If you’ve shelled out the money for the latest and greatest Nexus device, you’ll want to sort out any issues as quickly as possible. Luckily, we’ve prepared the following guide which will offer tips and advice for 14 of the most common Nexus 6P problems.
1. Random Reboots
This is probably the worst issue of them all. If your new device randomly restarts or it gets caught in a bootloop, representatives from the Google forums suggest that a third-party app is a likely cause. Solution: Booting your phone into safe mode after a Factory Data Reset is the advice they gave to try and solve the problem, but a user completed both tasks and his phone still rebooted and had issues afterwards: Users seem convinced that the phone is to blame, and the number of complainants suggests that they might be on to something. Hopefully, these issues will soon be resolved in the form of an update, as there isn’t much else you can do.
2. Yellow/Pink Screen tint
If your device has a yellow screen, don’t despair. The issues most probably stem from the color calibration working incorrectly. Here’s an example, with the 6P on the left; These problems are actually more frequent than you may expect, and they’ve happened to some different brands over the years, from iPhones to various Samsung Galaxy models. A pink screen is a slight variation, but the solution is still the same. Solution: A refund or replacement is the easiest fix, although the screen should go back to its normal color if you wait for roughly a week.
3. Charging your 6P From a PC
The move to USB-C makes for faster charging speeds, but it can lead to trouble when you try to connect to a PC. It’s great that the Nexus 6P has a pre-packaged adaptor cable included, (unlike the Nexus 5X), but some users have been unable to get their device charging whatsoever when connected. Solution: Updating your drivers should solve any issues, and there’s a thread on the XDA Developer Forums if you want to see if there are any new solutions for PC connection issues.
4. Microphone Issues
Mic problems have been reported, centring on the poor quality of phone calls made on the 6P. The problems may derive from noise cancellation settings on the device. Solution: Disabling the noise cancelling setting fixed the issue for one user on the Google forums. For everyone else, Google has responded, saying that they’re working to resolve any issues with the device. A software update seems like the most likely fix.
5. Heat & Battery problems
The Nexus 6P is sometimes prone to overheating, but the device shouldn’t be uncomfortable to hold. It will get warmer during charging, but it should be perfectly safe during day-to-day use. Solution: If the phone is uncomfortably hot, it could be an issue with the hardware itself, and it could be worth getting a replacement handset.
6. Rear Glass Panel Cracking
This issue was highlighted in a massive Reddit post that has 784 comments at the time of writing. Essentially, an owner claimed that his device ‘spontaneously cracked’ when he left it on the table next to him indoors. Here’s the image of the damage that he attached to the post; The images show cracks all along the frame of the rear panel, and he says that “it’s now still there, continuing to crack away to itself.” In any case, it must be a worry for all of the people who just upgraded to the latest Nexus. Solution: The easiest method to ensure that your device is safe is probably to invest in a solid case while ensuring that you take special care of the phone. You wouldn’t want it to crack in your pocket.
7. General Lag
If your device is suffering from general lag and slowdown, it’s a worry considering the specs of the 6P. No device is expected to work perfectly but if the lag mainly occurs while you’re using the Chrome browser, adverts could be the root cause. Solution: It’s also possible that a third-party app could be causing your phone’s slowdown. Try to put your phone in Safe Mode to see if there is any change. If there is, delete them one by one and checking to see if there’s a difference is a what you will have to do.
8. Bluetooth Issues
Issues pairing the phone via Bluetooth have arisen for some users, with a wide variety of devices affected. Solution: It’s possible that they haven’t yet updated to the new OS, so if the Bluetooth device works with a different handset, you will probably just have to wait for an update.
9. Sending and Receiving Picture/MMS Messages
If your device has issues with sending picture messages or MMS, you’re not alone. The issues arise from the quality of the images sent, as the quality is noticeably poor when compared to the original image. Solution: The first solution would be to try a separate messaging application, but users have reported that these issues continue no matter which app is used to send the message. Disabling any ad-blocking apps could potentially solve the problem, and there should also be updates shortly to ensure better support for third-party apps.
10. Proximity Sensor Issues
If you have a screen protector, it could be interfering with the proximity sensor on the screen. You’ll be able to tell if the screen randomly goes black during use, leaving you unable to access the touchscreen. Solution: The easiest solution is to buy a screen protector that has space for the proximity sensor cut out.
11. Fingerprint Hardware Not Working
The fingerprint scanner is one of the best additions to the 6P, but some users have reported that it’s simply disappeared from their device. Solution: It’s possible that your unit could be defective if restarting the device hasn’t solved the problems for any users in the forums. (Although one did ‘mysteriously return’ after the handset was agreed to be returned and replaced.) It’s worth contacting Google for a replacement if you want to use the fingerprint scanner.
12. ‘Okay Google’ Issues
‘Okay Google’ services can be useful, but only if you’re understood correctly. A few users have said that the device refuses to understand them no matter how clearly they speak to it. Solution: If it doesn’t seem to be working for you, a retrain could help: Step 1: Go to your Settings in the Google App. Step 2: Tap Voice, and tap “OK Google” detection. Step 3: From here, you can use the Retrain voice model settings to get the phone acclimatized to your tone of voice. If that doesn’t solve your problems, it’s possible that it has something to do with the microphone issues that are discussed in point four.
13. No Notification Sounds
If your notifications aren’t working correctly, (and you’re sure that you’ve turned them on from the settings) it’s possible that a third-party app that needs updating could be the cause of the error. Solution: If so, you’ll have to wait for an update for the app if you don’t want to uninstall it.
14. Bending & Breaking
The ‘bend test’ is simple enough. It aims to see whether or not a phone is durable enough to handle being bent by hand. It’s informative and it’s fun to watch, in the same way that I’ve seen (and somewhat enjoyed) a video in which a guy bought a new PS4 and ran over it with his car. Just because he could. When a phone goes through the bend test, the worst that usually happens is a slight bend, but the footage speaks for itself: The phone comes apart and folds into an ironic mouth, with shards of jagged teeth. It’s ironic because it definitely won’t be used for speaking anymore, even though it is a good talking point? (Maybe I’m getting slightly off track here.) Solution: The point is, the device has a definite structural weakness, so don’t leave it in your back pocket, and investing in a sturdy case should be high on your list of priorities.
Conclusion
It’s unfortunate that the 6P suffers from so many issues, as it’s a great device that shows off a lot of the new features on offer for Android. The move to Marshmallow 6.0 is the cause some the problems on this list, but most should be ironed out by updates in the next couple of months. Issues with the hardware itself will be harder to solve, but most should be avoidable if you take special care with your device. We also have a guide that goes through some of the best features found on the 6P. What’s your opinion of the Nexus 6P, and are you having problems with it? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible, or you can also send us a message, (or a follow) on both Facebook and Twitter. Featured Image Credit
