Nokia 7.2 common issues and how to solve them

The Nokia 7.2, like its predecessor, the Nokia 7.1, is the top of the line in the mid-range segment. This device checks all the boxes, with the Android One program being the biggest selling point and its go-to card. However, HDM Nokia hasn’t done a brilliant job with updates and patching bugs, so there are more than a few Nokia 7.2 issues.

In case you are having a hard time with certain bugs, we gave our best to find some solutions online and present them in the list below. Make sure to check them out.

Note: All the issues mentioned in this article are individually reported cases, which doesn’t mean any of the problems will occur on other devices. If you’re looking to buy this phone, DO NOT consider these problems.

Table of contents:

1. The phone shuts down during charging
2. Lags and stutters
3. Ambient display issues
4. Google app keeps stopping
5. Bad call quality
6. Touchscreen issues
7. Low volume on Bluetooth audio
8. Battery draining fast
9. Bluetooth issues
10. Proximity sensor issue
11. SD card issues
12. Nokia 7.2 not ringing
13. Camera hangs
14. Display issues
15. Notification LED not working with 3rd-party apps
16. Hissing sounds from the main speaker
17. Most common troubleshooting steps for the Nokia 7.2

1. Phone shuts down during charging

Probably the most serious problem that resulted in many users returning their devices and asking for a replacement. Namely, it seems the Nokia 7.2 has issues with overheating, especially during charging. To protect the internals from malfunction, the device will power off on its own.

Now, it seems that HMD tackled the issue with some software tweaks and it doesn’t appear to be as widespread as after the initial release. Either way, if you are affected by this, we have a few tips for you.

Here’s what you can do to reduce overheating during charging and avoid the device powering off:

• Remove the protective casing while charging.
• Stick to the original 10W charger. This device allegedly supports up to 18W Quick Charge but that doesn’t work as intended and it’s not official.
• Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Data while charging the device.
• Ensure that the firmware on your Nokia 7.2 is up to date.
• Reset the device to factory settings.

2. Lags and stutters

People are slowly starting to doubt the Android One program. Promised timely updates are not there on time, and security monthly updates often create new problems instead of fixing the old ones. In this case, Nokia 7.2 users reported noticeable lags and stutters, especially in the Notification bar and when interacting with the Power button.

Namely, it seems that there’s a bug causing any activity within the Notification bar and Quick Access menu to result in stutters. Also, the Power Button to light the screen causes lag, and users need to wait for some time until the Home screen (or apps) load.

This is a major problem and, although some updates mitigated it to some extent, some users are still experiencing similar issues on the Nokia 7.2.

We have a few things to recommend to reduce the lag, hoping that the expected Android 10 update will fix the problem for good. Here’s what to do to reduce lag on the Nokia 7.2:

• Restart your phone.
• Reduce animations in Developer options from 1 to 0.5.
• Limit the number of background apps in the Developer options.
• Clear cache and data from the Quickstep launcher in Settings > Apps.
• Reset the device to factory settings.

3. Ambient display issues

Because it comes with a 6.3-inch LCD IPS display, this device doesn’t support an Always-on display like OLED devices. However, there’s a nifty feature called Ambient display that works similarly but only when charging the device. It shows notifications and a clock on a black background, similar to AoD.

Now, there are some issues with the Ambient display on the Nokia 7.2 concerning notifications that are permanently stuck even when dismissed. To fix this, we recommend rebooting your device or clearing the cache from the Ambient display system app in Settings > Apps > All apps > Show system services > Ambient display.

Alternatively, you can disable this option and enable the one provided by Google in the Google app. All you need to do is navigate to Assistant settings > Phone and enable Ambient display there.

4. Google app keeps stopping

Google app is an integral part of the Android system along with many services it offers, including Google Assistant and Google Discover feed. Some Nokia 7.2 users have had a hard time using Google Assistant as it causes Google to stop working.

The best way to address this is to clear cache and data from the app in Settings > Apps > All apps. If that doesn’t help, you can uninstall updates from the app and update it again. Finally, some users pointed out a bug. Allegedly, the system language and Assistant language should be the same.

5. Bad call quality

The in-call sound quality is not exactly the best for some users. Users report ‘robotic’ sounds when talking on the phone. The cause of the problem usually lies in hardware, but we can recommend a few things.

First of all, ensure that you have good network coverage. In addition, consider removing the screen protector and protective case and check in-call quality again. If that doesn’t help, just ask for a replacement. Your device probably has a factory defect.

6. Touchscreen issues

Touchscreen issues follow the aforementioned lags and stutters. This device is, for many, not bringing exactly a snappy experience. Especially after unlocking the device, as everything takes too much time. This applies to the fingerprint sensor, as well. It requires too much time to unlock.

For common troubleshooting, check step 2 above. Removing the screen protector, disabling face unlock, and keeping your device up to date are also suggested. In regards to a sluggish fingerprint sensor, there’s not much to do other than update the firmware and hope that they patched bugs. Removing and adding fingerprints again won’t do much.

7. Low volume on Bluetooth audio

This is so common these days on many devices, regardless of the price point. Users report that even the highest volume settings are not exactly loud on the Nokia 7.2. Luckily, there’s a way to tweak this within Developer options.

Follow these steps to enable the Disable Absolute volume option in Developer options:

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose System.
3. Open About phone.
4. Locate the Build number and tap it 7 times in succession to enable Developer options.
5. Now, you should see Developer options in Settings > System.
6.  Scroll down until you reach the Networking section.
7. Once there, enable (toggle ON) the Disable absolute volume option.
8. Check out our article about low Bluetooth volume on Android for more solutions.

8. Battery draining fast

The 3500 mAh battery is a bit subpar in comparison to some of the competition but it’s far from bad. It should provide reasonable Screen-on-Time results, especially since the Nokia 7.2 runs close-to-stock Android One ROM. However, some users reported significant drops in battery life (even when the device is idle) over time and many are blaming an update for that.

We can suggest a few steps to help you improve the battery life of your device. Here’s what you can do to reduce battery draining:

• Disable Face unlock.
• Disable Adaptive brightness and set the brightness manually.
• Turn off the “Mobile Data always active” option in the Developer options.
• Turn off Bluetooth and Location if they are not used.
• Restrict background usage for third-party apps.
• Disable Wi-Fi auto scan.
• Reset the device to factory settings.
• Check out our tips for saving battery on Android.

9. Bluetooth issues

Some users noticed Bluetooth issues on the Nokia 7.2, as certain Bluetooth earphones just won’t pair with this handset. Based on these reports, the device selectively connects to some devices, while it won’t work with others.

Other users had issues with the in-car audio systems. They usually manage to connect as intended, but the audio quality in calls is preposterous.

If that’s the case for you, we can recommend following these steps:

• Reboot your device and try pairing again.
• Disable Mobile Data, NFC, and Wi-Fi and try pairing again.
• Clear cache and data from the Bluetooth app.
• Reset Network Settings.

10. Proximity sensor issue

Proximity sensor bugs can also be added to the list of reported Nokia 7.2 issues. As we all know, the proximity sensor will detect, during calls, that you are talking and turn off the screen. The moment you move the phone away from your ear, the screen should light up.

Sadly, some users say that the screen frequently won’t light up and they need to press the power button a couple of times to make the screen light. In addition, it tends to mute the caller as if you pressed the Mute button.

Some say that this is an Android One problem (Android in general), as Android One devices like Xiaomi Mi A3 also suffer from this problem. At the moment, we can safely say that updating the firmware is your best bet to resolve this issue.

11. SD card issues

The Nokia 7.2 supports SDXC cards to expand the factory memory. Some users have had a hard time with the external memory, as the device won’t recognize their SD card for no apparent reason.

If you are unable to utilize your SD card on the Nokia 7.2, make sure to format it in the FAT32 format. The phone will usually ask you to format the SD card once inserted but, if that doesn’t work, consider formatting it on your PC or any other Android phone.

In addition, make sure to format and use the SD card as external storage, not the internal one. The latter won’t work or it is flawed, for some reason.

• How to move apps to an SD card

12. Nokia 7.2 not ringing

This is one of the bugs frequently reported on older firmware versions and it looks like HMD fixed it. Namely, the device tends to switch between silent and ringing on its own. It also drops and changes ringing sounds on its own, which is quite peculiar.

If you are having issues with incoming calls, make sure to update your firmware, disable Do Not Disturb, and clear data and cache from the Phone app. Alternatively, you can reset the device to factory settings, although that’s a last-resort solution for the problem.

13. Camera hangs

A good set of cameras on this device makes relatively good photos. However, like many other assets on this device, the Camera app is also sluggish for some users, shutter speeds and processing are not what users expected.

Have in mind that this, as 95% of issues on the Nokia 7.2 is strictly software-related. The chipset (SD 665), followed by 4 GB of RAM, is fast enough. However, the evergrowing list of bugs makes for an appalling overall experience.

You can try and clear the cache and data from the Camera app. Alternatively, try with GCam ports or third-party Camera apps. Hopefully, the problem will be addressed in the future.

14. Display issues

The rendering of dark colors is not as precise as on some other devices. It looks like HMD  made some color changes to improve the visibility outdoors, making black to be gray. Sadly, probably due to the light sensor, the device will stick to this color even indoors.

To fix this, you should disable Adaptive brightness and manually adjust the brightness on your Nokia 7.2. After that, make sure to disable the Pure Display in Display settings, and black should be black again instead of gray.

15. Notification LED not working with 3rd-party apps

For some reason, the Notification LED is not working with 3rd-party apps for some users. It works with built-in Phones and Messages but, other than those two, LED is not working at all. It should be working by default for every installed app, but it’s worth checking apps individually and enabling LED notifications.

Follow these steps to check that 3rd-party instant messengers have LED notifications enabled:

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Apps.
3. Select Notifications.
4. Select the app for which you want to enable the Notification LED.
5. Open Advanced.
6. Enable Notification LED.

For some reason, LED won’t blink instantaneously after you receive notifications. You can make the LED blink earlier by choosing to hide sensitive content on the lock screen. This will trigger the LED faster than the usual 5 minutes timeout.

16. Hissing sounds from the main speaker

Finally, we run into a report about the hissing sound coming from the main speaker. This is explained as static noise, especially when the system volume is under 20%.

We are not sure how to help you with this other than to suggest contacting the Nokia center if the issue persists.

17. Most common troubleshooting steps for the Nokia 7.2

Hard-reset the device

Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Up key until the device restarts.

Access Developer options

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap System.
3. Choose the About Phone.
4. Tap on the Build Number 7 times until the Developer options menu is available.
5. Get back to the About phone section and Developer options should be there.

Reset Network Settings

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap System.
3. Choose Reset options.
4. Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
5. Confirm selection.

Boot in Safe Mode

1. While the device is on, press and hold the Power button until the Power menu appears.
2. Tap multiple times in succession on the Power Off option until the “Restart in safe mode” prompt appears.
3. Choose to restart in Safe mode.

Reset to factory settings

Quick note: If you’re not entirely sure what you’re doing, check our article about resetting an Android phone to factory settings.

1. Remove the SD card and back up your data.
2. Open Settings.
3. Tap System.
4. Choose Reset options.
5. Select Erase all data (factory reset).
6. Confirm changes.

And, on that note, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading, in case you have any questions or suggestions, make sure to post them in the comments section below.

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in March 2020. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.