services are running and all third-party elements are temporarily disabled. If the problem is caused by one of the apps you downloaded, your phone may just boot up in this mode successfully and in which case, we’re already halfway to fixing the problem. Here’s how you run your Note8 in safe mode…

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

Assuming you’ve successfully brought your phone to boot up in this mode, you can relax now because clearly the problem isn’t that complex. All you need to do is recall the app you installed before the problem started and uninstall it because it’s probably the one that’s causing all this issues.

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

If you’ve installed a lot of apps and you think it would be a lot easier and quicker to just reset your phone, then try to backup files and data you don’t want to lose and then go ahead with the reset. That would surely fix the problem…

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

However, if your phone couldn’t boot up in safe mode, then you have to move on to the next step.

Step 5: Try booting your Note8 up in Recovery Mode

This is another environment you should try booting your phone up into should running in safe mode fail. Even if your phone is suffering from a serious firmware issue, it may still be able to boot into this mode considering it’s Android’s fail-safe. Once you’re in this mode, you can do a couple of procedures that have great impact on the phone’s firmware and may fix the problem with your device.

The first thing you should try while in this mode is to wipe the cache partition which deletes all system caches. It’s very effective in fixing issues related to corrupt caches and files.

How to boot your Note8 in Recovery Mode and wipe cache partition

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

After this, the phone may take a little more time booting up as it will rebuild deleted caches. If you’ve successfully done this procedure but your phone can’t still boot up normally, you should consider doing the master reset. It will delete all your files and data that are saved in your phone’s internal storage but you don’t have much of an option right now…

How to boot your phone in Recovery mode and do the Master Reset

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

On the other hand, if you cannot make your phone to boot in Recovery Mode or if it still won’t continue booting up normally after the reset, then it’s time to bring your phone back to the store and probably have it replaced.

Connect with us

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What to do about the Galaxy Note 8 that randomly restarts and shuts down? [Troubleshooting Guide]

While it may sound bizarre for new high-powered smartphones to give in to various types of software issues, it can happen and is actually happening. In fact, many users of high-end smartphones including Galaxy Note 8 owners have been raising several complaints regarding different types of problems they have encountered while using the phone in a day to day basis.

Among the most prevalent concerns raised is on the Galaxy Note 8 that keeps restarting and shutting down for no definite reasons. If ever you too are having the same dilemma on the same Android device and wondering why this happens and what needs to be done as remedy, then you may find help from some highlighted points in this posting. Should you be interested in getting some aid in troubleshooting the problem, feel free to use this content as reference. Keep reading to learn more.

If you’re one of the owners of this phone and are currently bugged by a similar problem, continue reading as this post may help you. However, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, then I suggest you visit our Note 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed a lot of problems with this phone. But if you need further assistance, feel free to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to send the information. Rest assured that we will look into your concern.

What triggers random restarts (bootloops) on your Galaxy Note 8?

When an Android device like the Galaxy Note 8 misbehaves like randomly restarts or shuts down, it could mean some complex issues on the system. More often, problems like this are tagged among other performance issues triggered by insufficient storage. Just like what happens when a computer is running low on storage. In this state, many programs start to act weird like they often become unresponsive, freezing, lagging, crashing and restarting by themselves. The limited storage space doesn’t allow them to complete certain process. The same thing can happen when your smartphone is running low on storage. Apps begin to stop working or the device itself is performing very slowly. This is often the case with constant and prolonged use on the device.

Aside from memory problems, random reboots can also be triggered by other bad apps running on the phone. Some apps when opened may tend to affect other app’s normal operations, thus causing either apps to crash. And when this keeps on happening, chances are that your device itself malfunctions. In an attempt to fix the glitch, your device restarts and reboots by itself. Or it could be the bad app that is triggering your Galaxy Note 8 to shutdown and restart by itself at times.

A bad battery can also be deemed among the culprits as it is no longer able to support the required performance. Seeing this limitation, the device will just opt to power off instead of carrying out a certain task. Physical or liquid damage, as well as poor charging habits are the common factors that can cause the battery to break. As remedy, you may consider repair or battery replacement.

Faulty updates, including major Android updates are also among the possible culprits. Aside from bringing in some new features and enhanced functions, software updates also contain bugs that might have caused certain functions or the entire system to malfunction. You can tell if an update is to blame if your Galaxy Note 8 starts to act weird or randomly shuts down and restarts after installing a firmware update.

The worst among the possible causes is a hardware damage. You can consider this among the possibilities especially if there were prior instances when your device got dropped or exposed to liquid. Symptoms of liquid damage may appear sooner or later so it might be the one that’s causing a problem. Otherwise, you can rule out the possibility of physical or liquid damage and work on the fix.

How to deal with random restarts (boot loop) problems on your Galaxy Note 8?

For as long as you are certain that the problem is not associated with hardware damage, you can try as many workarounds you want and attempt to fix the problem on your end. And if the problem persists and you already run out of options, that is when you consider seeking further assistance from Samsung Support. Otherwise, take your device to a service center for hardware assessment and/or repair, if necessary. But before doing so, consider the following options.

Boot your Galaxy Note 8 into safe mode

Booting into safe mode can help isolate whether or not the problem is triggered by other third-party applications. While in safe mode, you can securely access the firmware and if necessary, remove faulty apps that may have caused other apps to not work as intended or the device itself to become problematic. To enter safe mode on your Galaxy Note 8 and diagnose apps, follow these steps:

  1. Power off your device completely.
  2. Press and hold the Power button.
  3. When the Samsung logo appears, release the Power button then immediately press and hold the Volume Down button.
  4. Keep pressing the Volume Down button until your device boots up.
  5. If you see the Safe Mode label on the lower-left corner of the screen, it means that you have successfully entered safe mode and your device is currently running in safe mode.
  6. Now, tap Settings then select Device.
  7. Tap Applications and Application Manager.
  8. Navigate to the Downloaded section.
  9. From this section, locate and select any suspicious apps that you wish to remove.

You may uninstall any suspicious apps, particularly the most recent apps you have installed prior to the onset of the problem. Once you’re done using safe mode, switch back to normal mode by rebooting your Galaxy Note 8 then try to observe if it still shuts down and restarts by itself.

Boot your Galaxy Note 8 into recovery mode

Recovery mode is another place for you to diagnose, restore and repair your device firmware if necessary. Device issues tied to a bad memory on the device can also be rectified through this mode. Booting your Galaxy Note 8 into recovery mode will also allow you to download and flash Samsung updates to your device firmware. Should you wish to give it a shot, here’s how it’s done:

  1. Power off your device.
  2. When it’s completely turned off, press and hold the Volume Up button, Home button and then the Power button for a few seconds.
  3. Release the Power button when the Samsung logo appears.
  4. Then release the all the remaining buttons when the Android (green bot) logo appears. Usually you will be prompted with a message that says, Installing system update, about 30 seconds before the Android system recovery menu appears.
  5. Press the Volume Down key to highlight or select wipe cache partition from the menu options.
  6. Then press the Power button to confirm selection.
  7. Wait until the wipe cache partition is complete. You should then see the Reboot system now option is highlighted.
  8. Press the Power button to reboot your device.

It may take a little longer for your device to reboot so just wait until it loads the Home screen. By then, you can use your phone again. Try to observe if it’s still rebooting by itself afterwards.

Warning: Keep in mind that while recovery mode can do offer benefits when it comes to fixing problem related to the software, incorrect use of this mode can also lead to possible fatal problems on the device.

Perform a master reset or reset your Galaxy Note 8 to factory defaults

You may opt to proceed with a master reset or factory reset if nothing else works and that you badly needed to get your device fixed without paying extra for service.

But you too should consider the consequence, which is losing all your personal information and critical data stored on your device. All these will be erased in the process. In return, you’ll get a clean, fresh, error-free and same as new Galaxy Note 8 afterwards.

You can perform a master reset or factory reset through your phone’s Settings menu. Here’s how:

  1. Tap Settings from the Home screen.
  2. Scroll to and tap Backup and reset option.
  3. Select Factory data reset.
  4. Tap Reset device.
  5. Tap Erase everything.

If the above steps are not applicable or cannot be done like when your device is unresponsive or frozen, use the other method which is a factory reset through the hardware keys. Here’s how:

  1. Turn off your device completely.
  2. Press and hold the Volume Up, Home and Power buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
  3. When the Android Recovery menu screen appears, release all buttons at once.
  4. Use the Volume Down key to navigate and highlight wipe data/factory reset option.
  5. Then press the Power button to confirm selection.
  6. Use the Volume Down key to highlight Yes — delete all data then press the Power button to confirm.
  7. Wait until the device erases all your data. When done, select the Reboot system now using the Volume key, then press Power to reboot the device.

After the restart, all settings on your Galaxy Note 8 are now set to factory defaults. You can now proceed with the device setup. Then observe your device and see if it still restarts and shuts down by itself after the master reset. If the problem persists, then consider other options.

Helpful Tip: If you suspect that the problem has something to do with the phone’s internal memory that is shrinking, try to remove all unwanted apps and contents from your device. Transferring some of your important data to other media storage can also help.

Seek further assistance

Still couldn’t get a remedy? If so, then contact Samsung Support or your carrier to escalate the problem if none of the prior methods is able to fix the problem and that your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 still shuts down and reboots by itself. Don’t forget to avail for warranty if your device is still eligible. Doing so will save you time and money from opting for service.

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What to do about your Samsung Galaxy Note8 with a screen flickering issue [Troubleshooting Guide]

Even the premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note8 that comes packed with impressive specs can experience the screen flickering issue as it might be caused by a firmware or hardware problem. When the screen starts to flicker, we won’t be able to tell immediately what the problem is especially if it’s the first time you’re seeing such problem. That’s the reason why you need to troubleshoot your phone to determine what the problem really is all about.

In this post, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your Galaxy Note8 with a screen flickering issue. We will try to consider every possibility and rule them out one by one until we can determine the issue. It’s only then that we’d be able to formulate a solution that might fix it for good. If the problem persists, however, don’t worry because as long as it isn’t due to physical or liquid damage, the store may replace it with a new one.

If you’re looking for a solution to a different problem, then take time to visit our Galaxy Note8 troubleshooting page for we have already provided solutions to some common issues with this device. Try to find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions and workarounds we suggested. If you can’t find something similar and you badly need help, consider contacting us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire. Make sure to provide us with the information we need so that we can help you better. Don’t worry, it’s free.

How to troubleshoot your Note8 with screen flickering issue

We will have to determine first if there’s a third-party app that’s causing it, then we’ll move on to troubleshooting the firmware. We only have to determine if this is the kind of problem we can fix on our own because if not, then it’s a tech’s job to fix it or recommend your phone for replacement. That being said, here’s what you should do when your Note8 has a flickering screen.

Step 1: Run your phone in Safe Mode

This will tell us outright if the problem is due to a third-party app you installed. When in safe mode, all third-party elements are temporarily disabled so if one of those apps causes the problem, the screen won’t flicker. Here’s how you run your Note8 in safe mode:

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

Assuming the screen flickering disappeared in this mode, then it’s clear that one of the apps is causing the problem. Try to update those that need to be updated first…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Play Store.
  3. Tap the Menu key and then tap My Apps. To keep your apps automatically updated, tap the Menu > Settings then tap Auto-update apps to select the check box.
  4. Choose one of the following options:
    • Tap Update [xx] to update all applications with updates available.
    • Tap an individual application and then tap Update to update a single application.

If you’re already suspecting an app or two, try clearing their caches and data by following these steps…

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

Or, uninstall them from your phone so that you would have a clearer idea if they’re really the cause…

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

However, if finding the culprit is much harder to do, I suggest you backup your files and data now that just do the Factory Reset. This is an easier way to get rid of the app that’s causing the problem…

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

On the other, if the screen is still flickering even in safe mode, then move on to the next step.

Step 2: Wipe cache partition

It’s possible that the cause of the screen flickering issue is corrupt caches as we’ve already encountered similar problems before that started after an update. So, the next thing you should do is rule out this possibility and booting your phone up in Recovery mode and wiping the cache partition. This procedure will delete all files stored in the cache directory. Once the phone reboots, those files will be replaced so that your phone will have a newer set of caches…

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

If the problem persists after this procedure, you have no other choice but to do the next step.

Step 3: Backup your files and data and reset your Note8

You’re a step away from bringing your phone back to the store but this procedure is a very effective method in fixing firmware-related concerns. You need to rule this possibility out first before bringing the phone back to the store and have it replaced. It’s also necessary to delete all your personal information but make sure you make a backup of your important files and data. Then disable the Factory Reset Protection so that you won’t be locked out of your device after the reset.

How to disable Galaxy Note8 Factory Reset Protection

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

How to perform the Master Reset on your Galaxy Note8

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

If the problem continues to bug you after this procedure, then it’s time to bring the phone back to the store and have it replaced.

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What to do with Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that became so laggy, sluggish and slow [Troubleshooting Guide]

When a high-end phone like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 becomes laggy, sluggish and slow in doing things it used to do so quick before, then it’s a clear indication that it has some issues with its firmware or some of its apps. Issues this like can easily be fixed so don’t worry if your device that used to be so fast now takes forever to open an app because it happens over time.

In this article, I will tackle this problem for the benefit of our readers who reached out to use seeking for assistance. This isn’t the first time we encountered this problem. In fact, if you browse through our website, you may be able to find posts on similar problems. So we already know a thing or two on how to fix it. If you’re one of the owners of this phone and are currently bugged by a similar concern, continue reading as this troubleshooting guide may be able to help you.

Before we proceed, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, make sure you drop by our Note 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed a lot of problems with this device. Browse through the page to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you still need our help, then you may contact us by completing our questionnaire here. Don’t worry, this is a free service.

Troubleshooting Note 8 that’s laggy, sluggish and slow

As long as the firmware hasn’t been modified in any way, then we can fix this kind of problem on our own. It’s a minor performance issue which can be solved by basic troubleshooting. However, if the phone slowed down after rooting it or installing third-party custom ROMs, then you just need to re-flash the stock firmware to bring the phone back to its original configuration. But assuming this problem occurred after months of use, then here’s what you need to do…

Run your Note 8 in safe mode and compare its performance

When in Safe mode, all third-party apps and services are temporarily disabled so your phone should run quicker than when in normal mode. In this case, there should be a big boost in your phone’s performance when it boots up in safe mode. So, follow these steps to run your device in this environment:

  1. Turn the device off.
  2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
  3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
  4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
  5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
  6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
  7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

Once in safe mode and the phone runs like it was before, then it’s clear third-party apps have something to do with the problem Now that they’ve been temporarily disabled, all previously open apps that run in the background have already been closed. So, reboot your phone in normal mode to see if the problem still persists. If it’s still slow in that mode, the next thing you have to do is hunt down the apps that cause the problem and get rid of them one by one. This is how you uninstall an app from your Note 8:

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

If you can’t find the culprits, then it would be a lot easier to just backup your important files and data and then reset your phone.

  1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
  2. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  3. Tap Settings > Cloud and accounts.
  4. Tap Backup and restore.
  5. If desired, tap Back up my data to move the slider to ON or OFF.
  6. If desired, tap Restore to move the slider to ON or OFF.
  7. Tap the back button to the Settings menu and tap General Management > Reset > Factory data reset.
  8. Tap Reset.
  9. If you have screen lock turned on, enter your credentials.
  10. Tap Continue.
  11. Tap Delete all.

However, if the phone is still slow and sluggish even in safe mode, then you should do the next step.

Boot your phone in Recovery mode and try wiping the cache partition

After the first procedure and your phone still has issues with its performance, the next thing we should do is delete all system caches so that they will be replaced with new ones. For this, you need to reboot your device in recovery mode and wipe the cache partition:

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

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Reset All Settings

After wiping the cache partition and the problem still persists, it’s time to go after the configuration of your phone or the settings. There are times when some settings get messed up and affect your phone’s performance. Rule it out by resetting all settings in your device:

  1. From a Home screen, swipe up or down from the center of the display to access the apps screen.
  2. Navigate: Settings Settings icon > Backup and reset.
  3. From the Reset section, tap Reset settings.
  4. Review the info then tap RESET SETTINGS.
  5. If presented, enter the current PIN, password, or pattern.
  6. To confirm, review the info then tap RESET SETTINGS.

Backup your files and reset your phone

Lastly, if the phone is still laggy, sluggish and slow after resetting all settings, it’s time to resort to the ultimate fix–master reset. This will surely solve this problem but the reason why it comes at the end of this troubleshooting guide is because it takes time to backup all your important files and data not to mention that it would also take time restoring them after the reset. But now that you ran out of options, it’s time to do it. Make sure you make a backup of your important files and data and disable the Factory Reset Protection by removing your google account prior to the reset. Once everything is set and ready, follow these steps:

  1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
  2. Turn off the device.
  3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
  4. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
  5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight “wipe data / factory reset.
  6. Press Power button to select.
  7. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
  8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
  9. When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
  10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

I hope that we’ve been able to help you one way or another. If you still need our help, feel free to contact us any time.

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