OnePlus 6 common problems, and how to solve them

The Chinese OnePlus slowly but steadily took over the fruitful middle ground between the mid-range handsets and $800+ flagships. And its latest smartphone, the OnePlus 6, has the best of both worlds thus some call it The Flagship Killer.

It’s an affordable but highly-efficient handset with the close-to-stock Android (Oxygen OS) and remarkable hardware. Also, the support is as good as one could expect from an OEM, so every major issue is usually solved in a matter of weeks, if not days. However, that doesn’t mean that there are no issues on the OnePlus 6. Cause there are.

We decided to enlist the common problems easily found on the official forum, and provide you with fitting solutions. If you are a proud owner of this handset, the list below might help you resolve possible issues you’ve encountered over time.

1: Battery drains

Let’s start with the most commonly reported problem for this handset. Now, based on reports we read, the problem occurred mostly after the upgrade to Android Pie 9.0. Of course, there are some reports about the similar issue on the previous releases, including the Beta versions of the said Android OS or even on a stable version of Oreo.

There are various ways to reduce the battery drainage, especially when the device is idle overnight. Here are some suggestions for you:

• Update your system.
• Disable some background apps. You can navigate to Settings > Battery and find out which one is causing the battery depletion.
• Disable Mobile Data Always On in Developer options.
• Use Greenify or any other third-party application to limit the background processes.
• Remove the unused widgets.
• Disable Wi-Fi overnight.
• Wipe cache partition.
• Reset your device to factory settings and restore all files from the backup.

2: Overheating

Overheating is another grave problem, especially if left unattended. There are various reason why your device would overheat, starting with the extensive usage for the prolonged period of time while charging and reaching the software-based bugs in battery calibration. Either way, there seems that this, overall amazing handset, is somewhat prone to overheating from the get-go.

If that’s the case for you, we suggest following these steps to mitigate the overheating:

• Don’t use your device while charging.
• Update the OS.
• Remove the casing temporarily.
• Set the Deep clear option in Recent App Management settings.
• Disable Face Unlock.
• Wipe cache partition.
• Boot the device in Safe mode and look for changes.
• Reset the OnePlus 6 to factory settings.

3: Notification issues

The importance of timely-distributed notification is the core feature for every smartphone since their uprise more than a decade ago. And that core feature seems to be faulty for some OnePlus 6 users. They either experienced a noticeable notification delay or push notifications aren’t coming through at all.

This is obviously a major issue and we provided you with some ways to resolve it:

• Reset Apps preferences.
• Disable Do not disturb mode.
• Clear cache in the affected apps.
• Allow Notifications in Apps & notification settings.
• Disable Battery optimization for the affected app/apps.
• Disable Gaming mode.
• Reset the device to factory settings.

4: Brightness issues

Automatic brightness based on the ambient sensor is another core part of contemporary devices. However, some users have provided valuable input regarding the brightness. Namely, some of them are having a hard time with the automatic brightness which is either erratically flickering or dims the brightness too much.

We have a few ways to resolve this, so make sure to check them below:

• Disable Adaptive brightness and toggle the brightness manually.
• Use a third-party tool to regulate the screen brightness. Some of them are quite proficient in replacing the built-in tool.
• Update your system.

5: Fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock issues

Fingerprint reader biometrics have been established as the go-to security measure. The fingerprint reader is the fastest way to unlock your device, with the face unlock being a less safe exception. Nonetheless, some OnePlus 6 users were experiencing the slight delay while unlocking or the fingerprint scanner was completely unresponsive until they wake up the screen.

In addition, the built-in Face Unlock feature seems rather slow after the system update to Android Pie 9.0. The affected users stated that the, once fast, Face Unlock got substantially slower.

Here’s what to do if the fingerprint scanner/face unlock starts misbehaving on the OnePlus 6:

• Re-configure the fingerprint and set a new Face Unlock.
• Try booting into Safe mode and, if the fingerprint and IR scanner perform better, uninstall all recently installed apps.
• Remove the tempered glass or cases which may cover the fingerprint scanner.
• Clean the fingerprint sensor from a debris and greasy dirt with a wet cloth.
• Reset your phone to factory values. In most occasions, we suggest restoring your device from a backup afterward. In this case, we suggest starting clean.

6: Crashes and lags

Even though issues like these should be at the top of the list, they’re, frankly, quite rare on the OnePlus 6. With the amazing hardware capabilities and well-optimized Oxygen OS, you’ll rarely experience any slowdowns on the day-to-day basis.

However, even this great device, which is on par with the Pixel 2 in regards to snappy behavior and seamless animations, can run into a roadblock or two from time to time. But, more times than not, the problem is either in a third-party app or in an unoptimized system update.

Here’s what to do if you run into lags, freezes, or crashes on the OnePlus 6:

• Clear cache from the app which freezes the most.
• Disable apps from working in the background. Greenify should serve the purpose.
• Update your device for a possible update fix.
• Reset app preferences.
• Wipe the cache partition.
• Reset your device to factory settings.

7: In-Call issues

There are multiple reported problems regarding calls. Some users stated that the call drops suddenly, while others have issues when switching to a loudspeaker during the call. The ones with less luck can’t even make calls after the device is restarted or the phone won’t ring. These are serious issues, but we can safely write them off as bugs in the initial Android Pie 9.0 release. The upcoming patches will fix this, so no need to worry.

On the other hand, while you’re waiting, can we suggest some of the workarounds which might help you address issues at hand:

• Reset the Phone/Dialer app’s cache.
• Reboot the device.
• Remove the SIM card from the compartment and place it again.

8: Wi-Fi issues

The Wi-Fi seems to be a problem for some, as well. It seems that the Wi-Fi tends to disconnect or the connection isn’t as solid as it was before the update. The problem is easily distinguishable in the online games, where the network drops are quite common for some users.

We have a few ideas on how to address this, so make sure to check them out below:

• Delete all networks and try reconnecting.
• Disable Always On for Mobile Data in Developer options.
• Restart your router.
• Reset App preferences.

9: Screen blackout and flickers at the bottom

This is one of the major hardware problems for this handset. However, the number of affected users is so small so we don’t want to make it look like something you can expect when acquiring this device.

This is, almost certainly, a hardware problem. You might try to connect your phone to PC and reset it to factory values with the ADB. However, the least cumbersome way to deal with this is to contact the service and ask for the replacement. Avoid repairing and get a new handset.

10: Camera and Video player issues

Both front and back camera performance seemingly dropped after the update. Photos come out blurry, especially in the low-light conditions. In addition, some users have had issues with the built-in video player, as the camera-taken video’s framerate was ludicrously low during the playback. Also, the reproduction of the video format doesn’t work on PCs for some users.

If you have these or similar camera-related issues on the OnePlus 6, we encourage you to try these steps:

• Boot into Safe mode and test the camera.
• Clear Camera app’s data.
• Update the device.
• Reset the device to factory settings.

11: Sound issues

We already mentioned some in-call sound issues, but that’s not where the sound-related issues stop for some users. The sound quality during the media reproduction downgraded a lot after the Android Pie update.

Here’s what you can try in order to improve the sound on your OnePlus 6:

• Disable absolute volume in Developer options.
• If the sound issues emerge in video streaming apps (e.g. YouTube), reset the app to factory settings and try again.
• Use a medical alcohol and cloth to clear the mic and speaker. After that, you can use a compressed air to remove all debris.
• Boot your device in a Safe mode and test the speaker both with media files and in calls.
• Perform a factory reset.

12: Bluetooth bug

Even there’s the 3.5-inch jack for the headphones, this doesn’t undermine the fact that the Bluetooth is essential for some users. And, seemingly, there’s a bug with the Bluetooth which causes the phone to disconnect from the paired devices.

This is a software bug and it can be resolved with a few tweaks. Here’s what you should do:

• Remove pairing and establish it again. Navigate to Settings >Bluetooth and delete all paired devices. Pair the handset with the device again and try again.
• Reset Network settings.
• Disable Automatic pairing. Pair individually with a device when you want to use it.
• Boot into a safe mode and try connecting via Bluetooth.
• Update the system.
• Reset your phone to factory settings.

13: System update to Android Pie deletes all files

And the final issue is, by no means, the least important. Namely, some users reported that the Android Pie 9.0 update deleted all their data. After the restart, they were met with the basic factory configuration, missing everything stored on the internal storage prior to the update. That’s a reason more for all of you to back up your data before a major update.

We can suggest restoring your app data from the Google Drive where it was backed up. The same goes for photos and Google Photos. Sadly, some of the other multimedia files and configuration files can’t be restored.

14: Advanced troubleshooting steps for OnePlus 6

Access Developer options

1. Open Settings.
2. Open System settings.
3. Choose About phone.
4. Locate the build number and tap on it 7 times to enable the Developer options menu.

Safe mode

1. Press and hold the Power button until the Power menu appears.
2. Tap Restart.
3. Immediately after the handset turns on, press and hold the Volume Down key until the OnePlus logo appears.

Reset Network settings

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

Reset Apps preferences

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Apps & notifications.
3. Open All apps.
4. Tap on the 3-dot menu in the top right corner and tap Reset app preferences.

Wipe cache partition

1. Turn Off your device.
2. Press and hold Power and Volume keys simultaneously until the OnePlus logo appears.
3. By using the Volume keys, select English and choose “Wipe data and cache”.
4. Choose Wipe cache.
5. Press the Power key to confirm the selection.

Reset the device to factory settings from Recovery

1. Turn Off your device.
2. Press and hold Power and Volume keys simultaneously until the OnePlus logo appears.
3. By using the Volume keys, select English and choose “Wipe data and cache”.
4. Select Erase everything.
5. Your device will reboot after the procedure.

With those instructions, we come to an end. If you’re aware of any other OnePlus 6 issues or have some questions regarding the ones presented, we encourage you to share them with us. The comments section is just below so feel free to share your thoughts.