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Sony Xperia Z5 problems and how to fix them

sony xperia z5 camera
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The Sony Xperia Z5 is a well-rounded gadget with a top-notch camera and solid battery life, but it's not without its flaws. If you're dealing with a faulty Sony Xperia Z5, read on for our best tips on how to solve the smartphone's most commonly-known problems.

sony xperia z5 app drawer 1
Sony Xperia Z5 problems? We're here to help. / © ANDROIDPIT

Shortcut to problem:

Sony Xperia Z5 won't turn on

Trying to turn on the Sony Xperia Z5 and instead being left staring at a blank screen is mighty annoying, but thankfully Sony suggests some fixes for this particular Z5 problem.

One potential solution is to try a forced shutdown. Open up the cover for the nano-SIM card and memory card slot, and using the tip of a pen or a similarly-sized object, press and hold the OFF button for a couple of seconds. The Sony Xperia Z5 will vibrate three times, after which you can release the OFF button. Try turning the device on to see if the problem is solved.

If you're still hitting a brick wall, it's worth trying a two-minute restart, which is done by pressing and holding the OFF button for around 120 seconds. Ignore any vibrations you feel during this two-minute window – only release the OFF button when the time is up. Plug the Xperia Z5 into a charger and, when you spot a charging icon on the screen, try powering it on.

sony xperia z5 front camera
If in doubt, reset. / © ANDROIDPIT

Sony Xperia Z5 has poor battery life

Trying to survive with a smartphone with poor battery life is a nightmare, but thankfully there are plenty of third-party apps around that might just save the day.

Greenify is one of the most reliable performance-boosting apps, and it's free to download, which makes grabbing it a no-brainer. The app puts programs into a state of hibernation to reduce the strain they put on the Sony Xperia Z5 when they're not in use.

It's worth noting that Greenify requires a rooted device to work at its very best, but there are plenty of features tucked into the app for non-rooted users.

If you're not convinced by Greenify, there's a whole host of alternative solutions that are worth taking a closer look at. It's possible to squeeze more out of the Sony Xperia Z5 if you activate STAMINA mode, for example, which disables Wi-Fi and mobile data while the screen is turned off.

Ultra STAMINA mode takes things a step further by limiting everything except 'core tasks' such as the ability to send and receive calls and texts. Reducing screen brightness or removing live wallpapers also makes an impact.

Sony Xperia Z5 touchscreen isn't working

The touchscreen on the Sony Xperia Z5 may be affected by custom screen protectors, so if you have one, it's worth removing it to see if it's the cause of the problem. If not, Sony says that excessive heat can also affect the Sony Xperia Z5's display. 

sony xperia z5 play station
Make sure your screen protector isn't causing trouble. / © ANDROIDPIT

As we mentioned above, manually resetting the Sony Xperia Z5 using the button near the memory card slot can work wonders. As an added bonus, you won't lose any settings or personal data by trying this out.

Using Sony's own Xperia Diagnostics application, it's possible to carry out a test to see if the phone identifies a problem itself. From the Sony Xperia Z5's home screen, head to Settings > About phoneDiagnosticsTest. Follow the on-screen instructions and await results with crossed fingers.

The free-to-download PC Companion app is a great resource for resetting the Sony Xperia Z5, so we recommend you grab the tool yourself and browse through its Repair menu. Sony notes that content stored on an external SD card, such as photos, videos and music, is not deleted when using the software.

Sony Xperia Z5 phone calls sound bad

Some Sony Xperia Z5 owners have noted a drop in audio quality during phone calls, which can sometimes be resolved by adjusting sound enhancement features.

sony xperia z5 calling
A faulty SIM can ruin audio. / © ANDROIDPIT

Before you adjust the audio settings, though, try restarting the Sony Xperia Z5 and to see if that solves the problem. On top of that, check your network signal strength and ensure your hand (or screen protector) isn't accidentally covering the microphone or speaker.

To set the call audio equalizer to normal, head to SettingsCall Equalizer. From there, tap Normal and then see if you notice any changes in quality. To turn off slow talk, head to SettingsCall. Drag the on-screen slider to the left.

If you're still having trouble, try swapping out your SIM card to see if doing so fixes the issue. It might be that your existing SIM is damaged and is therefore affecting your calls.

Sony Xperia Z5 keeps freezing or lagging

If your Sony Xperia Z5 is freezing or lagging, trying out Safe Mode might help you to identify the problem. The thinking here is that an application you recently downloaded may be having an impact on performance.

To enable safe mode, turn off the Sony Xperia Z5 and then press and hold down on the power key until you feel a vibration. When you see the Sony and Xperia logos, press and hold the volume down key until Safe mode appears on the screen.

When you activate safe mode, only applications that shipped with the device load up. If you notice an instant improvement in performance, it's likely something you downloaded is doing the damage. If that's the case, get rid of some recently-downloaded apps or run Sony's PC Companion tool.

sony xperia z5 camera mode 3
A laggy smartphone is an unhappy one. / © ANDROIDPIT

Sony Xperia Z5 not detected by computer through USB

If you're trying to connect the Sony Xperia Z5 to your computer and things aren't going your way, the first thing to do is check the cable itself for damage. Even the slightest damage to the cable can cause syncing issues, so try another cord if you can.

It's possible to manually check if the Sony Xperia Z5 is set to recognize a USB connection. Head to SettingsXperia Connectivity > USB ConnectivityDetect USB device.

Another potential solution to this irritating problem is to restart your computer and update your USB drivers. To update the drivers, access Sony's PC Companion tool and check for updates from there.

androidpit USB 3
Keep your USB drivers up to date. / © ANDROIDPIT

Sony Xperia Z5 has no network coverage

If you're experiencing issues with network coverage on the Sony Xperia Z5, your first mission should be to reselect a network mode by heading to SettingsMore Mobile networks. From there, tap Preferred network type, then select a network mode. Experimenting with these settings and then restarting the phone can do some good.

It sounds obvious, but having Airplane mode activated will prevent the Sony Xperia Z5 from receiving network information. Ensure this mode is turned off and make sure the same can be said for STAMINA mode. When activated, STAMINA mode pauses mobile data and Wi-Fi connections.

Contacting your network provider is the next step if you have further questions.

sony xperia z5 front display 1
Contact your network for coverage information. / © ANDROIDPIT

Many other Sony Xperia Z5 problems can be resolved by using Sony's PC Companion tool, which we've mentioned several times above. We recommend you run the software yourself before you contacting Sony over the phone.

Are there any other Sony Xperia Z5 problems that we haven't covered? Do you know the solutions? Let us know in the comments section below and help each other out while you're at it.

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  • 1
    Craig Kirton Jul 2, 2022 Link to comment

    Hi I have My Sony Xperia Z5 E6653 Awesome phone in till it started with A re-Booting problem then I did what Support said I must do(safe mode boot, Factory Reset & soft ware update) then i had a problem with the charging & suddenly my phone will run flat at 72 % battery capacity! Then as soon as i got it to final get fully charged to 100% 2 nights ago take note that the whole day it didn't want to go on! I took it off Charge and finally got it to turn On and got to the Home screen and it turned off and hasn't turned on yet! Have tried the Off button Move by sim holder like this page says still no luck what must i do Please help?


  • 2
    Lawrence. Feb 11, 2022 Link to comment

    My Sony Xperia Z5 E6653 keeps re-booting on its own, I have used the Sony companion to save my documents & photos, software updates used, re-installed my documents & photos but problem persists, battery has been changed three times due to power dropping excessively when re-booting so it cannot be the battery. I have tried all the previous fixes with the power button & up & down volume, also in safe mode but still re-boots. I have seen lots of other people with this same problem, do you know about a fix for this.

    Craig Kirton


  • 1
    Bruce Fatige Aug 29, 2020 Link to comment

    my sony xperial z5 premium is not displaying but is working perfect, and the screen touch lcd is displayed on another, what happened to my own phone?


  • 1
    mark Apr 22, 2020 Link to comment

    Hi,
    my Z5 goes to a blank screen after I make a call. This means I can't:
    - press any numbers if so directed by an automated operator,
    - hang up at the end (or part way through a call).
    It doesn't come back to the home screen (or any screen) for quite some time (at least 20 seconds) after the call has ended.
    Looking forward to a solution!


  • 1
    Kevy272 Feb 13, 2020 Link to comment

    Hi,
    My Xperia Z5 has just started ( The morning of Tues 11th Feb 2020 ) randomly turning it's self off every so often and then it will stay on, but have no signal on phone. Checked setting's and all seemed fine, could find other networks other than mine, so thought it was a sim fault. So I popped it in my old phone & sim worked fine. Done a bit of playing about with it turning it's self off randomly through out morning and then it turned itself on & it was working fine after about 3hrs. It worked fine for the rest of the day and all the way up to about 11:30 at night the following day and it starts it's crap again, of & on randomly & no signal again. Still doing it now ( 12:50pm Thur 13th Feb 2020 ).
    I have no idea what the hell is going on with it. So if you can help, please do.

    Thanks


  • 1
    Sir George Jul 4, 2019 Link to comment

    how


  • 1
    Muhammad shahid Mar 26, 2017 Link to comment

    Dear all,
    I am facing very serious issues with my Xperia z5 premium, 5 month back my mobile fell down and I get replacement of lcd. After that I am facing mention below issues :
    1-Heatup: after 4 to 5 minutes running of YouTube, mobile generate too much heat and close the application. Same using of camera my mobile get too much heat and shut the application.
    2- My network drop the data signals 📶 and I need to switch on/off the data every time.
    Please help me to sort out these issues.
    Thanks


    • 24
      Deactivated Account Mar 27, 2017 Link to comment

      I doubt there is very much that we can do about that. Where did you get the screen replaced? Was it by an official retailer or just a normal shop? To me it sound like something else was damaged when you dropped your phone. You can either a) go back to the shop where you got your screen replaced and tell them about your issues or b) get in touch with sony and tell them about your software issues


      • 1
        Muhammad shahid Mar 27, 2017 Link to comment

        Dear Georg, thanks for your message, this is my major mistake that I go to the normal repairing shop and get repair, I will go to the main Sony repair center in Dubai area.


  • 1
    Chinmay kumar behera Feb 25, 2017 Link to comment

    I m facing problem with since last software update...
    Ringer is not audible and i face sam problem with music and vedio too...


  • 1
    Kurtis Kroetsch Dec 17, 2016 Link to comment

    nice try


    • 1
      Kurtis Kroetsch Dec 17, 2016 Link to comment

      Also, the front facing camera was damaged, and shows frantic white lines that race across my screen, it overheats, and becomes extremely uncomfortable, And has a low battery life, although i keep it on stamina mode, and don't overcharge it.


  • Mattias Johansson 1
    Mattias Johansson Dec 1, 2016 Link to comment

    it collapses and freezes and get black screen then it starts again from the beginning with Android Welcome screen,
    this is normal,
    Sony does not want to help me
    my shop does not want to help me

    please help me


  • MegaNyans 1
    MegaNyans Oct 22, 2016 Link to comment

    Thank You!!! The "Open up the cover for the nano-SIM card and memory card slot, and using the tip of a pen or a similarly-sized object, press and hold the OFF button for a couple of seconds" worked like a charm, Nowhere else had any info and the next option was sending in for repair... you made my day Charlie M. from 8 months ago <3


  • 1
    cnc Oct 19, 2016 Link to comment

    after latest update my phone wont turn on at all, tried all tricks above with power off button etc wha to do


    • Asheq Dhrubo 1
      Asheq Dhrubo Jan 20, 2017 Link to comment

      i have the same problem. do u guys found any solution??


  • Ignacio Ortiz 1
    Ignacio Ortiz Sep 5, 2016 Link to comment

    This is by far the worst phone I've ever had. Not buying a Sony's phone again in my life. After using Samsung Nexus family for many years, a LG G4 and a couple of Galaxy phones, this is by far a scam. Unconfortable, dark screen, touch-screen way too sensitive, NOT IP68 complaince as Sony claims, battery takes forever to charge to 100%. It's a rip-off.


  • Jonathan Hare 1
    Jonathan Hare Aug 26, 2016 Link to comment

    hi i just got z5 when charging it keeps turning off and showing a filling up battery is there any way to stop this


    • 1
      Sonj Uhuk Aug 4, 2022 Link to comment

      Ya, it happen to me too


  • Marcelo Brundo 1
    Marcelo Brundo Jul 19, 2016 Link to comment

    Hi, I'm from Argentina I want to tell my story, travel to Spain and buy the Z5 6653, after a few days of use I saw the device too hot even being in the pocket of my pants, the battery did not last even 10 hours and hurt me a micro SD card. I went to "mediamark" and I changed the Z5 in the act. Today I am in Argentina again, but I have new problems with my new Sony Z5, the camera button does not work, if I get to use the flashlight it starts flashing to the point that appears to be damaged and dark brown the LED and finally I have many problems to detect OTG flash drives, disconnect them alone.

    I want to comment further that I had a Z3 and soak it in the sink you income water display, so sony recognized me guarantee, that is why in waiting warranty I bought the Z5 and look for everything that happens.

    Beyond all I want to say that the Z3 and Z5 devices had were some amazing terminals, I guess sony should have lowered production costs. the result, many guarantees.

    my current Z5 can not send it to Spain by warranty for costs in Argentina sony I do not recognize anything.


  • Tim Bernhard 1
    Tim Bernhard Jun 21, 2016 Link to comment

    Hey, i've got an xperia z5 compact but my front camera just doesn't work, i tried total reset to the Original software, didn't work either. so i don't know how to fix this... does somebody know the answer?


  • 2
    Jason O. Apr 19, 2016 Link to comment

    Have had Z5 for a couple of weeks, upgrade from my Z1. Reasonably happy except for the fact that often when I screen-lock it and put it in my pocket it comes to life. A couple of times it's actually dialled someone from my address book. If this persists I'll assume it's faulty and return.

    Margus Räästas (r2stik)


    • 1
      G K Apr 28, 2016 Link to comment

      Yeh, I have the same problem, if I put it in my pocket with the screen towards my body it does all sorts of wierd things like dials numbers, launches apps, goes into flight mode, last one was it turned the flash light on. Solution so far, always put it in the pocket screen facing out, if you forget you'll soon know it !


      • Kailash Rajan 1
        Kailash Rajan Oct 10, 2016 Link to comment

        See this happened for me too.. I was also blaming my phone for this but its actually my mistake! Probably yours too! So the place the mistake happens is when you press the lock screen twice with very short intervals of time! Like when yu just pressed tocheck time or notifications. So dont do that coz this happens because of the fact that both unlock(finger print scanner) n wakeup are in same button. Coz when yu first press it woud've already in the process of unlocking before yu ve pressed again! Try it yourself! Double press(fast) the lock button aka fp scanner., to yo surprise it still unlocked! Took me a month to realize this.


    • Margus Räästas (r2stik) 1
      Margus Räästas (r2stik) Jun 23, 2016 Link to comment

      true!


    • Francis Mayo 2
      Francis Mayo Jul 3, 2016 Link to comment

      It's possible that this is caused by the Tap-to-wake function. Disabling this functionality may help alleviate this problem. Go to Settings > Display > Tap to wake up

      Marcelo Brundo


    • Fabio Nakazato 1
      Fabio Nakazato Jul 29, 2016 Link to comment

      You guys needs to disable the double tap wake up screen mode.


  • Isabella Stander 2
    Isabella Stander Mar 31, 2016 Link to comment

    Had my Z5 for 3 months and the software crashed. Now I must wait 2 month for the phone to be fix.....
    Worse phone ever !!!!!!!

    Ignacio Ortiz


  • 2
    Jan Makaplan Mar 3, 2016 Link to comment

    I am utterly disgusted with the Z5. I've been using the Z Ultra for two years and as huge as it was, it was a pleasure to use. Enter the Z5 and I'm knocked out of the park with its issues. The first and probably most irritating issue is the overheating. The phone gets so hot from doing the most menial things, like checking Facebook or browsing the internet. The second most annoying thing is battery life. I've disabled all picture enhancements, disabled most of my apps, lowered the screen brightness to 20% and enabled the power management tool but still the battery drains rapidly. The last one is the camera app freezing when I'm taking a pic. This is not an important feature for me but I'd like it to work when I need it to.

    chris


    • Offroad Adventure 2
      Offroad Adventure Mar 3, 2016 Link to comment

      While we are at it... even though the camera is 23 megapixels its ability to take photos in poor light is appalling. Anything over walking pace is a blur. Add also that the max volume whether it be from the speaker or when playing music with headphones is about half that of other phones.

      Jan Makaplan


      • chris 2
        chris May 5, 2016 Link to comment

        Horrible camera i don't understand how its even 23mp...annoyed

        Margus Räästas (r2stik)


    • chris 2
      chris May 5, 2016 Link to comment

      Yes the heating is so annoying and bad..i cant even use snapchat because it ends up shutting the phone of because its apparently overheating already...I will never buy a Sony phone again


  • Offroad Adventure 2
    Offroad Adventure Feb 29, 2016 Link to comment

    I can not believe the BIGGEST fault with the Z5 does not get a mention..... OVERHEATING !!!
    Sony Z5 overheats badly. I had THREE brand new Z5 phones in a matter of weeks replaced due to overheating issues just using the normal camera...not even in video mode.
    Any summer day with ambient temperature approaching 30 degrees celsius or more the phone shuts down within minutes. Might be ok if you live in cooler climate. After returning 3 x Z5 phones for overheating I guess they were sick of handing out new Z5's just for them to do the same thing. Released me from my two year contract at no cost allowing me to re-contract a new phone of my choice.

    Make no mistake about it...the Z5's WILL overheat badly if you live in a country with a hot climate. It is entirely to do with the ambient temperature. The phone would get too hot to even handle it or pick it up.


    • 1
      Lewis C Apr 3, 2016 Link to comment

      You are right. Xperia Z5 heat up very quickly (really hot) by taking a few shots. I also have other problems as well. Receiver hear echo sound whenever I talk from Xperia Z5. Soft blue screen appear when I open the camera and it change back to normal whenever I use the camera. I went to sony service center send the phone for checking. Have to wait at least 10 days to know what is the problem. Previously I used Z3 didn't have such problem.


  • 1
    thor odinson Feb 13, 2016 Link to comment

    My phone is not doing any of the aforementioned instead it keeps deleting certain albums of my music (all added to Media Go from Cd's then added to phone) & I'm starting to loose my sense of humor with SONY products now.


  • Paco 2
    Paco Feb 2, 2016 Link to comment

    Apart from the lags I have not suffered the rest of the problems but yes (considering is Sony's Z5 main selling argument) the blue tint on edges of low light photos.

    Talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z5-Z5-Compact-Z5-Premium/Z5-Camera-Blue-tint-on-edges-of-low-light-photos/td-p/1077385

    Apart from that there are many things to be fixed if they really want to be a competitor of Apple.

    Get rid of lags (starting, showing pictures...)
    Better panorama engine (with better stitch quality and adding the possibility to stop the panorama)
    Burst mode with Full resolution
    Add 3:2 aspect ratio
    Correct the blue tint on the edges with ISO 400 and over
    Copy & Paste images directly from the browser without having to save them.

    Charlie M.


  • 1
    Mike Singe Feb 1, 2016 Link to comment

    PS I have Windows 10 Enterprise.


  • 1
    Mike Singe Feb 1, 2016 Link to comment

    Connected my Xperia Z5 on 2 Windows 7 laptops, and that went well.
    Somehow I can't connect with my Windows 10 laptop. Installed PC Companion, disabled my firewall, but I keep getting the error 28.
    ___________________________________________________
    The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)
    There are no compatible drivers for this device.
    To find a driver for this device, click Update Driver.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I've also tried different cables, even a clean install of Windows 10, all to no avail.
    Thoughts?


  • 8
    jack lin Feb 1, 2016 Link to comment

    Is this a faulty topic? OR JUST a topic from Sony competitors. I'm usig my Z5 Premium for almost 2 months without founding any single problem. Neither my wife's Z5. Not to mention about the Z3 I gave my daughter after using it for one year.

    Chandu Ravi


    • Lex Slade 1
      Lex Slade May 22, 2016 Link to comment

      Think its a faulty topic. Just got a Z5 as a birthday present. Previously a nexus 5 user. Absolutely love the z5 its fluidity, the OS and the little touches. However just using a call it starts to get very warm and after 30 min on a phone call its unbearable hot. I will get a new placement hopefully in two days. I assure you I am not a Sony Competitor, as absolutely love this phone but hate the overheating issue.


      • Todd Haberer 1
        Todd Haberer Aug 3, 2016 Link to comment

        It's a faulty topic for sure. It definitely has heat issues. It also freezes constantly for me using several third party apps, and even on android home. I've had it about a week so far, and has frozen roughly thirty times, usually requiring a restart. I had a Z3 compact since it was released and it was hands down the best phone I've ever had, which is why when i accidentally smashed my phone, i immediately bought a z5. Unfortunately, this phone has not been reliable. While it could very easily just be a lemon out of a million good phones, it seems like these problems occur far too frequently on this model. Maybe there is a reason they began do discontinue the Z series aside from size uniformity.


      • Mattias Johansson 1
        Mattias Johansson Dec 1, 2016 Link to comment

        have you gott any help from ? to fix this ,do the screen turning green, then lock it up? then it restarts with android home screen then sony since the start again these errors I have on my


  • 2
    Hadi Jan 31, 2016 Link to comment

    I have a Z5 from month , and we dont have any problems such as battery , screen, sounds ... Very excellent device , thank you SONY ..

    Chandu Ravi


  • 21
    Peter Harwood Jan 31, 2016 Link to comment

    Had my Z5 for four months been no trouble atall. As for using grenify to help with battery life does no good atall, in fact it probably uses more battery than it saves, don't see the sense in downloading these battery saving apps when you've already got a very good battery saver built into the phone! ie stamina mode works well for me and i get a day and a half with fairly heavy use, Z5 the best phone I've ever had.

    Chandu Ravi


  • 2
    Mahish Dino Jan 31, 2016 Link to comment

    Helpful Article!

    Charlie M.

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