Hardware aside, if you own this phone, the issues below will be the only J7 specific problems you’ll encounter. Thankfully, no matter how the small problem, there’s always a solution. Before I get to the few problems the J7 has, take a look at how to fix most software hiccups with the phone. With most Galaxy J7 software problems you can fix them by:
Turning the device on and offPerforming a soft resetWiping the cache partitionBooting the device into safe mode and doing testingInstalling any OTA updatesPerforming a hard rest, this will wipe all user data
Hopefully, all you’ll need to do is quickly turn your J7 on and off to get it working properly again. If that doesn’t work, you can go down the list until you get to the final option.
Soft Resetting the Galaxy J7
A soft reset is one of the first things you should try if turning your phone on and off doesn’t work. To soft reset the Galaxy J7:
Press and hold the Power buttonKeep this held down for ten seconds.
Additionally, you can:
Remove the battery and then wait a few minute before putting it back in, and turning the phone on.
This is a process that’s recommended every few days, not just when you have an issue.
Wiping the Galaxy J7’s Cache Partition
If you’re still having issues, the next troubleshooting step is wiping the cache partition. This won’t take much time, and will help clear your phone of more software bugs than you first realize.
Booting the Galaxy J7 into Safe Mode, and What to Test For
Booting your phone into safe mode is an easy way to determine if a software issue is causing you a problem. More often than not, if you have a software bug, it won’t show up while in safe mode. There are two easy ways to boot your phone into safe mode, just remember to turn it off when you’re done.
Hard Resetting the Galaxy J7
A hard reset is your absolute last resort, and should only be attempted when you’ve run out of options. A hard reset will wipe all of your user data. There are multiple ways to hard reset an Android phone. Before performing a hard reset, otherwise known as a Factory Reset, please backup all of your data. A hard reset should never be your first option, but is a surefire way to fix any software issues.
1. Alphabet Scroll Wheel Missing
One helpful feature in Lollipop is the addition of the alphabet scroll wheel in your app drawer. With it, you can easily access apps without needing to swipe through page after page, when it works. Unfortunately, the scroll wheel on the J7 can disappear without notice. Fortunately, you can reverse its disappearing act, but not without a little effort.
Solutions:
Step 1: First and foremost:
Perform all of the steps above, except the hard reset, Safe Mode, and updating, to see if the problem is resolved.
Step 2: If the problem still persists:
Boot your phone into Safe Mode, and then check your app drawer to see if the scroll wheel has returned. If it hasn’t, try updating your phone to the most recent firmware.
Step 3: If the problem only appears with your stock launcher:
Install a new launcher, like Nova Launcher Prime, and see if you can now browse through your apps efficiently. Even if the scroll wheel doesn’t’ reappear, you can find a better replacement.
Step 4: If none of these options clear up the problem…
Try updating to the most recent firmware. While I shudder to think of it, if none of these options work, your only option left is a factory reset. This should be your final option; it will erase all user data completely from all connected storage.
2. WiFi not Connecting
It’s not a stretch to say any mobile device can have WiFi problems, but I’ve noticed this is extremely common with Samsung devices. The problem consists of your network claiming you don’t have access, or it constantly drops you from your connection. There are a few steps you can take to fix this.
Solutions:
Step 1: Before attempting any other fixes, please:
Perform all of the steps mentioned at the start of the article, except for the hard reset.
Step 2: If the problem continues:
When connecting to your WiFi, make sure your phone is no more than a few paces away from the router. You should be able to establish a connection from this distance.
Step 3: If distance isn’t the problem, try resetting your router.
Power the router off, then unplug it. Or use the router’s reset button.Wait at least fifteen minutes after the router has been unplugged.Plug the router back in and turn it on.
Now try to connect to your network again.
Step 4: Clear Wi-Fi connections:
Clear your phone of all existing Wi-Fi connections, and then try to connect to your Wi-Fi again. If this doesn’t work, create a new password and Wi-Fi name. You can choose any name you want, just as long as you aren’t embarrassed by it.
Step 5: Disable Wi-Fi Power Saver Mode:
This next one is a little long, but stay with me. If your connection is constantly dropping, disable Wi-Fi Power Saver Mode. To disable the mode:
Head to your dialer and get ready to enter a number.Enter *#0011#
This will put your phone into Service Mode. When in this mode, tap the three dots in upper right corner and select: Wi-Fi.
On the new menu, go down to the bottom.Where you see: Wi-Fi Power Save Mode, switch it to OFF.
3. Low Camera Quality
The Galaxy J7 is equipped with a 13MP rear camera, so taken pictures should look better than a Gameboy camera. However, some users have reported blurry, and grainy photos that look like the camera quality was cut in half. There’s a mixture of potential software, or environmental circumstances that cause this.
Solutions:
Step 1:
As with all of the other J7 problems, please attempt all of the options aside from a hard reset before you go forward with any other steps.
Step 2:
Examine the lens on the back of your phone, and on the front of your phone. If you have any covering (a plastic protector for example) obscuring them, please remove them and try taking a picture again.
Step 3:
If you haven’t done it already, reexamine your camera settings, and try toggling different features and settings before checking for different results.
Step 4:
Lastly, make sure to observe the lighting in your surroundings. Even with a flash, low light areas can make for grainy pictures, even with the best Android camera.
4. Not Receiving Updates
Keeping the Galaxy J7 up to date is one way to combat against any software hiccups. However, some users haven’t been able to run any updates through their phone normally. Being barred from new updates is a good way to limit your options, so this is something that requires an immediate fix. If you’re currently rooted, please return to stock and see if you can update before attempting any of these options.
Solutions:
Step 1:
Not all of the recommended steps above can help with this problem, but what you can do is:
Turn the phone off and then back on.Perform a soft reset.Boot the phone into Safe Mode and see if anything is available.Wipe the cache partition.
If you still can’t receive updates, there’s still one more option you can try.
Step 2:
If your phone won’t tell you that you have updates available, you’ll need to seek them out yourself and flash them. Flashing new, or old, firmware thankfully isn’t complicated. All you need is the latest version of Odin, and some patience.
5. Phone Automatically Rebooting
Out of the problems on this list, this one is the most annoying. If you’ve ever had your Galaxy J7 (or any device for that matter) randomly reboot in the middle of any task, you’ll agree with me. Thankfully, there’s a way to put a stop to this.
Solutions:
Step 1:
As with the other J7 problems, attempt every basic troubleshooting option mentioned at the beginning, except for the hard reset.
Step 2:
Now let’s start fiddling with your settings a little. The first option on the table is in your Backup and Reset menu.
Go to your SettingsNavigate to Backup and ResetScroll to your Auto Reset option, and turn it OFF if it’s currently ON
Step 3:
There’s one more stop to make in your Settings. In your Settings go to Developer Options If you aren’t already a developer, go to About Device or About Phone, scroll to your build number, and then tap it seven times.
In Developer Options, long-press Set Limit Background ProcessesNext, select the number of processes you’d like with At Most _ Processes for your option
Step 4:
Next reboot your phone (on your own terms this time) to apply your changes.
6. Overheating and Quick Battery Drain
These two problems go hand in hand, and both are almost equally annoying. Overheating will cause long term damage, and a rapidly draining battery will shorten both long term battery life, and short term. It’s imperative that you get both fixed as quickly as possible.
Solutions:
Step 1:
Besides checking for the usual software bugs, the first step to any battery issue is locating the root. To do this, you’ll need better battery usage detecting apps than your stock provides. Throughout a day of phone usage, regularly check what’s using how much of your battery, and when. There are plenty of apps that drain more of your battery than you realize, so be on the lookout.
Step 2:
Is your background bright and vibrant? If you don’t mind losing some color, a black wallpaper can save you some of your battery. It’s not a myth, there’s actual science behind it that proves it works.
Step 3:
While the J7 has an overheating problem, it isn’t the only Android phone that gets hot with use. To help minimize the damage, learn what you need to do when your phone turns up the heat. There’s more than one way to help keep your phone cool, so be sure to arm yourself with everything you can.
Conclusion
Thankfully, the Galaxy J7 doesn’t have very many internal problems. Users can find faults with the design, or hardware choices, but the J7 runs beautifully for a phone of its price. If you’re in the market for a new phone, you can do a lot worse than the Samsung Galaxy J7. Have you had any problems with J7 that aren’t mentioned here? If you leave your question in the comments below, we can help you as soon as possible! Featured Image Credit
