5 annoying OnePlus 2 problems, and how to fix them

The OnePlus 2 may not be the flagship killer that OnePlus claims, sure, but it’s still a lot of phone for the money. Unfortunately, there have been quite a few reports of OnePlus 2 problems posted in a number of forums. We’ve gathered together some of the most common issues — from random reboots and unresponsive buttons — along with possible workarounds and solutions for each. Check them out below.

Click on an issue to jump to it:

First problem: Random reboots

Bug: Random reboots

There have been a number of complaints about random reboots with the OnePlus 2, and this is a problem we saw with the OnePlus One as well. There are a few things you can try:

Workarounds:

A few people have suggested the problem goes away or is lessened when they turn Wi-Fi off or remove the SIM card. These are obviously not particularly useful solutions.

Potential solutions:

Make sure that you have the latest Oxygen software. It should roll out over the air, so just make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and update when prompted.
Incompatibility with an app might be the cause of your issue. If you notice that crashes or reboots occur frequently when you use a specific app, then try uninstalling it.
You could try a factory reset via Settings > Backup and reset > Reset, and then selectively reinstall apps, watching out for a recurrence as you do.
Contact OnePlus support. They should help you flash a new ROM and then arrange a replacement if that doesn’t work, but it may take a while.

Next problem: Poor battery life

Problem: Poor battery life

A few OnePlus 2 owners have found the battery life disappointing. It has a 3,300mAh battery in it, so it should definitely get you through the day. The latest Oxygen update is supposed to have improved the battery, but not everyone agrees that it has.

Potential solutions:

Take a look under Settings > Battery and see what’s draining the power. You may need to update or uninstall a problematic app.
Hold down the Power button and tap Power off. When the OnePlus 2 is off, hold down the Power and Volume down buttons together to get into recovery. Highlight wipe cache partition using the Volume buttons and use Power to select it.
Check out our general tips for saving smartphone battery.

Next problem: Fingerprint sensor not working

Issue: Fingerprint sensor not working

When the fingerprint scanner in the OnePlus 2 works, it’s generally very fast, but some people are having a fairly high fail rate with it. There are quite a few possible reasons.

Workarounds:

You could stop using the fingerprint sensor as a Home button and get on-screen buttons instead, which some people have found to work better. Go to Settings > Buttons and toggle Enable on screen nav bar to on if you want to try it.

Potential solutions:

If you didn’t register a Google account when you first set up the OnePlus 2, then that could be causing your issue. Unfortunately, you’ll need to factory reset via Settings > Backup and reset > Reset, and then make sure you sign into your Google account during the set up phase.
Delete your current fingerprint and rescan. When you register a fingerprint, place the OnePlus 2 down on a table and make sure that you touch it with different parts of your finger or thumb, and from different angles.
Make sure that your finger and the fingerprint sensor are clean.
If you’re still having issues, it’s time to contact OnePlus.

Next problem: Overheating

Glitch: Overheating

If you find that your OnePlus 2 is overheating, then you’re not alone. If the phone is downloading updates or apps, or you’re using it to play games for extended periods, then you can expect it to get warm. However, if it’s getting hot for no apparent reason — even when you aren’t using it — then there could be an issue.

Workarounds:

Keep it out of hot environments as much as you can.
Take the case off, if it’s wearing one.
Don’t use it while it’s charging.

Potential solutions:

Make sure that the software and apps are up to date. You can do that by opening up the Play Store, tap Menu (aka the three horizontal lines at the top left), and then My apps > Update all.
This could be linked to battery life issues and random reboots. Watch out for problems with a specific app, and take a look under Settings > Battery. You could try a factory reset via Settings > Backup and reset > Reset, however, be careful about what you install afterward.
If you continue to have problems, you may need to contact OnePlus and ask about a replacement handset.

Next problem: Home button not working

Fault: Home button not working

Quite a few people are reporting issues with the OnePlus 2 home button. Sometimes it simply doesn’t respond to presses. Some people believe that this is some kind of grounding issue, possibly related to the magnesium frame, while others are suggesting it’s a software issue.

Workarounds:

If you press the home button with the OnePlus 2 lying on a surface, like a table, it should work better. It should also work more often if you use it one-handed. But, for most people, when their other hand is touching the frame, it seems to become unresponsive.
You could put a case on it. A number of owners report that a case solved the issue for them.
You could also switch to on-screen buttons via Settings > Buttons > Enable on screen nav bar.

Potential solution:

If you’re confident about doing it, then flashing a new ROM may solve your problem.
You could also submit a ticket with OnePlus and get them to help you with it via a remote session. Some people are saying that Oxygen 2.1 solved the issue for them.
If flashing a new ROM doesn’t work for you, then it could be a hardware issue. You’re going to have to request a replacement handset.

Return to page one

That’s all the solutions we have for now, but we’ll be on the look out for more. Let us know if you have any other issues or fixes in the comments!

from Planet GS via John Jason Fallows on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1X0XRRe
Simon Hill