Suddenly every task you need to do requires a working smartphone, and yours is MIA. Your family is now driving you crazy, and so are your friends. You need a solution and fast. But how can you contend with a phone that is totally unresponsive, painstakingly slow, or that never has enough juice? Here’s how.
Problem 1: Frozen, Unresponsive, Hanging A7
Your phone suddenly doesn’t want to interact anymore. Tough, because that’s what it’s for. Here are some ways of coaxing it out of its shell.
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.
Hard Reset
If that doesn’t cut it, consider performing a hard reset. This wipes data so you might want to backup what you don’t want to lose! This method also functions to reset the A7’s password if you have forgotten it.Power down the A7, then press and hold the Home + Volume Up + Power keys simultaneously.Release all keys when you see the recovery menu.Locate and select Wipe Data/Factory Reset. Use the Volume key to navigate and the Power button to make a selection.
Update
Updates aren’t just for new features; they are also used to apply patches to software glitches. That’s why you should take time to apply any available updates. To do so, go to Settings > About Device > System Updates > Check for Updates.
Dual Sim Control
Problem 2: Camera Crisis
Samsung cameras do occasionally have problems. The notorious camera failed error is one such issue. Luckily, there are workarounds and/or solutions.
Solutions
Reboot
Hold the Power button until the phone shuts off.Turn the phone back on.
Enter Safe Mode
Since problems with the camera on newer Samsung phones are typically the fault of third-party apps, Safe Mode is useful because it disables the apps from automatically starting; allowing you to uninstall any of the culprits. You can reboot to Safe Mode by holding the Power button until the device turns off.Then press the Power button again until you see the Samsung logo.Release the Power button and immediately long-press the Volume Down key until the phone reboots completely. As soon as it reboots, a Safe Mode label should appear to the lower-left.Isolate and uninstall any third-party app that could be causing the issue.
Download Camera App
Switch to a different camera app.FV-5 is a camera app used by some professional photographers.
Camera FV-5
Clear App Cache
From Settings, go to Applications.Find App Manager.Swipe to find ALL, then select the app.Tap Force Close, then Storage.Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data. Press OK.
Wipe Cache
Power down the Samsung A7.Holding the Power, Home, and Volume Up buttons together.When you see the Samsung logo, release the Power button.Use the volume buttons to highlight the Wipe Cache Partition and Power to select it.Now highlight Reboot System Now and press Power.
Master Reset
Perform backup.Go to Backup and reset from Settings and tap on Factory data reset.Instruct the A7 to Reset the Device.
Problem 3: Slow Sluggish Performance
Greedy apps can contribute to a decrease in speed. Cache files are intended to help you access things faster, but after a while they too can accumulate. It may be time to clean house.
Solutions
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 UninstallDepending on the version of Android you are using, you may also just be able to transfer some apps to the SD card.
Reboot
Restarting your phone can really help address home screen lag. Hold the Power button until the phone shuts off.Turn the phone back on.
Limit Background Processes
Apps and processes working in the background can be resource intensive. First, enable developer mode.Go to Settings.Select About Device.Tap Build Number about seven times.From the Developer Options menu, you can decrease the number of processes to as little as zero.
Wipe Cache.
Power down the Samsung A7.Holding the Power, Home, and Volume Up buttons together.When you see the Samsung logo, release the Power button.Use the volume buttons to highlight the Wipe Cache Partition and Power to select it.Now highlight Reboot System Now and press Power.
Monitor Memory
Maintain awareness of how much memory is available. A low amount of memory could be the reason for lag. Delete music, videos, or other files—or if you can’t bear to part with them and your system permits it—move them to your SD card. There is an app called App2SD that can help you out with this. App2SD
Problem 4: Missing Marshmallow
Many users have been lamenting Marshmallow’s absence on their A7s; however, a recent Wi-Fi Alliance certification revealed some A7’s already have it. Even if your provider hasn’t rolled it out in your location, we can help you check or prepare, or there is also the option to install a custom ROM. Custom ROM installation can be somewhat risky.
Solutions
OTA
Backup your A7.Tap on Apps, and then select Settings.If available, select the update to install.Select System Updates.If available, select the update to install.
Get CyanogenMod 13
Your A7 must be rooted, model A700FD, running at least Lollipop 5.0.2, and possess a custom recovery like TWRP in order for this to work.Backing up your phone is crucial.It is possible to brick your phone. Proceed with caution.Download CyanogenMod 13 ROM for the Samsung Galaxy A7 and GApps.Transfer the zip files to your SD card.Shut down your A7, then boot it into recovery mode (Volume Up + Home + Power)Clear Data/Cache and factory reset.Install your zip files from the SD card.Reboot.
CyanogenMod 13 for Samsung A7 GApps
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 A7 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 A7 should work, at least initially. If you think that charger may be the problem, try a different one.If your A7 is still under warranty and your charger is faulty, have the company send you a new one while you can.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 A7 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. One way to check this is by trying a wireless charger.If a wireless charger fails, it’s most likely a hardware issue. Use that warranty if you can.
Contact Dealer
If your phone won’t hold a charge, it’s most likely one of two things—-the battery itself, or the charger. If your phone is still under warranty, you might as well take advantage of that while you can.
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.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 InfoTap OK to finally hibernate the app(s).
Greenify
Problem 6: Bloatware
Although the amount of useless apps out-of-the-box isn’t as bad as some other Samsung devices, you may want it all gone.
Solutions
Exterminate Pre-loaded Apps (Bloatware)
If you want to be thorough, root your Android. Rooting will void your warranty and can be difficult, but the result can also be beautiful. Rooting also allows for more tweaks and customization, as well as expanding your app options.
Disable Bloatware
Go to Settings, then Application Manager.Swipe to All, and locate the app you can do without.Tap on that app, and choose Turn Off/Disable.
Problem 7: Email Issues
Although many problems related to email are independent of the device, certain problems can arise from operations handled at the level of the operating system. Even if the problem stems more from the email application itself, it’s still annoying.
Solutions
Remove/Re-add Email
This solution is especially applicable if you are experiencing difficulty opening email attachments. Go to Apps, then Settings.Select Accounts, then the specific email account.Tap on Account Settings and then choose Remove Account.If you were using a third-party app for your email, reinstall the app and set up your account.If your account was through Google or any other internal email, go back to Settings, then Accounts.Touch Add Account, then make your email selection.Register or sign in to the account again.Reboot, and then try to open the attachment(s) again.
Enable/Disable Email Notifications
Notifications can be enabled or disabled at several levels, such as the Inbox application, or even within the Android operating system. Within the email app itself, go to Settings, then Account, and ensure that Notifications is checked or unchecked.To rectify this issue within the operating system itself, go to Settings, then Apps.Choose Downloaded, then Inbox, and the Notifications box should be checked, or if you prefer, unchecked.To prevent or enable notifications from showing up on your lock screen period, go to Settings, then Sounds and Notifications.Scroll down to tap on When Device is locked.You can then select or deselect Don’t show notifications at all.
Problem 8: Overheating
Another all-too-common grievance is the unwarranted warming of the A7. The battery may also play a role in this.
Solutions
Avoid Usage
Don’t use your phone while it’s charging.
Avoid Hot Environments
Take Case Off
Optimize Battery
Use an app to reduce battery energy drain.One such app that will assist you is called Greenify.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 InfoTap OK to finally hibernate the app(s).
Greenify
Factory Reset
Go to Backup and reset from Settings and tap on Factory data reset.Instruct the A7 to Reset the Device.This wipes data so you might want to backup what you wish to save!
Problem 9: Storage
Thankfully the phone has expandable storage, because 16GB is really sad.
Solution
Add a MicroSD
Use an ejector tool to open the memory card tray and pull it out with care.Place the card in the tray gold-colored contacts side face-down.Gently push the tray back into its slot.
Conclusion
The design of this smartphone is very stylish, but it definitely is not known for its speed. It would also be good to know exactly when Samsung plans on releasing the Marshmallow update, since after all, the newest is an A7 (2016), and 2016 is the year of Marshmallow. It still abides by the mid-range smartphone formula for this year: fingerprint scanner, check; nice screen, check. But for the higher price tag, this phone better work. Leave us a comment below with your specific problem if you are still having troubles. Featured Image Credit
