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Samsung Galaxy S3 problems and solutions

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S3 6
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The Samsung Galaxy S3 may be more than three years old, but many people are still using it as their main phone. We don’t blame them – it’s a classic. But if you find it’s becoming a little tired, we have the solutions to the most common Samsung Galaxy S3 problems to help you get it back on its feet.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S3 11
Having problems with the Galaxy S3? We're here to help. / © ANDROIDPIT

How to fix Galaxy S3 Wi-Fi problems

If you’re having problems with the Galaxy S3 Wi-Fi, try disconnecting from the Wi-Fi, booting into airplane mode, and then re-connecting to the Wi-Fi. It's a simple trick, but it can work. 

If this doesn’t help, reset your Wi-Fi router or disconnect it for a few minutes to see if that works.

androidpit samsung galaxy s3 problems 1
Turn your Wi-Fi off, switch Airplane mode on and try to connect to the Wi-Fi again. / © ANDROIDPIT

How to fix Galaxy S3 Bluetooth problems

Many phones have trouble with Bluetooth connectivity and unfortunately it can be difficult to fix. Generally, the best advice is to turn off Bluetooth on both your Galaxy S3 and the connecting device, then re-enable it on your smartphone first, before attempting to reconnect to your headphones, speakers, etc.

It is possible that certain apps with Bluetooth functionality affect the connectivity. Try uninstalling any recent apps thart may be causing the problem.

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Turn your S3's Bluetooth on before anything else and don't forget to make use of the power-saving mode (right) if your battery is running low. / © ANDROIDPIT

How to fix Galaxy S3 battery problems

If the battery life of your Galaxy S3 is dwindling we have a few suggestions. Firstly, if you don’t use your device for calls so much, try using it in airplane mode. You can still use Wi-Fi while it is in this mode, so you still have access to the internet, WhatsApp and Facebook messaging.

You could also buy a new battery. After three years, the battery your S3 originally came with may struggle to hold a strong charge.

Then there are the major battery-draining culprits like screen brightness and widgets to look out for. Try reducing the brightness of your display, removing any unnecessary widgets, and enabling the power-saving mode.

Check out our complete list of Android battery saving tips at the link.

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Turn your brightness down and shorten the screen-timeout time to improve battery life. / © ANDROIDPIT

How to fix Galaxy S3 reboot problems

If your Galaxy S3 frequently restarts, it may be caused by your microSD card. Certain kinds of microSD cards can cause trouble for the Galaxy S3 – try removing yours to see if it helps.

How to factory reset the Galaxy S3

If you still have problems with your device, try a factory reset. Follow our guide on how to back up everything on Android, and then bring the device back to its factory state. As long as the phone isn’t physically damaged, this should fix all your Galaxy S3 problems.  

Follow our how to reset the Galaxy S3 guide at the link.

Are you having problems with your Galaxy S3? Have you found the solutions? Let us know what they are in the comments. 

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Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

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5 comments
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  • 1
    Hacker Man Jul 10, 2016 Link to comment

    Here's a way to run the phone without a battery... LINK= forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/accessories/to-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-battery-t3415621


  • 1
    Matthew Ayres Jan 17, 2016 Link to comment

    Hello all, i have a galaxy s3 with no service as i use it on WiFi only. Its from sprint the sph-l710. As of recently i have been having issues with my phone freezing as well as issues with the touchwiz home screen app. The phone itself is about 6yrs old, so I'm not surprised its finally having issues but at the same time i am. I have tried installing a different touchwiz home screen app, still had the same problem. I have also done a factory reset to no avail. The only thing i haven't done yet is a hard reset. But before i do that i would like other opinions as to what could possibly be wrong or a different solution. All apps and everything on my phone are up to date. Anyone please help


  • 2
    Jay B. Oct 31, 2015 Link to comment

    Scott,
    Thanks for the info on Wi-Fi connectivity, I hope that it will solve the occasional problem that I have connecting to Wi-Fi. I was not aware that Wi-Fi would work while the phone is in airplane mode, that is good to know.
    I was a little confused about how to 'boot into airplane mode' as instructed in the text, as I did not know exactly how to do that, but the caption under the image cleared it up. Being an old computer programmer my definition of 'boot' apparently differs from yours.


  • Iqbal khan 1
    Iqbal khan Oct 28, 2015 Link to comment

    or one can flash a new 12.1 custom rom. i m on archidroid 3.1.4.. and get a new battery and the phone is at par with most of the mid range phones


  • 46
    Deactivated Account Oct 27, 2015 Link to comment

    If you have an S3 that is 3 years old and haven't changed the battery, I know a new one will help. I am on my 3rd. Also just turning your phone off, then removing the battery for 30 seconds will rest the phone and help with problems. Mine is still going strong after 3 + years.

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