Welcome to the 35th part in our series of troubleshooting articles dedicated to the Samsung Galaxy S3. This has become one of our longest running troubleshooting series owing to the fact that we receive numerous emails from our readers surrounding this particular model. While most of the issues sent to us may have already been answered in the past posts we strive to provide a more personalized approach to our readers thus you may see similar new problems already featured before.
If you own a Galaxy S3 or any other Android device free that matter feel free to email us at mailbag@thedroidguy.com. We will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have concerning your Android device. This is a free service we offer to our readers with no strings attached. What we do ask though is that when you send us an email try to be as detailed as possible so that we can make an accurate assessment and the proper solution can be provided.
Aside from sending us an email you may also contact us through our Facebook and Google+ social media accounts.
Galaxy S3 Unresponsive Display, Lagging
Problem: Dear developers, recently, my s3 has some problem which is sometime you let it to load something like games or movies, the screen will turn into all black for about 10 sec which is not normal. You won’t know whether the game is still loading or the screen timeout. Then I tried to turn the screen on again but failed. I tried few more times until I fed up and let it . It take a few seconds more to come out. Other than that, my phone is facing abnormally lag. Before that I use smart and doddle launcher and it gone smooth. But now I turn back to touchwiz, it’s lagger than usual. Tried before to delete cache file in android recovery mode, used clean master a few times for every day, deleted unused apps. Still very laggy. REALLY HOPE YOU ALL CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM =)
Solution: When your phone is running slow or somewhat unresponsive then it’s a sign that it is processing a lot of activity which causes this issue. Sometimes a quick reboot usually solves the problem. Try turning off your device then turning it back on after a few seconds. This refreshes the memory of your phone and will make it perform quicker since the temporary data that is stored in memory will be released.
One other factor to consider for a phone that is lagging is a faulty SD card. If you have an SD card in your device then try taking it out and see if your phone still lags. The reason behind this is that if your SD card has a problem then your phone may have a hard time accessing data stored in it which causes the delay.
Another reason why your phone operates slowly is because of the third party applications that you have installed. Try booting our device in Safe Mode to see if an app or a group of apps are causing this problem.
Turn the device off.
Press and hold the Power key.
When ‘Samsung Galaxy S III’ appears on the screen, release the Power key. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
‘Safe mode’ will display in the bottom left corner of the screen. Release the Volume down key when you see ‘Safe Mode.’
If your device works faster in Safe Mode then the problem is caused by certain apps. Try finding out which apps are causing this and uninstall them.
The last troubleshooting step you can perform on your device is to do a factory reset. This brings your device to its initial condition when you first turned it on. Just be sure to back up your data first before performing this procedure.
Turn off the device.
Press and hold the following three buttons at the same time: Volume Up key, Home key, Power key.
When the phone vibrates, release the Power key but continue to press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key.
When the Android System Recovery screen appears, release the Volume Up and Home keys.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘delete all user data.’
Press Power button to select and start the master reset. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
Press the Power key to turn the restart the device.
Galaxy S3 Issues After 4.3 Update
Problem: Dear Sir or Madam, How do you do? After updating galaxy s3 to 4.3 the volume became lower, after seeing all whatsapp messages or SMS the number of these apps should be gone (but after I reboot it or it delays for a few seconds).The battery life became shorter although I don’t leave wifi on, make the brightness under the middle. I downloaded apps for battery issue but worthless. I hope you can give the best solutions for these problems. Thank you in advance
Solution: After your device has undergone a major software update and issues appear it is always a good idea to perform a factory reset. The reason why these issues occur is that data from the previous software version may still be present in your device and have not been totally been removed. The best way to remove this data is through a factory reset. Just make sure to back up your data first.
Turn off the device.
Press and hold the following three buttons at the same time: Volume Up key, Home key, Power key.
When the phone vibrates, release the Power key but continue to press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key.
When the Android System Recovery screen appears, release the Volume Up and Home keys.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘delete all user data.’
Press Power button to select and start the master reset. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
Press the Power key to turn the restart the device.
Once your device has fully restarted it should be working normally.
Galaxy S3 Black Screen
Problem: Hello, At first: I live in the Netherlands so my english isnt verry well, i’am sorry. After the last update i did on my Samsung galaxy S3 my screen still worked perfect, i went to my bed and the morning after the screen wouldnt go on. The led indicator still works and i can hear the start up sound when im putting my phone on. But nothing happens on the screen, it still stays black. I’ve searched on the internet for solutions and i tryed several things but noting works. Do u maybe have a solution for me? I would be verry thankfull if you had that one solution wich could help me. I hope you’ll contact me back. Best Regards.
Solution: Your English is actually very good. Regarding the problem with your phone have you dropped it or did it come in contact with water recently? Water damage or drops from a considerable height usually damages the components inside your phone which leads to this problem.
If you haven’t dropped your device or it hasn’t come into contact with water then try performing the troubleshooting steps below.
Turn off your phone and take out its battery. While the battery is out press and hold the power button for around 3 minutes. What this does is it clears out any residual data stored in the memory of your device. After 3 minutes re-insert the battery and try to turn on your device.
If your device still show a black display then turn it off ad take out the SD card (if there is any present). With the SD card out of your phone turn it on again.
If your display is still black then check and see if your phone can still be recognized by your PC. You will need the latest Kies software installed in your PC for this.
Run Kies and connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable. If all goes well then Kies should be able to detect your device. You should immediately backup your data.
On the Kies software click on the Data Backup section
Mark the checkbox next to the content you want to back up. You can select all content by marking the checkbox next to Select all items. Click Backup.
Click Complete when the backup is finished.
After performing a backup your next step is to try to do a factory reset on your device.
Start Kies
Click Tools-> Firmware upgrade and initialization
Type in model of your phone (all in capital letters) click OK.
Type serial number off the sticker under battery also in capital letters click OK
There will be info about firmware click OK
Info about software version. Put your phone in download mode by pressing volume down key, home button and power button then connect to PC using original USB cable, click OK
Follow info on screen.
Phone will reboot by itself when all is done correctly
If your device cannot be detected by Kies or if the factory reset still does not solve the problem then your phone may have a damaged digitizer. In this case you will have to bring your phone to an authorized service center for repair.
Galaxy S3 KitKat Update Not Yet Available
Problem: So, I came across thedroidguy website and saw your article about the GS3. I tried looking for my problem but it didn’t show up. So, my problem is that my GS3 is stuck on the Android version 4.3. I know the release of KitKat already came out, but every time I try to system update, it tells me it is up to date. I know you may get many emails and the article I stumbled upon is old, but I hope you can help me. Thank you so much for your time.
Solution: Most of the major carriers have already pushed the KitKat update to their Galaxy S3 models. If you still don’t see the update in your device then you can go ahead and check for it manually. Turn on your Wi-Fi and make sure you are connected to the Internet. From the Home screen, touch Menu key > Settings > More > About device > Software update > Check for updates. If you can see the update then download it and follow the onscreen instructions to properly update your device.
The updates are usually being pushed by the carrier and if you got your phone from the carrier you are using now then you should be getting the update.
If the KitKat update does not show up then there could be various reasons for this. Is your phone rooted? Is this an unlocked device? If there have been any modifications done to the software of your device then this may cause the update not to appear.
You could try updating your phone using the latest Kies software installed in your PC.
Download and install Kies
Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. (comes bundled with your phone ) Start Kies on your Pc or mac.
Once Kies connects to your phone it will automatically check for the latest Android OS version for your phone.
If nothing happens: Pull down the notification area on your phone. If you can see that it says connected as a camera, press that area to change your USB options. Pick connect as Media device.
Galaxy S3 Music Repeat Does Not Function
Problem: I enjoy your posts regarding the long list of the Samsung GS3 issues and ways to fix them. It’s a great contribution to the Android phone archives for years to come. (Each of these phones will have a second and third and fourth lives.). When I first got my S3 music played fine and repeated as requested. I would touch the “repeat single song” button and the song would play in its entirety and then repeat. Now it won’t repeat–it goes right on to the next song even with the repeat song button highlighted. At first I thought I misread the button (does highlighted mean repeat or not?) but toggling it didn’t help. So I switched to another player app. Same problem. I’m on the third different music app and they all will not repeat a single song. Safe mode doesn’t fix it. Help?
Solution: Try using the original music player app that came with your device but this time try clearing its cache and data first.
From the home screen, tap the Apps icon.
Tap Settings.
On the More tab, tap Application manager.
Tap the All tab.
Scroll to and tap the Music application.
Tap Clear cache.
Tap Clear Data
The application cache and data is now cleared.
If the problem still persists then try doing a factory reset on your phone. Just make sure to back up your data first.
Turn off the device.
Press and hold the following three buttons at the same time: Volume Up key, Home key, Power key.
When the phone vibrates, release the Power key but continue to press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key.
When the Android System Recovery screen appears, release the Volume Up and Home keys.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘delete all user data.’
Press Power button to select and start the master reset. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
Press the Power key to turn the restart the device.
Check your music repeat function. It should be working now.
Galaxy S3 Turns Off When Camera Flash Activates
Problem: Dear sir, I have Samsung galaxy S3 mobile new one actually. It’s is having a problem while taking picture from camera when keeping flash on in dark room. If we take photo even in slight dark room also with camera flash on mobile automatically gets switch off. If I have restart the phone again either I have remove the battery and install again or I have to connect the charger. Otherwise I cannot switch on the mobile. I tried by updating firmware also. But it is of no use. Kindly suggest us what we have to do.
Solution: Try using your phone with a new battery and see if the problem still occurs. You could also try removing the SD card while trying to take a picture. If this is a software issue then you might want to do a factory reset on the device. Make sure to backup all your data first.
Turn off the device.
Press and hold the following three buttons at the same time: Volume Up key, Home key, Power key.
When the phone vibrates, release the Power key but continue to press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key.
When the Android System Recovery screen appears, release the Volume Up and Home keys.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘delete all user data.’
Press Power button to select and start the master reset. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
Press the Power key to turn the restart the device.
If the factory reset does not solve the problem then this could already be a hardware related issue. Your best option is to bring the device to an authorized service center and have it repaired.
Galaxy S3 Update Question
Problem: Hello, just had a quick question about os updates. I was going to purchase the samsung watch that connects to my straight talk galaxy s3, and I sae it requires 4.3 or newer and I looked to see what I have and its 4.1.2 I believe, so I started looking into it and from what I can gather the updates will not be pushed out to us straight talk users. This is horrible news, but hopefully this is just a rumor, which is why I am emailing you to see if there is any way to update past the version I currently have. Thank you for taking the time to read this and help.
Solution: There is a way to update your phone to the latest software version however this is a manual method and requires a certain degree of knowledge on the Android platform. You can start by using the latest Kies software installed in your PC. Connect your phone to your PC using a USB cord and open the Kies software. Just follow the onscreen instructions to update the software.
If Kies does not show you any updates available then you could try using another software called Odin. You will need the specific model number of your device or else there is the risk of bricking your phone. You can try searching the web for instructions on how to use Odin for your particular model.
Galaxy S3 Charging Issue
Problem: Hey, I have Samsung Galaxy S3 and i have a problem. I hope you can help me with that. The thing is that when I put my phone to charge it charges without problem but when its 100% charged and I unplug it out of electricity it still thinks that its charging. next time I plug it in electricity it wont charge unless the phone is turned off and i take the battery out of the phone and back in. Then it shows that the phone is not charging and it charges correctly. I hope you can help me.
Solution: It appears that there is an issue with the battery of this phone. Try using another battery and see if the problem still occurs. You might also want to try using a different charger when charging your phone.
Galaxy S3 Can’t Be Heard On Calls
Problem: Hello. I am hoping that someone can help me. My Galaxy S3 has no damage at all and is well taken cared of. about 2-3 months ago, people began complaining that they couldn’t hear me on phone calls. The call would phase in and out. Finally, this past week I couldn’t take it any more and called TMobile. They sent me out a replacement phone and the same thing happened with the new phone. The call phased in and out on the first phone call and continued to happen. Four hours later I called TMobile again and complained. The call phased in and out with the rep over the phone. I was sent out a new one this weekend and this third phone is doing the same thing as well. The calls are phasing in and out on my side as well as the person whom I’m speaking with. Today, I went in and asked for a new SIM card. I was assured that a new card would most definitely take care of the problem. It hasn’t. People still can’t hear me. I’m at a loss as to what to do.
Solution: This might not be a phone issue at all but an issue with the network. Have you tried making a call in other places aside from your home? The coverage in your particular area may be weak or the cell tower may have a problem which is causing this issue. Try making a call in your work area or in the mall and see if the recipient of the call can hear you. If they can hear you then this could be an area related issue. Contact T-Mobile and report this issue.
Galaxy S3 Can’t Stay Connected To PC Using USB
Problem: I’ve been fighting this problem for months now, and after looking at every forum and post about similar problems, I figured it was time to ask directly. Basically, my phone and my computer have a very hard time talking to one another. When I plug the USB into the phone, the computer recognizes the phone and I’m (usually) able to navigate the file structures. However, it appears that it’s only temporary, and it (usually) poops out when I try to transfer files, perform a Kies backup, or sync MediaMonkey. It just spins and spins and spins for hours. I’ve reinstalled the Samsung USB drivers, removed and rested the battery, tried different cables and ports, and installed extra Windows MTP support. Now, it could be that I have a bad USB port in the phone, but since my computer almost always recognizes the phone before the connection drops, I’m not certain this is the case. Moon Moon (my phone) is a bit of a lemon, but I’m hoping it’s not as much of one as it appears. Has anyone else run into this problem?
Solution: There are three primary reasons why this problem is happening. This could be caused by a bad USB port on your phone, a bad USB cord, or a bad USB port on the PC side. The easiest way to troubleshoot this is to replace the USB cord. In most cases that deal with disconnection issues the USB cord is the primary suspect as this gets damaged easily. You can also try connecting your phone to a different USB port on the PC directly without using a USB hub.
One way to test if it isn’t a PC problem is to use another PC. If you have another laptop or desktop then try connecting your phone to it. If the connection becomes stable then the issue might be with your previous PC. If the problem still persists then this could be caused by your phone itself.
To check if this is a phone software issue you should do a factory reset. Be sure to back up your data first.
Turn off the device.
Press and hold the following three buttons at the same time: Volume Up key, Home key, Power key.
When the phone vibrates, release the Power key but continue to press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key.
When the Android System Recovery screen appears, release the Volume Up and Home keys.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘delete all user data.’
Press Power button to select and start the master reset. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
Press the Power key to turn the restart the device.
After the factory reset connect the phone to your PC and see if the issue still persists.
Engage with us
Feel free to send us your questions, suggestions and problems you’ve encountered while using your Android phone. We support every Android device that is available in the market today. And don’t worry, we won’t charge you a single penny for your emails. Email us at mailbag@thedroidguy.com. We read every email but can’t guarantee a quick response. If we were able to help you, please help us spread the word by sharing our posts with your friends.
The post Samsung Galaxy S3 Problems, Errors, Questions and Solutions [Part 35] appeared first on The Droid Guy.