Samsung is at the top of the smartphone market for a reason. Besides their flagship devices, they went for an overhaul in the mid-range and budget departments last year, by introducing a revamped A series. Later in 2019, they expanded the formation with the Samsung Galaxy A51 and A71. In all accounts, the Samsung Galaxy A71 is one of the most competitive devices in the mid-range segment to date.
There are good and there are great devices but there’s no device without any issues. For all Samsung Galaxy A71 users out there, we decided to roam the interweb and check for reports, complaints, and straight-up rants concerning this device. The issues along with solutions can be found below.
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:
- Battery draining
- Apps crashing on the Samsung Galaxy A71
- Headphone jack issues
- Bluetooth issues
- Mobile data issues on the Samsung Galaxy A71
- Wi-Fi issues
- Can’t install Samsung Pay
- Poor facial recognition
- No system sound or in-call sound
- The camera freezing and video issues
- Random shutdowns after update
- Display multitouch and black spot issues
- Gyroscope and proximity sensor issues
- The Samsung Galaxy A71 is overheating
- Troubleshooting steps for the Samsung Galaxy A71
Common Problems in Samsung Galaxy A71
(1) Battery draining
Based on many test ratings, the Samsung Galaxy A71 is at the top of the endurance list in its category. Despite it packs a large display, the 4500 mAh battery and quite a power-efficient Snapdragon 730 (Exynos 980 on the 5G variation) should bring great Screen-on Time.
Sadly, that’s not the case for many users who reported battery drains and underwhelming endurance. For some, the device drains the battery even in idle mode, when the screen is off for some time. Others have strange battery percentage spikes which lead us to believe that the battery isn’t calibrated.
We have a standard list of tweaks you can follow to prolong the battery life. Here’s what you need to do:
- Disable background apps.
- Disable Wi-Fi, Location Services, and Mobile Data overnight.
- Ensure that the network signal is strong. If the device is constantly searching for network coverage, it will deplete the battery quickly.
- Disable Auto-brightness and set the brightness manually.
You can learn how to calibrate the battery in this dedicated article.
(2) Apps crashing on the Samsung Galaxy A71
This is a major problem for some users and, based on reports, the built-in SMS app is mostly the one crashing. Apparently, this started occurring after a system update. Firstly, you’ll need to ensure that your device is up to date. Secondly, navigate to Settings > Apps > Messages and clear the data from the app.
If clearing the data does nothing and crashes are reoccurring, we suggest wiping the cache partition. In the end, you can also go for the factory reset or use a third-party app to receive and send SMS messages until Samsung fixes the issue.
(3) Headphone jack issues
Unlike many devices in this pricing segment, Samsung decided to keep the headphone jack on the Samsung Galaxy A71. However, some users are unable to use their headphones for no apparent reason.
All and every headphone with a 3.5 mm jack should work on the device. If that’s not the case for you, make sure to inspect the state of the headphones or buds. If the issue persists, the hardware is likely the problem so we recommend asking for a replacement.
(4) Bluetooth issues
Bluetooth issues on recent Samsung devices are widely acknowledged, even by Samsung, but they are not fixed for everyone. Users are still experiencing unstable pairing and frequent disconnections. Especially when playing wireless audio on headphones, buds, or in-car systems.
We have a few recommendations to try in order to fix or improve the Bluetooth connectivity on your Samsung Galaxy A71. Follow the steps below:
- Restart your device.
- Unpair and pair your handset again with the device.
- Disable Bluetooth A2DP Hardware Offload in Developer Options.
- Reset Network Settings.
(5) Mobile data issues on the Samsung Galaxy A71
As seen on multiple user forums, connectivity problems keep piling on Samsung mid-range devices. Some users have had a hard time with network signal coverage while others simply can get mobile data to work consistently. Seemingly, the device disconnects once the screen is off.
We can’t say with certainty why this problem occurs but here are some tricks you can try in order to fix it:
- Reset APN settings.
- Reboot your device.
- Check the SIM card placement.
- Reset Network Settings.
Also, don’t forget that the carrier can have a part in this so make sure to contact your carrier support if the issue persists. You can also check our article about data issues on Android for more info.
(6) Wi-Fi issues
As we said in the previous paragraph, the issues with connectivity are quite common on the Samsung Galaxy A71. The worst one concerns Wi-Fi connectivity that falls short of expectations considering this is, all-around, a great device.
Constant disconnections (especially with the screen off), slow Wi-Fi connection, or instances when the device won’t connect at all. With that in mind, we read about some updates pushed by Samsung that addressed the problem. On the other hand, some reports are quite recent which makes us believe that Wi-Fi still needs some tweaking done on this device.
In the meanwhile, try these steps in order to, if not fix, at least mitigate the problem at hand:
- Enable Airplane mode and disable it.
- Forget the network and re-connect.
- Restart your phone and router.
- Reset Network Settings.
On top of all of this, check our article about Wi-Fi issues on Android for even more solutions.
(7) Can’t install Samsung Pay
If you are unable to install the Samsung Pay app on your device, chances are that the service isn’t available in your region. The app usually comes pre-installed in supported regions.
You can try to sideload the APK or use a VPN but we don’t recommend the former as it is risky and can lead to data theft. On the other hand, if you are certain that Samsung Pay is indeed supported in your region, make sure to update your device and check Samsung’s Store.
(8) Poor facial recognition
Like many other OEMs, besides the on-screen optical fingerprint, the Samsung A71 offers face recognition as an alternative biometric authentication. Wake the screen, look at it, and the device should unlock without in no time. However, some users have had a hard time utilizing this option, as the device can’t recognize them, even after numerous tries.
What we suggest is deleting your face data and enrolling it again. Make sure to add glasses if you are wearing them. Also, keep the distance from the screen and make sure that you are in a well-light area.
(9) No system sound or in-call sound
In comparison to issues with the headphone jack, the complete or partial absence of system sounds is definitely a bigger problem. Namely, some user reports state that there’s no notification sound while others have problems with the charging sound.
Make sure to navigate to Settings > Apps and check Notification settings for each app that doesn’t come with sound. Alternatively, if you are having issues with the in-call sound, make sure to clear the mic and restart the device. If that doesn’t help, consider resetting your device to factory settings.
(10) The camera freezing and video issues
We can’t argue about the multi-lens camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy A71, but the software part seems to be quite underwhelming for some users. It seems that the Camera app freezes when switching lenses and modes, it takes a lot of time to capture a photo when the HDR is enabled, etc.
To add insult to injury, video mode won’t work for many users, as well. If you are experiencing any issues with the Camera app, make sure to check the steps we listed below:
- Clear data and cache from the Camera app in Settings > Apps.
- Wipe cache partition.
- Check the in-app settings and ensure that HDR is disabled if you dislike it.
- Update your firmware.
If you still can’t resolve the camera issues, you should also consider installing a third-party camera app. Sure, there are a lot of good third-party apps in the Play Store, but I would recommend going the extra mile and installing Google Camera. This one’s not available in the Store, but you can install a port, which works equally well. As a matter of fact, Google Camera is probably the best camera app on the market, so you can’t go wrong there.
To learn more about the benefits of installing the Gcam port on your device and how to do it properly, check out this article.
(11) Random shutdowns after the update
Random shutdowns, boot loops, or system crashes are something no one wants to see. However, based on reports, that’s exactly what some users experienced on the Samsung Galaxy A71 as soon as they updated the device.
We can only suggest wiping the cache partition and, if that fails, resetting your device to factory settings. Just in case the issue persists, make sure to send a ticket to your carrier or retailer.
(12) Display multitouch and black spot issues
Besides possible burn-in issues, Super AMOLED displays rarely have anything else going against them. However, some Samsung Galaxy A71 users reported multitouch issues, as the screen won’t respond to more inputs than 2.
Additionally, in certain conditions (both Dark Mode and Night Light modes enabled while brightness is low), some users noticed black spots in the background.
Our recommended solution for the multitouch issues is testing first (insert the *#0*# code in the Dialer) and then resetting the device if the issue persists. It doesn’t mean that this is a system-wide problem. Some third-party apps might be affected only.
For the black spots in the background, we can only recommend replacing the device. This is a panel issue and there’s hardly anything you can do except to try and ignore it (if it doesn’t bother you) or take it for repair or replacement.
(13) Gyroscope and proximity sensor issues
Some users have had a hard time with both gyroscope and magnetic sensors. Now, judging by reports, this is probably a software optimization issue and, by updating your device, you should be able to resolve it. You can also access the *#0*# code in the Dialer (Phone app) and try and calibrate both sensors.
The same goes for the proximity sensor which is hit or miss sometimes. It won’t turn off the screen during calls for some users occasionally. Try restarting your device, make sure to keep it up to date and, if sensor issues persist, backing up everything, and resetting the device isn’t the worse idea.
(14) The Samsung Galaxy A71 is overheating
Another problem that occasionally bothers Samsung Galaxy A71 users. It seems that the device is getting quite hot when charging and during extensive gaming sessions. Now, there might be some problem with the kernel on your firmware, so make sure to report the problem to Samsung support.
On the other hand, you can reduce overheating by removing the protective casing while charging or playing demanding games. Also, we don’t recommend using your device while fast charging.
Troubleshooting steps for the Samsung Galaxy A71
Enable Developer options
- Open Settings.
- Open About phone.
- Then tap on the Build number 7 times until the prompt informs you that the Developer options are unlocked. You might need to enter your PIN or Password.
- The Developer options should appear in the main Settings menu.
Reset Network Settings
- Open Settings.
- Choose General management.
- Tap Reset.
- Then select Reset Network Settings.
- Confirm the selection.
Boot into Safe Mode
- Press and hold the Power button until the Power menu appears.
- Tap and hold on the Power Off icon until you see the Safe Mode prompt.
- Tap again to restart your device into the Safe Mode.
- To exit the Safe Mode, just reboot your device again.
Reset the device 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.
- Back up your data from the internal storage (photos can be saved to Google Photos, and other media can be saved to an external storage or a PC).
- Navigate to Settings > General management > Reset.
- Select Factory data reset.
- Follow the instructions to reset your device to factory values.
On that note, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to tell us about issues we forgot or ask in detail about the ones we put on our list. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
