There are definitely advantages to keeping an older phone. In fact, you can save a ton of money by keeping your phone just a little longer rather than upgrading constantly. It’s nice having to only pay your carrier for service, and not the phone itself. Not only that, but upgrades can be tied to unwanted contracts. And the HTC One M7 still has its beautiful metal design, as well processor and camera specs that aren’t bad either. So it’s probably worth it to keep this phone as long as you can. Or maybe it’s not worth the price for the upgrade you would get with a newer phone. Either way, it would be nice if the phone functioned well all of the time. So let’s see what we can do about that.
Problem 1: Freezing, Slow Performing, Lagging M7
To be fair to your M7, a lot of the time freezing is caused by an unstable application. And to be fair to the app, it may work just fine on other devices, but butt heads with the M7. Is it really worth it?
Solutions:
Soft Reset
Most of the time a soft reset will cause your phone to snap out of its stupor. Long-press the Power key for approximately 10-15 seconds.
Clear App Cache
From Settings, go to Applications. Find App Manager. Swipe to find ALL, then select the app causing issues. Tap Clear Cache. Press OK, then Clear Data.
Disable or Uninstall Problematic or Unneeded Apps
If you have used an app recently that was acting a little funny or you really don’t need anymore, you can long press its icon in the app tray and it will should give you the option to uninstall. You may need to drag it to the Uninstall section.
Hard Reset
If that doesn’t cut it, consider performing a hard reset. This wipes data so you might want to backup what you wish to save! This method also functions to reset the M7’s password if you have forgotten it. Power down the M7, then press and hold the Volume Down + Power keys simultaneously. Let go of the Power key first, then release all keys when you see the three Android icons. Locate and select Factory Reset. Use the Volume key to navigate and the Power button to make a selection.
Problem 2: Soundless Headphones
Problems with headphone sound have plagued the M7 since it first came out. Luckily, there’s also been some time for solutions to surface, but they range from easy to not-so-easy.
Solutions:
Second Chances
If the sound through the speaker is fine, try the headphones on another device. If the headphones work elsewhere, it could be the jack or Beats Audio app described below.
Check Volume
If it also looks like the speaker could be blown, just double-check the volume. You may have to replace parts if neither the speaker or headphones are working.
Troubleshoot Headphone Cable
If you can still hear some sound when you bend the cable of your headphones, bend the cable 90 degrees across your thumb and run it along the length of the cable. If you encounter crackling at any point, this is most likely where your problem lies. You can mark this place with tape, but at this point you are looking at having to take apart this cable to fix it. If you are still on board, you are going to need wire strippers, a soldering iron, shrink tubing, a heat gun, and sandpaper. If you don’t already have all of these things, seriously weigh whether it would cost less to replace the headphones. You will have to strip the wire of its insulation, cut the cord, and slide on the shrink tube. You may have to sand the insulation down to get to the wire. Then you will have to splice the wires and twist and solder their connections. Finally, when you are done you will have to slide on more shrink tubing.
Reset Beats Audio
Go to Settings, then turn Beats Audio on and off again. Or just turning it off can be effective for eliminating background noise through speakers or headphones.
Troubleshoot Jack
Ensure that the headphone jack is clean and free of dust. New jack plugs can be found online or at electronics stores.
Problem 3: Dead or Unresponsive
This is pretty self-explanatory, but if you have a dead battery or if your battery doesn’t seem to be charging, there are a few things you can try. (See also: Problem 5: Baffling Battery.)
Solutions:
Force Reboot
Press the Power down and hold for about three seconds until you see the option to Power Off, which you should select. To turn the phone back on, press and hold both Power and the Volume Up key until the phone logo appears.
Boot into Recovery Mode
Disable Fastboot from Settings>Battery With your phone powered down, press and hold the Volume Down Turn the phone on by pressing the Power key until the phone vibrates, then release Power. Release the Volume Down key only when you see the boot screen. Press the Volume keys to select Boot to Recovery Mode and use the Power button to select that option. It’s a good idea to go ahead and Wipe Cache. Use the volume buttons to navigate to it and Power to select. Now highlight Reboot System Now and press Power.
Hard Reset
Go to Backup and reset from Settings and tap on Factory data reset. Instruct the M7 to Reset Phone. This wipes data so you might want to backup what you wish to save!
Problem 4: Camera Calamity
If your camera app refuses to load, crashes, or otherwise stops working correctly, the problems stop here.
Solutions:
Reboot
Hold the Power button until the phone shuts off. Turn the phone back on.
Download Camera App
Switch to a different camera app. FV-5 is a camera app used by some professional photographers.
Download: Camera FV-5
Clear App Cache
From Settings, go to Applications. Find App Manager. Swipe to find ALL, then select the camera app. Tap Clear Cache. Press OK, then Clear Data.
Turn Down ISO
This may alleviate issues with weird colors, graininess, or noise. This setting is available within the camera app itself.
Master Reset
Go to Backup and reset from Settings and tap on Factory data reset. Instruct the M7 to Reset Phone. This wipes data so you might want to backup what you wish to save!
Problem 5: Baffling Battery
In researching the most common issues with this phone, I repeatedly saw complaints about the battery. Sometimes the battery gets a bad rap though, and the problem is actually the charger.
Solutions:
Check Charger
If your M7 will charge (i.e. you see the charging icon and/or other hopeful signs of life), let it do so for at least 10-30 minutes. The charger that came with your M7 should work, at least initially. If you think that charger may be the problem, try a different one. Charging requires a good connection, so you will need to ensure that the plug on the end of the charger fits properly. Sometimes jiggling the plug within its jack may enable a connection, but not if the problem is located more internally. Additionally, jarring this area of your M7 could potentially cause even more damage. If your phone will charge via a USB connection to your computer, the problem is probably your wall or car charger. If nothing delivers a charge to your phone, it could be the port or the phone itself.
Recalibrate Battery & Reset Charging
Disable Fastboot from Settings>Battery Power down your phone. Charge the M7 for a minimum of two minutes. With the HTC still turned off and plugged into the charger, simultaneously press and hold Volume Up, Volume Down, and the Power button for at least two minutes. It’s normal for the phone to turn on and off repeatedly. Continue holding. After the two minutes is up, release all of the buttons when the phone is ON. Allow the M7 to charge as it normally would.
Contact Dealer
If your phone won’t hold a charge, it’s most likely one of two things—-the battery itself, or the charger.
Watch Temperature
Especially while the phone is charging, pay attention to its environment. You don’t want it to be too hot or too cold. The phone’s temperature should never dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 113 degrees. In high temperature environments, the battery life will be depleted.
Uninstall Apps
Rule out any problem apps, especially one you might have installed recently. See if you experience the same problem while in Safe Mode. If not, you will need to uninstall the app you think is the culprit. To uninstall an app, tap and hold the app. Drag it to the Uninstall button and release. Confirm the uninstall.
Optimize Battery
Use an app to reduce battery energy drain. One such app that will assist you is called Greenify. The download is below. You will have to accept the Terms and Conditions, but then you can determine which apps you want to hibernate. Simply press the + Long-press an app until it turns green, and then select all of the other apps you wish to put to sleep. Click on the checkmark icon located in the upper-right hand corner. If your device is not rooted, you will want to read the popup window. Press Force Stop on the App Info Tap OK to finally hibernate the app(s).
Download: Greenify
Problem 6: Overheating
Sometimes overheating is so extreme that the M7 shuts itself down. Although this keeps your phone safe, ideally it should never reach that point. Here are some things to try.
Solutions:
Avoid Usage
Don’t use your phone while it’s charging. Go easy on the gaming.
Avoid Hot Environments
Your phone cannot cool down if it is sitting in the sun or other hot area. Moving it to a cooler area will give it a fighting chance.
Take Case Off
Removing any unnecessary cases and covers will help the airflow and cool it down faster.
Tweak Settings
Dim your background display. Use battery saving options where you can: GPS, Sleep Mode, and or Airplane Mode. Turn off automatic synchronization. Use widgets sparingly, avoid animated wallpapers, and minimize processes.
Factory Reset
Go to Backup and reset from Settings and tap on Factory data reset. Instruct the HTC One to Reset Phone. This wipes data so you might want to backup what you wish to save!
Problem 7: Proximity Sensor
You might have encountered this moving the phone toward or away from your face making or ending a call.
Solutions:
Get an App
Regain control over your screen again with one of these apps. Use Auto Screen to switch the proximity sensor from the G sensor and to fine-tune timeout. Download: Proximity Screen Off Lite
Download: Auto Screen On Off
Problem 8: Malfunctioning Microphone
The microphone on this phone is prone to collecting dust and dirt, and not working.
Solutions:
Clean It
Use a few toothbrush bristles, a needle, a vacuum, or compressed air to clear out any debris. Do take care to prevent damage to the mic.
Remove Case
Or anything else that might block the mic, like a finger.
Turn Off Bluetooth
Go to Settings, Bluetooth, and tap the OFF switch.
Hard Reset
If that doesn’t cut it, consider performing a hard reset. This wipes data so you might want to backup what you wish to save! This method also functions to reset the M7’s password if you have forgotten it. Power down the M7, then press and hold the Volume Down + Power keys simultaneously. Let go of the Power key first, then release all keys when you see the three Android icons. Locate and select Factory Reset. Use the Volume key to navigate and the Power button to make a selection.
Problem 9: Random Rebooting
Your phone is suddenly rebooting, but you never asked it to—again.
Solutions:
Eliminate Bad Apps
Go to Settings>Power>Usage and investigate which apps are using resources disproportionately. Get rid of them.
Factory Reset
The short way is Settings>Backup & Reset>Reset Phone.
Problem 10: Burdensome Bluetooth
Audio quality isn’t always the greatest on the M7’s Bluetooth, and that is if you can get it to connect in the first place. There are a variety of solutions.
Solutions:
Update
Ensure you have the latest update for your phone. This largely depends on your carrier.
Restart
Restart the app. If necessary, restart your phone.
Start Again
If your Bluetooth is acting out, remove the paired devices and start over.
Clear Cache Partition
Turn the M7 completely off. Now long-press the Volume Down Press and release the Power Release the Volume Down key only when you see red and blue lines of text. You will want to reboot to the bootloader. Use the Volume Down key to select Recovery and the Power button to confirm. Press the Volume Down key to reach Wipe Cache Partition. Press the Power button to confirm, and wait until the phone tells you it’s finished.
Download App
To overcome problems with phonebook synchronization, download a phonebook app. Download: Bluetooth Phonebook
Toggle Wi-Fi & Bluetooth to Help Audio
Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Reconnect to Bluetooth. Reconnect to Wi-Fi as needed.
These are several of the most common M7 problems and troubleshooting tips we have come across. Each phone and user setup can cause different problems or variations of common problems. Have you encountered any other problems with this phone? Save even more money by getting free advice. Also, if you have solutions other could benefit from, post them. Android users are like family. Featured Image Credit
