9 Samsung Galaxy A7 Problems and Solutions
When your A7 stops working the first time, you can probably still muster some optimism. You might actually talk to your family, and they may not even seem that bad. Your friends might think you suddenly find their stories to be a lot more compelling, especially since you don’t spend the entire time Googling or texting. But beyond an initial one-time and easily fixed issue, your nerves can start to fray.
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 Uninstall
- Depending 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 Info
- Tap 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.
Must Read: Root Android Phones in 2 Minutes Using Universal Android Root
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 Info
- Tap 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.
I am having some problem with my Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) the problem was the speaker. I can’t hear anything though it is playing and more when I am connecting the headset (the one I purchased together with my phone) the sound automatically declines up to zero. What can I do with this? I just bought this about less than a month ago. Thanks!
Hi There,
You can make a test video clip with audio and record your voice for a few seconds. Play back the recording on your external speakers and if you can hear the audio, the speakers are fine.
If you can’t, try performing a factory data reset. Please let me know how this works out for you. =-)
Am having a problem when m on what’s app or Facebook and someone called I can’t answer the phone am using Samsung A7
Hi Kate,
When I am using Facebook or another app on my phone I get a notice at the very top and by only tapping the green phone symbol I am able to answer any call. What do you see on your screen when someone calls you when you are using these apps? =-)
I didn’t have this problem earlier but all of a sudden when I’m playing videos on my Samsung Galaxy A7 the audio gets muted a box appears on the screen with speaker symbol on it and then disappears and video plays again. This is happening frequently and in YouTube app the videos are getting paused
Hi There,
Have you tried clearing app cache or maybe even uninstalling and reinstalling so get the latest version? =-) Hope this helps and thanks for commenting.
Hello,many apps like watsapp, times of india etc are not working all of a sudden & the phone is displaying the message – nuggets error. Please update device. I am currently using android lollipop version. Please help.
Hi Shreya,
If the apps are not working you can try restarting your device, check for Android updates, Update the app, Force Stop the app, clear the cache for the app, or uninstall and reinstall the app. Hope this helps and thanks for commenting. =-)
Hey there, My Samsung Galaxy A7 6 won’t charge. Well, in a way. It’s at 0% and I can not open the phone for more than 5 seconds with out it shutting down. But the thing is, it says that it’s charging, It has been like this for 3 days. I’ve been trying new chargers to see if that was a problem, but none work, from a 5$ charger to an Original Samsung Charger. Please help me!
Hi Mohammed,
Try charging your phone with an official Samsung charger and when you plug in your phone, leave it along for a while without trying to turn it on. If that doesn´t work, you can try replacing the battery or following the tip mentioned in the link below.Hope this helps.
https://techsamaritan.com/tips-and-tricks-to-fix-android-phone-that-wont-charge-properly/
My samsung A7 is just showing a black blank screen. i can hear ring of calls, sound of messsages, alarm etc
What can I do pls
You can try turning off your phone and then pull out the battery. Leave it out for a few minutes and put everything back in and reboot. You can also try rebooting your phone by using pressing the home, power, and volume down button at the same time. If it doesn’t work with the volume down, try the volume up button. Hope this helps and it’s not a hardware issue.
I love you. It works!
Glad you were able to get a solution!
my a7(2016) does not refuse to charge.It has just lost the ability of fast charging.some time ago when i plugged in the charger,on its screen there was written”fast charging”but now,in the same situation there is written”charging”and it charges very slower.i plugged my a7 charger to another smartphone,note5,and it was fast charging without any problem.i also switched my charger to different wall sockets and this problem does not fix.another time i plugged a note5 charger to my a7 and it has the same problem.please help me.
Please read the information in the link, it should help.
https://techsamaritan.com/tips-and-tricks-to-fix-android-phone-that-wont-charge-properly/
Hi. I have a Samsung A7 (2016) and I just updated a new version of android. I had no problem to download it until 100%. The installing also went well. When it had restarted, i updated google play and themes. Then it suddenly went off and on my screen now it said “android is starting… Optimising app 38 of 38.”. It has been hours since it appears and i don’t know what to do. Please help me!!
Hello Aina, By wiping the cache partition this problem could be solved. Kindly follow the below steps. Ensure the device is powered off, and unplugged-> the Press and hold the Volume Down button and Power button for approximately 3 seconds then release-> then from the “Boot Mode Selection Menu” screen-> select Recovery(use the Volume Down button to scroll the menu and the Volume Up button to select.)-> then from the “No Command” screen (Android figure lying on his back)-> press and hold the Power button then press and release the Volume Up button to display the menu options-> then Select “wipe cache partition”(Use the Volume buttons to highlight and the Power button to select.)-> then “Reboot system now” will be highlighted, press the Power button to select it(Allow several minutes for the reboot process to complete).Let me know if that solves your problem.
my galaxy a7 I can’t format memory card as a internal storage no option
are you sure the card is working? If so, try to use a computer to format it then try it in your phone.
I can’t turn in wifi , bluetooth and hotspot too on my A7 2016. Please help me. How can i fix it.
What changed? Did you drop the phone or get a new case? Both of those can hinder the radio antennas and not let the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth work.
Can you make calls or use cellular data?
my galaxy A710Y/DS won’t connect to wifi.. if i will ON my wifi, it just says Turning on… and then nothing happens
.. what should I do.. I tried refreshing it a couple of times but it just won’t wok.. its been three days now since my phone encountered this problem
there are some devices that don’t like to connect to some networks. It is likely the router. Try to reset the modem and router. If it persists, you can clear the system cache. If that doesn’t work, you can look into the router settings to see if the MAC address is being rejected or set a new IP address.
I also have this wifi problem in my A7 2016. Could this be an hardware issue? I had already tried resetting (factory reset) a couple of times, however the result is just the same. But there are lucky instances that the wifi could be turn on but if you turn it off, it cannot be turn on again for a long time.
If a factory reset doesn’t work, it may be a hardware problem, especially since wifi does work occasionally. You can try to gently shake or tap to see if that makes a difference in the short term, but your best bet for a long term solution is to file a warranty claim and have your phone repaired.
My New sumsung Galaxy A7 2016 has problems of on and off I want to start it but the problem persist how to solve the issue
there is a long list of possibilities. It could have been dropped and loosened something on the board, it could be a bad internal battery connection, it could be a software glitch that’s resetting it, a case could be too tight, a bad button…
Without some honest backstory and some more detail, it’s hard to say what the problem could me.
My A7 suddenly gone black, no response, but overheating, cannot power off also. What is the solution ?????
what have you tried? any basic troubleshooting like trying to charge it with a different charger and cable? How about trying to boot into recovery by holding the power and down volume button?
Was there an update? Did the battery drain all the way overnight and just needs a good charge?
The internal storage of Galaxy A7 (2016) is full. I can’t make SD card as default storage, also WhatsApp is working only in internal storage and I want to use external storage for WhatsApp.
are you making a statement or are you asking a question?
How can I make SD card as default storage in Galaxy A7 (2016)??
That depends what you mean. If you are asking for it to be the default storage for images, that’s your camera. Sometimes your photo app. If you are asking it to be your default terminal storage, many of the newer phones don’t allow this. You can however, use it as portable storage or get an OTG (On The Go) storage device that plugs into the USB port the bottom of most phones.
My Samsung A7 (2016) dropped in water. now it is showing message of “overheating, shut it off”.
what should i do?
Hello Reema, a full hardware check is still needed to be conducted though so you must find another service that can do this task for you. Stop whatever you’re doing and stop looking for software solutions. There’s no amount of troubleshooting that you can do on your end to fix a water-damaged phone. Otherwise, simply have it replaced. Hope this would helpful.
I have a mobile phone Galaxy A7 (2016). A few days ago I updated latest firmware for this phone by using Odin. When phone is starting it as first time it says that there is no internet connection and phone is not starting even I turn on Wi-Fi or mobile network. I think the problem is that I should not install latest firmware. How can I solve this problem. Thanks…
Hi, Mehmet. Could you be more specific? Is your phone not starting at all or is it not connecting to Wi-Fi or the mobile network?
I have an a7
My son dropped it and suddenly the screen is not working and i can here it restarting over and over by itself until the battery dies
That’s rough, Mustafa. Unfortunately, that’s hardware damage, so there’s not really anything you can do. You’ll just have to have the phone serviced. Do you have insurance on it? Is it under warranty?
Hello! I am having problems right now with my Samsung A7 2016. I recently reformatted my phone and after refomatting it, it asked me to sign in in to my Google Account i then signed in but suddenly pooped out saying unable to perform due to password change and it will perform again after 24 hours. Its been 3 days and i still could not open my phone. Hoping you could help me with this problem. Thankyou!
Hey, Nicky. Did you actually change your password? If so, have you tried using the old one? The account may be out of sync. If that doesn’t help, and I suspect it may not, others have been able to solve this problem by contacting Google (with proof of purchase) or their provider for assistance. In the mean time, try making a dummy Google Account and see if you can log in using it. That will at least let you use your phone, but you won’t be able to access files associated with the other account unless they’re saved to a cloud service.
Good luck and feel free to reply if you need more help!
I am having Samsung a and suddenly it shutdown on using and got extremely hot. Its not getting on now ………
Plz answer as soon as possible
Overheating is a pretty common problem for all kinds of smartphones. We’ve written about solving overheating problems here
and here
These strategies should solve your problem.
I am having Samsung galaxy a7.Accidentally water fell to my phone.Wiped off water and kept for drying.Now the problem is my Home button is not working now.What should I do?pls help me to fix it..
Sounds like the water damaged your home button. Because it’s a hardware problem, you’ll need to have it repaired. Good luck!
Hi
I have an A7 that says NOT REGISTERED ON NETWORK. I have tried most everything on the net except remove the battery.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, Tomy. All you need to do is activate your network operator. To do so, go to Settings -> Wireless and Networks or Network connections -> More networks -> Mobile Networks (you may need to tap More Settings to find Mobile Networks) -> Network Operators. Then just select your Network Operator and you should be good to go.
I have a72015,,NFC won’t work,,,stayed in a gray color
Hey Jamalodin. I’m afraid I don’t quite understand your issue. Could you please rephrase your statement?
Hi.i am facing very terrible issue with A7 as its continuously blinking waves on display did every thing lost my worth data but its still same.kindly help me
Hi, Shams. Our guide on fixing screen flickering should be able to help you. If not, comment again and I’ll work with you further.
HI i CAN HEAR PEOPLE WHEN I CALL OR THEY CALL ME, BUT THEY CANNOT HEAR ME.
THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY
CAN YOU HELP PLEASE
Hi, Lee. Are you able to make audio recordings using your device? If not, then the problem is most likely with the microphone and you’ll need to take it to a local service provider. If so, the issue is with your service connection and you’ll need to contact your service provider’s customer support.
my Samsung A7 (2016) does not have notification light..pls what can I do to it.
secondly, when I snap with the front camera (with front camera on) the image is dark but when I turn off the front flash light, the image is good.
thirdly, can I update to nougat because am tired of marshmallow. thks
Hi, Hollamy.
First, Smart Alert and flash notifications may be acceptable alternatives to the notification light. Smart Alert can be found under Settings -> Notifications and Gestures, and flash notifications can be enabled by going to Settings -> Accessibility -> Hearing.
Second, this sounds like an issue with your Auto Contrast settings. Try adjusting them to see if it solves the problem. If not, feel free to comment again and we can try something else.
Third, go to Settings -> About Phone -> System Updates to see if your device is eligible for an update.
Good luck, and please let me know if I can assist you further.
Hi
My a7 2017 upload and download is very slow, my other devices dont have this problem
Hi Omar. If your internet connection is strong, try clearing your device cache and the cache of any apps you’re using to download. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t have any unnecessary apps running in the background.
My mobile samsung a7 2017 not connecting to 4g from 3g unless i need restart my phone or toggle airplane mode.it goes 3g but not back to 4g even i am in a 4g coverage area.my mobile updated to noughat. tried factory reset.updated software at samsung service still same
Hi, Niyaz. Confirm that you have 4G enabled by going to Settings -> Connections -> Mobile Networks -> Network Mode and make sure you have an LTE band setting selected.
Hi, my samsung galaxy A7 (2017) very slow to wake up, the longest is 20 sec to wake up. It’s very annoying, especially when when someone call me, i can’t answer the phone if the screen isn’t wake up. i didn’t know why this is happened. i did’nt install large apps, either my memory card isn’t that full. Please any suggest may be helpful. Thank you.
Of all the issues I have seen, I have the worst. Instead of 16GB memory, I have 7MB of storage and I haven’t even installed any apps and I have cleared all cache. But when you to the file explorer, It displays 4GB free storage. But when I try to install something larger than 7MB, it shows storage full. On the phone, it displays 1.8GB free RAM when it is actually 22MB free RAM. Games can’t run at all, apps more than 40MB can’t run. It also displays on the phone that 4G internet when you insert a SIM but actually is as slow as an edge network and I have tried changing the edge network but there is no option to choose. You can’t access APN settings. If you do, the phone will display android system force stop and will automatically go back. It also has a terrible screen problem, You press here, it touches there. It can’t even update. I have waited for an update for 2 years but no update. I have looked for updates on the internet and they have come out but anytime you search for a software update it doesn’t work. And it also has a camera problem. It is 2MP instead of 16MP. What is wrong with this phone. I desperately need a solution
My voice is not getting through as the caller ( thats me) is able to hear the voice of seco d party but second party is not able to listen me. Iam using Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
I have Samsung A7(2016). I am facing storage issue. Here when I check the free space it shows only 2gb free space but when check the data. there is only 4.5gb data stored on the mobile storage. What do I do to release the remaining storage?
Hi Uzair, in most cases, the storage space used that’s not being reported correctly is either due to the storage space being used by miscellaneous or Download folder. You might want to try apps like file manager or explorer to see what’s really going on with the storage space of your phone. https://techsamaritan.com/best-file-managers-for-android/
My front camera dissapeared all of a suidden i have tried to reboot bt all in vain the camera app also disappeared in da applications I don’t kno wat to do now sumsung a7