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Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update brings tons of new features to Samsung’s aging former flagship. However, it also appears to bring several Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop problems to owners in the United States and elsewhere. With problems swirling, we want to take a look at five things you need to know, right now, about Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 problems.

In December, Samsung pushed out its first Android 5.0 Lollipop update to the Galaxy S5. In January, Samsung made its next move. In late January, Samsung rolled out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update to the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3, two aging former flagship smartphones that were in need of some features and some bug fixes for KitKat problems.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is the device’s second major upgrade and like Samsung’s other updates, it delivers a host of new features, enhancements and, yes, problems.

LG G3 vs Galaxy Note 3 - 4

Not listed in the colorful Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update’s change logs are the Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop problems that are plaguing some owners of the device. Over the two months, especially after the update’s arrival on T-Mobile, we’ve seen numerous complaints about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update. Those complaints have only grown louder as Samsung’s roll out has grown.

With Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 problems mounting, we want to take a look at what we think are the five most important things Galaxy Note 3 users need to know about these problems. This will cover some of the biggest problems and it will also offer some potential fixes for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop problems. Here’s what you need to know if you own a Galaxy Note 3 in the US and in other parts of the world.

You’ll Fare Better if You Prepare

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update is making progress but it remains fairly limited as we push deeper into the month of March. In the United States, it’s currently available for T-Mobile users and the other four carriers remain quiet about their plans. This might actually be a good thing given how many complaints we’ve seen about Lollipop.

Android updates are never perfect and that extends to the Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update. While Samsung and its carrier partners are doing their best to snuff out Lollipop issues, it’s virtually impossible to smash them all. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to predict whether you’ll encounter Android 5.0 Lollipop problems but there are some steps to take in an effort to minimize the update’s impact on your phone and your life.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Note 3 -  006-X2

We’ve put together several steps that we think you should take before installing the Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update. These steps are simple, basic tips but they’ve worked out well for us in the past. While they’re aimed at novice users, they might come in handy for veteran Galaxy Note 3 users as well.

If you prepare before the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update, then you’ve done all that you can to prevent Galaxy Note 3 Android 5.0 problems from emerging on your device. There is always risk involved so you’ll want to prepare and gather feedback from other Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop users before taking the plunge.

Here’s How to Get Better Galaxy Note 3 Battery Life

In the months since the initial Lollipop release, Samsung smartphone users have been complaining about serious battery drain after making the move from Android 4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Galaxy Note 3 users are among those having problems and we continue to see complaints about bad Galaxy Note 3 battery life after Lollipop.

Battery life problems are a common issue though often times, it’s not the Android update itself that’s causing the problems. More often than not, it’s a rogue app or bad habits from users themselves.

Galaxy Note 3

In response to these complaints about bad Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop battery life, we’ve put together some fixes aimed at improving battery after Android 5.0 Lollipop. These fixes are a great starting point for those of you that have encounter battery drain after making the move and it’ll be a good reference for those of you planning to upgrade to Android 5.0 when the time comes.

It’s important to note that not all Galaxy Note 3 users are experiencing battery life problems. In fact, some users say that battery life is excellent on Android 5.0 Lollipop. There’s no way to predict how the software will impact your device so you’ll need to be proactive.

Other Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop Problems

Complaints about Galaxy Note 3 battery life issues are common but they aren’t the only issues being reported by Galaxy Note 3 users. T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 users in particular have been extremely vocal about the issues plaguing their device and one user has taken to T-Mobile’s forums to outline his problems in great detail. Here’s what he says:

The installation process was flawless, no errors and really fast, the errors started after the upgrade.

Just to mention a few:

1- The stock browser is worst that ever.

2.- Losses WIFI connection all the time, I have to restart the phone several times a day

3.- WIFI calling, that is a feature very very important to me, is a disaster

4- Drop calls no only in WIFI calling but also on regulars calls

5- I takes more than 5 minutes to regain signal after you lose it because you are in a basement or in a elevator for example and then go out.

6- Huge privacy problems, like for example, today I called my wife, she was connected to WIFI calling with her Galaxy S4, and I was driving. When I was calling her on my phone I had 3 different sounds when ringing, First the regular tone when you call someone, second the T-mobile ring tone and in the background I heard the news that my wife was listening on her computer at work, which is on the same network of the WIFI she was connected. This is a serious breach of privacy.

7- A month ago I bought a new battery for my phone, and it lasted a minimum of 1.5 days, depending on the use, after the upgrade, it lasts less than half of that, I have to recharge in the middle of the afternoon.

Galaxy Note 3 users are also complaining about issues with the notification tray, problems with the home button, random crashes, keyboard issues, force closing issues, app crashes, an odd issue where the screen randomly goes black, MMS issues, freezing and overheating, various app crashes, Wi-Fi problems, Bluetooth issues, and more.  It has gotten so bad for one user that he’s looking to downgrade his Galaxy Note 3 to Android 4.4.

Fixes for Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop Problems

In response to these issues, we’ve put together a list of common problems and fixes for those common Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop problems. These fixes will work for some people but not for others.

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Note 3 -  Cameras

Those fixes are a great starting point for Galaxy Note 3 users dealing with Lollipop problems though we also suggest digging deep into carrier forums and Android-centric forums for help. The Android community is massive and the Galaxy Note 3 is a popular phone. Galaxy Note 3 users on XDA-Developers and other sites are already digging for fixes for these issues and you’ll want to branch out after taking a look at our fixes.

You might also want to think about downgrading. It’s a lengthy process but this link offers some helpful resources for those of you looking to make the move back down the KitKat. The links are in the answer to the question.

Bug Fix Updates & Android 5.1 MIA

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that we still don’t have any read on an Android 5.1 Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note 3 or any bug fixes for the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3. Carriers, especially US carriers, rarely ever mention bug fix updates ahead of their release so those of you dealing with problems are going to need to really hunker down and try and fix these problems yourselves.

Android 5.1 is Google’s latest update and it comes with a series of bug fixes and enhancements for Android 5.0 Lollipop problems. Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything and US carriers are silent. While there’s a chance that Samsung will shift to Android 5.1 and its fixes in the future, we just want to let you know that we haven’t heard anything official, or unofficial, about an imminent release.

If and when we hear something about a bug fix or an Android 5.1 Lollipop update, we’ll let you know.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. jorge colmenares (@jjorge002)

    05/28/2015 at 12:46 pm

    I struggled, did everything I read and nothing worked and the problem is simple: Facebook location for messenger creates huge problem on the performance. Remove that and at least it fixes the overheat and battery problems on my Note 3. I think the problem is always related to the Location.

  2. Shawn grove

    07/16/2015 at 9:19 pm

    This phone sucks now

  3. John dee

    08/10/2015 at 3:50 am

    Indeed. Galaxy note 3 was a great phone prior to the update. Now its so bad that im thinking to revert to iphone. Its been forever since so called the lollipop “upgrade” was rolled and still no update fix so far. Millions of galaxy note owners are left to suffer, occasional restart by itself, slower phone overall, drop calls, battery drains and many more bugs. This was my first purchase with samsung phone and I will not touch their products again forever. What a bad after sales support. Shame samsung..shame on you.

  4. YK

    08/11/2015 at 2:35 am

    This Galaxy Note 3 phone intermittently just didn’t ring when someone called after the upgrade to lollipop (no such problem with KitKat). Samsung has even removed the report issue in the “settings” – there is no easy way users can notify them now. Apparently many users are experiencing the same problem. I need to restart the phone intermittently to regain the ringing tone. I thought they consider this as their flagship phone ……….??? The next phone will certainly not be a Samsung Note………..

  5. Mary Ann James

    09/20/2015 at 8:21 am

    My Note 3 was the best thing that could happen to me, but that was prior to the upgrade. I was privileged to buy mine when the phone was released.
    Now my S Pen does not work, it’s just a dummy piece.
    My Touch wiz has stopped working.
    I wonder what next?
    Always loved the phone, now I am most disappointed.

  6. Tayt

    10/16/2015 at 4:03 am

    LOLLIPOP UPDATE IS COMPLETE RUBBISH

  7. Xp Xpert

    12/11/2015 at 7:22 am

    the only issue i have is battery life , but other than that the phone works fine . it made my phone faster in every way.i did notice a 2 second delay for the camera app but th ephone works fine.

  8. latif

    02/15/2016 at 7:49 am

    The worst update ever is this lollipop one
    The phone was great
    Not its loosing wifi connection all the time
    Colors are terrible very childish and bright
    For proffesionals and businessmen its the worst

  9. George

    03/04/2016 at 12:01 pm

    I had a great phone, customized to the way I liked it and had a lot of cool features…the reason why I bought it. Now some of those features are gone the phone is slow and total crap. This update makes me want to smash it. Thanks for ruining a good phone. If I wanted an iphone I would have bought one. Stop trying to make it look like one.

  10. mohd fidzreey

    04/26/2016 at 6:48 am

    i have problem about my camera at note 3..that not work if i wanna setting camera…i done reset or format but still same no have setting in my camera pls fix again…i hope can give me feed back..tq

  11. NOK Othman

    04/27/2016 at 4:05 am

    My Note 3 just died last week. It was overheating seriously and just died. Samsung says it will cost me almost as much as a brand new Note 3 (current market price) to replace the motherboard. I refused, but I am going to buy another Note 3 because I liked its features and I think Note 5 is way too much for my current needs. My feeling is that my Note 3 was noticeably slower after the upgrade, overheats continuously and drains the battery faster than before. This time I am just going to stick to Kitkat. It’s still a great phone and serves me well.

  12. Albino

    05/06/2016 at 2:51 am

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    Hi guys I have a software promotion work for you which you can do sitting at your home on your anroidphone
    You have to promote softwares on your anroid phone and earn upto 3000-30000/month. no fee/no any hidden charge it’s completely genuine work without investing single one rupee.
    But you must have anroid phone with good working
    Internet.? Interested people contact me i will tell all processor again i am saying not a single one rupee you need to invest
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    नोट :- कृपया वे ही लोग संपर्क करें जिनके पास android मोबाइल हो और Facebook तथा whatsapp ठीक से use करना जानते हो

  13. Yusuf

    07/10/2016 at 8:24 pm

    Why my samsung nOte 3 cannot connect USB flashdisk via OTG cabel after upgrade to Lolipop?
    Has someone have a same problem like that…

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