Android
10 Common Galaxy S6 Problems & How to Fix Them
Samsung Galaxy S6 problems continue to plague users around the world. With that in mind, we take a look at some common Galaxy S6 problems and offer potential solutions to those struggling on Android Nougat and Android Marshmallow
While many Galaxy S6 users are reporting a very solid experience, others are running into problems with their device and its software.
This is problematic because bug fix updates have become infrequent and Samsung’s stopped pushing monthly security updates to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Samsung still supports the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy S6 Active.
If you run into an issue on your device, you’re likely on your own. Fortunately, most issues can be fixed from the comfort of your computer chair.
Our list of fixes addresses the most common Galaxy S6 problems including weird battery drain, Wi-Fi problems, and other performance issues.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Battery Life Problems
Some Samsung Galaxy S6 users have experienced abnormal battery drain after installing new software. In some cases, the battery drain came out of the blue.
This isn’t at all surprising because battery life problems are among the most common smartphone afflictions and they tend to popup after huge software upgrades like Android Nougat.
@SamsungMobile battery life on my Galaxy S6 is GARBAGE since the #Nougat update. The predictive texting is messed up as well. Please address
— Jess (@Jess_and_Sophie) May 2, 2017
In years past, Samsung Galaxy S users experiencing battery life problems could opt to exchange the stock battery with an extended one. The Galaxy S6 and its design language prevent that exchange. And that puts a greater importance on software tweaks and third-party fixes.
In response to these complaints, we’ve put together a list of fixes for bad Samsung Galaxy S6 battery life after Nougat.
There’s no guaranteed fix for Galaxy S6 battery life problems but Galaxy S6 users suffering from battery drain will want to try out some of those solutions before calling up Samsung or the device’s carrier for assistance.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Wi-Fi Problems
Complaints about poor Wi-Fi connectivity are also extremely common and we continue to see many Samsung Galaxy S6 users complain about Wi-Fi problems.
We’ve seen complaints about slow connections, about connections abruptly dropping and more. Fortunately, there are a few things to try if Wi-Fi starts acting up out of the blue or after installing a new update like Android Nougat.
First, try restarting the Galaxy S6. To do that, hold the power button on the right side of the phone until prompted. Hold it down again to turn the Galaxy S6 back on. It’s a simple process but it has been known to dislodge Wi-Fi issues.
If that doesn’t work, you’ll want to try rebooting the local router if that hasn’t been done in awhile. We recommend unplugging the router for a good 30 seconds and then plugging it back in.
You might also consider updating the routers firmware. This process will be different depending on make and model of the router. If those simple fixes don’t work, it’s time to head into the Galaxy S6’s settings.
If the Galaxy S6 isn’t getting a solid connection, it’s time to force the device to forget the Wi-Fi network in question. To do that, head to the desired connection in your device’s Settings.
Once you’re in there, select Wi-Fi. Tap on the desired network and select the Forget option. This will cause your device to forget the Wi-Fi network password so make sure you have that handy.
If that doesn’t work, head into Wi-Fi, tap More in the top right corner, and select Advanced. Ensure that Always allow scanning is turned on. You’ll also want to make sure that Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep is set to Always.
If that still doesn’t fix your Wi-Fi issue, you should boot your Galaxy S6 into Safe Mode. Safe Mode disables third-party apps and that could help you narrow down the cause of your Wi-Fi issues.
Here’s how to boot your Galaxy S6 into Safe Mode should you need to.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Bluetooth Problems
In the weeks since the Samsung Galaxy S6 Nougat release we’ve seen several complaints about Bluetooth problems.
Bluetooth issues are among the most common smartphone problems on the planet and they will almost certainly continue to pop up as the Galaxy S6 and its software get older.
If you encounter Bluetooth problems on your Galaxy S6 should first try toggling your Bluetooth off. To do this, head into Settings (or to your Quick Settings) and flip it off then on again to see if that jumpstarts your connection.
If that doesn’t fix the problem, it’s time to forget your device’s Bluetooth connections. Head into Bluetooth, tap the appropriate connection(s) and select Forget the problem device or devices. Then, reconnect.
Users trying to connect to Bluetooth in the car will need to consult the car’s manual in order to reset the car’s Bluetooth.
The process is going to be different for each make and model so users will need to consult the car’s manual.
Once the car’s Bluetooth connection has been reset and the connection on the Galaxy S6 has been forgotten, try reconnecting to see if it works.
If none of that works, we recommend booting into Safe Mode which will disable third-party applications. Here’s how to boot the Galaxy S6 into Safe Mode:
- Power down the device. Then, press & hold the power button and volume down key.
- Once it boots up, you can let go of the power button but keep the volume key held down.
- When you have successfully entered into Safe Mode, you will notice the text ‘Safe Mode’ at the bottom left corner of the screen.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Performance Problems
Samsung Galaxy S6 users experiencing abnormal lag or sluggishness after installing Android Nougat will be happy to know that there are an array of fixes to try and help stabilize the performance of the device’s software.
The first potential fix that we recommend is a process that will clear the Galaxy S6’s cache partition. To clear the cache partition on the Galaxy S6, follow these steps:
- Turn the Galaxy S6 off.
- Press and hold Home, Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously until the device vibrates.
- When the Samsung logo appears, release them.
- Tap Volume Down repeatedly until you Wipe Cache Partition. Select it with the power button. Select Yes.
- Wait for the process to complete. It could take awhile.
- Reboot your Galaxy S6.
We also recommend halting the use of live wallpapers as they can negatively impact performance. You can also try downloading a different launcher. We recommend the Nova launcher.
You can also try fiddling with the device’s animations though this should only be used as a last resort. To do this, go into the About section of your Settings, it’s found under the System tab.
Once you’re there, you can tap the Build Number section seven times to get into Developer mode. Novice Galaxy S6 users should not attempt this.
Once the Developer options appear, there should be options for Window animation scale, Transition animation scale, Animator animation scale.
By default, these are set to 1x. Some Galaxy S6 users say that changing them to .5x will speed up the phone and improve performance.
For more tips, we recommend taking a look at our list of ways to improve Galaxy S6 performance on Android Nougat.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Random Reboots
Random reboots are a problem for Android Marshmallow users and Galaxy S6 users on Nougat are reporting the issue as well.
If your Galaxy S6 starts shutting down without warning, you’ll want to first try restarting your phone to see if that alleviates the issue.
If that fails to fix your issue, we recommend updating your applications with the latest bug fixes and tweaks.
We also recommend clearing App Data and Cache. In order to do that, you’ll need to go into Settings and then Applications.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Overheating Problems
Galaxy S6 users report that the device sometimes runs extremely hot. This can happen when playing an intense game for a few hours straight though some users are saying that it’s happening without much provocation.
Thankfully, there are a few fixes you can try if the Samsung Galaxy S6 starts getting hot for no apparent reason.
First, try restarting the Galaxy S6. Leave it off for a minute or so and then boot it back up.
If that doesn’t work, we suggest booting into Safe Mode to see if it’s an app that’s causing the problem. A rogue app could be overworking itself so it’s important to check to see if that’s what might be occurring.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Sound Problems
Galaxy S6 sound problems are extremely common and we’ve seen Marshmallow and Nougat users complain about muffled and non-existent audio.
The first thing you’ll want to do is to check your Galaxy S6’s speaker grille to make sure its clean. Check for debris and clear it if necessary.
If that doesn’t help, reboot your device. That’s cleared the problem for us in the past.
If you’re experiencing the sound issue in a specific app, download the latest bug fix update. If that doesn’t fix the problem, get in contact with the developer.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 GPS Problems
Some Galaxy S6 users are experiencing GPS issues after installing new software. There are a few fixes to try before giving up and spending time on the phone, or in a store, looking for help.
The first thing to do is to shut off GPS. Shut it off and then toggle it back on.
The second thing to do is to go into the Galaxy S6’s Settings. From there, scroll over to the Personal tab and select Privacy and safety.
Once there, tap Location and then Location Method. Once you’re there, you can try using GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks to try and track your location.
If that’s not accurate, try Wi-Fi and Mobile only. If that doesn’t work, try using GPS only. You can also try toggling Location On then Off then On from the previous screen to see if that jolts it.
If you’re dealing with Google Maps GPS issues, go into your Application Manager and select Google Maps from the list of applications. Select clear cache and try again.
If you haven’t updated Google Maps (or whatever maps service you’re currently using) in awhile, you probably want to do that now.
If that doesn’t solve the issue, it’s time to boot the phone into safe mode to see if a third-party application is causing the problem.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 App Problems
If you’re noticing problems with your first and/or third party apps and services, try updating the problem app. There’s a good chance that the developer’s rolled out a recent bug fix and this bug fix could correct the issue.
If that doesn’t help, delete the app and reinstall it. If the problems continue, Samsung recommends that Galaxy users reach out to the developer and alert them to the problem. This will help them identify the problem and potentially fix it in a later update.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Charging Problems
Galaxy S6 users are also reporting charging problems including slow charging.
If you start noticing charging issues, make sure the device is charging on the charger that came with the Galaxy S6. If charging is still not functioning properly, try using a charger with the same voltage rating as the Samsung Galaxy S6 charger.
If nothing else works, try ditching the wall charger for a USB cable. Plug the Galaxy S6 into a computer to see if that helps.
How to Fix Galaxy S6 Problems if Nothing Works
If nothing here works, you have a few options. One option is to root and use unofficial software to see if that helps to stabilize the Android/TouchWiz experience.
You can also try downgrading to an earlier version of Android to see if that improves your device’s performance.
If nothing seems to work, it might be time to start from scratch. Factory resetting a Galaxy S6 is a time consuming process so you’ll want to put aside a few hours to get it done.
You’ll also want to backup all of your files. A factory reset will wipe everything from your phone so you’ll want to be careful.
To factory reset the Samsung Galaxy S6, go into Settings then Personal then Backup and reset. From there, select Factory Data Reset. From there, select Reset Device.
If that doesn’t help solve your problem, get in contact with Samsung or your carrier to see if you can work something out.
Wait for the Galaxy S9 If You Want the Best Software | |||||||||||||
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If you plan on keeping your next phone for awhile you should strongly consider waiting for the Galaxy S9 launch. If you're the type of person that typically waits two, three, four, even five years to upgrade your phone, the Galaxy S9 is probably worth waiting for. Samsung probably won't advertise this on stage during the Galaxy S9's launch event, but the devices should receive at least two years of major Android OS upgrades and several more years of bug fix updates and important security patches. While it might be tempting to go with a cheaper alternative like the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S7, their software support will be coming to an end much sooner. Samsung typically stops upgrading devices with major OS upgrades after the two year mark which means the Galaxy S7 might not get Android 9.0 P. The Galaxy S9's hardware also ensures the device will get robust versions of Samsung's next OS upgrades. Samsung's Android updates for older phones are often limited by aging hardware. The Galaxy S9 should launch with an improved version of Samsung's Experience UI. Rumors point to a brand new UX complete with upgraded AI, Bixby 2.0 (an upgraded version of the Galaxy S8's personal assistant), and a take on Apple's Animoji feature on the iPhone X. The Galaxy S9's software will reportedly include animal characters and allow users to share them with friends across messaging apps. If you plan on keeping your next phone for several years and you want the latest features, fixes, and patches without having to install custom software, consider waiting a few more weeks to make your move. | |||||||||||||
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