The Samsung Galaxy S3 has been around for the past couple of years and while the phone has received several software updates from Samsung, there are still a lot of problems with the device. While these problems might not be a deal breaker for most users, fixing these issues will improve your overall experience. If you’re tired of facing the same old problems with the Galaxy S3 and a simple reset won’t solve anything, continue reading to find out how you can fix some of the most common issues on the Galaxy S3. After thorough research, I’ve come up with a list of the most common problems that Galaxy S3 users face. Use this Samsung Galaxy S3 problems and troubleshooting guide to make your experience better. It’s helpful to download the S3 manual if you plan on troubleshooting your phone. The manual includes additional tips and images to guide you around the phone.
1. Long Charging Time
Some users can’t even wait an hour for their phones to charge completely and when your phone is taking a couple of hours, then I’m sure you’ll be really frustrated. A lot of Galaxy S3 users have been facing this problem, and if your phone is taking over two hours to charge, then there is probably something wrong.
Solution
While this problem is quite common amongst Galaxy S3 users, this is unlikely to be a software issue. In order to fix this, make sure that you’re using an original Samsung charger and micro USB cable that came in the box. If this isn’t the case, then buy an original Samsung charger and micro USB cable. If you’re using a brand new original Samsung charger, then try charging your phone through your laptop. You might also improve charging by checking out battery saver apps.
2. Wi-Fi Connection
This is another common problem with the Samsung Galaxy S3 and even if your phone is connecting fine with your wireless internet, your phone might be dropping the connection every few minutes.
Solution 1
Switch your phone off and turn it back on. This might fix the problem if it’s a temporary glitch.
Solution 2
Go to Wi-Fi in the Settings app, tap on Advanced and select Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep. Make sure that this option is set to Always.
Solution 3
If you’re still facing the problem, then there might be something wrong with your router. You’ll need to configure the settings of your specific router. Try a WiFi booster app as well.
3. Overheating
With the arrival of the latest premium Android devices, overheating complaints have increased significantly. While the Galaxy S3 doesn’t even have a 1080p HD display, it is one of the phones that can overheat quite easily after using too many S3 apps or while multitasking too much.
Solution 1
If you’re using the phone all the time without giving it any break, then this might be the sole reason for the overheating problem. In this case, take it easy and try to give your phone some rest after every few minutes.
Solution 2
If the phone is overheating even when you’re not using it, then chances are there might be apps running in the background. Make sure that you uninstall or disable apps that might be running in the background. Also, remove any third-party apps from the multitasking menu and force close apps by going to Applications manager in the Settings app.
Solution 3
If the problem remains, then there might be some hardware issues with your phone. In this case, you’ll either need to use your warranty or get it repaired from your local mobile repair store.
4. Battery Life
Since premium Android smartphones come with power-hungry hardware and software features, they kill battery life. However, the international variant of the Galaxy S3 doesn’t just drain battery when it’s being used, but it also drains a lot of battery while it’s on standby. Some battery apps help with this. If not, try the solutions below.
Solution 1
One of the sources of this problem is Chrome. Open the Chrome app, go to Settings, tap on Developer tools and uncheck the Enable Tilt Scrolling option.
Solution 2
If Chrome doesn’t fix this problem, the next source is LTE. Go to More Settings in your Settings app, select Mobile networks, tap on Network mode and disable the LTE option.
Solution 3
If disabling LTE didn’t fix your problem, then Samsung’s bloatware might be draining your battery. Go to the Settings app, tap on Applications manager and disable some irrelevant Samsung apps, such as Samsung Backup and Samsung account.
5. Screen Freezing
The Galaxy S3 isn’t a cheap knock-off smartphone, so screen freezing is not justified. However, this is another common issue that a lot of Galaxy S3 users have been facing over the last couple of years. If you find your phone freezing every once in a while, then this is not normal.
Solution 1
Switch your phone off by removing the battery and turn it back on. This solution will work if this problem is temporary.
Solution 2
If you’re still facing this problem, then the next common source is a hardware issue. In this case, you’ll need to use your warranty in order to replace or repair your phone. If your phone is out of warranty, then you’ll need to get it repaired from your local phone repair store.
6. Call And Microphone Issues
Many S3 users complain about call quality. For some users, an update from Samsung fixed the microphone issue, but if you’re still facing this problem, then you should be able to solve the problem manually through one of these solutions.
Solution 1
As this is a software glitch, a factory reset can eliminate this problem. In order to reset your phone, go to Backup and reset in the Settings app, select Factory data reset and tap on Reset device. Make sure that you create a full backup of your device either through your phone’s default backup feature or through a third party app from the Google Play Store before proceeding with the factory reset.
Solution 2
You might also be able to fix this issue by disabling noise reduction. Open the Phone app, press the Menu button, tap on Call settings and select Advanced settings. Disable the Noise reduction option.
7. Lag
People using the latest Android devices consider lag to be a problem of the past as the latest Android phones feature a buttery smooth interface. Premium hardware and software are the reasons why there is almost no lag on the latest Android smartphones. While the Galaxy S3 is relatively old, you shouldn’t face any lag since the device features premium hardware. If you’re facing a lag, then you might need to change your software settings.
Solution 1
If Power saving mode is enabled on your device, it might be the sole reason for the lag. While Power saving can help you save a lot of battery juice, it can affect the performance of your phone as well. Go to Power saving in the Settings app and disable it by turning the toggle from On to Off.
Solution 2
If you’re facing a lag only when browsing through your home screens, then the S-Voice home button shortcut might be the issue. Open the Settings menu in S-Voice and disable the Open via the home key option.
8. Vibration When Playing Music
While some users haven’t even noticed this problem, others are annoyed by it. If your Galaxy S3 vibrates every time you play music, then there’s a very simple solution.
Solution
Go to Sound in the Settings app and disable the Auto haptic option.
9. SMS Force Close
Some users have reported that the stock SMS app keeps forcing closed and crashing. This can be quite frustrating, especially if you type a long message or want to attach a screenshot to your message and the app crashes. There are two possible solutions to this problem.
Solution 1
Use another SMS app, such as Hangouts. Hangouts is an excellent app for text messaging and is the ideal replacement for the stock SMS app. You can download Hangouts through the Google Play Button below.
Solution 2
Go to Applications manager in the Settings app, tap on the Messaging app and press the Clear cache button. This might fix the force closing problem in your stock SMS app.
10. Browser Brightness
A lot of users have problems using the stock internet browser on the Galaxy S3. If your browser stays at a lower brightness and gets really dim, you can use either of these solutions.
Solution 1
Go to Settings in the Browser app by pressing the Menu button. You’ll see a brightness controller. Use it to increase the brightness of the browser.
Solution 2
Use an alternative to the stock browser. Chrome is one of the best browsers currently available for Android and you should definitely consider using it as your default browser.
Conclusion
The Galaxy S3 still has some problems that a lot of users are complaining about. While almost all Android smartphones come with their own problems, the Galaxy S3 has quite a lot of problems that should have been fixed by Samsung through its software updates. Whether you just bought a new Galaxy S3 or you’ve been using it for a long time, you can easily solve these problems using the solutions mentioned above. The problems above are the most common issues that Galaxy S3 users are currently facing and the solutions should work with most devices. If you feel I’ve left out a major problem with the S3 or if you have any questions about this Samsung Galaxy S3 problems and troubleshooting guide, feel free to mention them in the comments section below. What’s next? Learn how to truly customize your S3, and figure out which S3 accessories are best for you.
