Ask Adrian: My phone keeps turning itself off, can I fix it?
My phone keeps freezing and turning itself off. It does this about four or five times a day. It's a Samsung and it's about five years old. Is there some way to fix it myself?
— Lorraine O'Connor
Answer
If possible, try to check that it's up to speed with the latest Android update from Samsung. You can check this by going into 'settings' and then 'software update'. It should tell you what version you are and whether you need to update it. (Don't worry, updates are free.)
Sometimes an older version of a phone's interface can cause it to glitch a little bit. If that doesn't fix it, try shutting the phone off completely for a minute or so and turning it back on. I know this sounds obvious, but most of us never actually switch our phones off – we just send them to sleep or into 'do not disturb' mode at night while they charge.
If that still doesn't work, you might consider doing a compete reset of the phone. Again, you can do this in settings by choosing 'general management' and then 'reset' (or just do a search in settings for the word 'reset').
It's very important to back things up before you do this, though. You'll have to do this individually twice (at least); once for WhatsApp (if you use this) and once for everything else. To back up WhatsApp on a Samsung phone, you need to allow chat backup to Google Drive within WhatsApp's own settings on your phone. For the rest, you can go to 'settings', then 'accounts and backup' and then, under Google Drive, 'back up data'. If you want to be extra safe, you'd also back up on Samsung's Cloud, again under 'settings' and then 'accounts and backup'.
If none of that works, then it's a judgment call on whether it's worth going to get it looked at by a repair shop or getting a new one. If was a sub-€300 phone, it might not be worth repairing from a cost perspective.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Nothing confirms new Eir partnership ahead of launch of Phone 3 flagship
London-based consumer technology brand Nothing has launched its first retail partnership with Eir with a brilliant introductory offer that could bag you a €99 set of earphones for free. The team-up has occurred ahead of the launch of the third Nothing flagship Android smartphone, Phone 3, on July 1. Nothing has already released two compelling smartphones this year, both in the mid-range market. The cut-price offerings Phone 3a and 3a Pro are both powered by a zippy and capable Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chip that can handle almost anything you throw at them comfortably. Now, Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro are available in Eir's 72 nationwide stores. This means that Eir is the only place in Ireland where Nothing Phone 3a Pro are available on a monthly contract. You can also buy the Nothing devices from Eir online or SIM-free in Harvey Norman stores or direct from the Nothing website. To celebrate the Eir partnership, from Friday, Nothing is running an introductory offer which means customers can claim a free set of Ear A earbuds worth €99 when any Phone 3a Series handset is purchased (while stocks last). Meanwhile, in the firm's typical style, Nothing has already confirmed ahead of the official launch event that the upcoming Nothing Phone 3 flagship phone will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 platform. The firm said the chip will deliver a 31 percent performance boost and a 49 percent gaming performance boost over the Nothing Phone 2 which was released two years ago in July 2023. More importantly perhaps, the firm has also revealed it is ditching the Glyph Interface and replacing it with a new light show feature called the Glyph Matrix that reminds me a little of the dot display on the rear of the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Nothing's head of design Adam Bates has said: "Instead of predefined light strips, we now have a dense field of programmable micro-LEDs, a canvas for real-time, glanceable communication that feels alive, playful, and deeply personal. The Glyph Matrix allows for dynamic animations, symbolic visuals, and pixel-level responsiveness in a way segmented strips never could. 'It unlocks features where sound and light evolve together to create personalised cues. These features transform the back of the device into an expressive, functional surface, something that doesn't just alert you, but communicates with you.' You can also buy the full range of Nothing products on Amazon where there are bound to be discounts galore on Amazon's Prime Day which is running from July 8 to 11.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Major mobile brand is shutting down after 15 years – last chance for users to update before permanent closure in DAYS
A HUGE mobile major brand is bowing out after 15 years. It's the last chance for existing users to update their phones - though they may want to consider buying a new handset entirely before sinister hacks start to emerge. 1 LG has been a staple in the mobile scene for 15 yearsh Credit: Getty LG was once the world's third-bestselling mobile brand. But the firm announced in 2021 that its mobile division was closing down due to poor sales. The South Korean tech giant has But those are coming to an end on Monday, putting the final nail in the coffin of LG's mobile business. Read more about Android LG's last phone release was the LG Wing 5G, which features a unique design with two displays - one of which swivels. After June 30, Android software updates for LG phones will no longer be available. This means hackers could be on the lookout for vulnerabilities to exploit - and with no further updates to fix them. If you want to continue using your LG smartphone, it's at least best to get the last update while you still can. Most read in Tech "We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude towards our customers who have loved and supported LG Electronics mobile products," LG said. "After the termination date, you will no longer be able to use the software upgrade services. Urgent warning to delete 2 dangerous apps that STEAL all photos & blackmail you "If you wish to use the services, we strongly recommend upgrading your software before June 30, 2025. "Furthermore, as we will no longer provide application updates, you will not be able to download default applications deleted upon initialization." The move also marks the end for the LG Bridge software for PCs which allowed mobile users to update too. Time to upgrade? Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun LG's mobiles have all long been discontinued so you can no longer buy them. And now you won't get software updates either. Security updates are the key part, as experts at LG will no longer plug any loopholes that are uncovered, meaning hackers will be on the look out to exploit them. So, the safest option is to upgrade to a newer handset.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Solar-powered electric vehicle charging hub launched in Galway
A solar-powered electric vehicle charging hub has been launched in Galway City by Mayor Mike Cubbard and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Seán Canney. The EV hub will offer a reduced charging rate for city dwellers who have no driveways. Taxi drivers and public transport operators will also be able to avail of the discounted rates. The EV hub is the first of its kind in Ireland and is located in Westside, which is a decarbonisation zone in Galway City. Mayor Mike Cubbard commented: "I'm delighted to see reduced cost electric car charging being introduced in Westside - particularly for people living in apartments or with no driveways who would like to switch to an EV, but are concerned about where they could charge their vehicle, or the cost of commercial charging. "Taxi drivers will also be invited to avail of a reduced rate for fast charging their vehicles to support a transition to EV vehicles in the city. The six spaces are fully accessible, so will cater to all mobility users, with significantly cheaper rates available for up to one hour of charging. "This project is a key action in Galway City Council's Climate Action Plan and will play a significant role in facilitating the move to electric vehicles in the city." The Galway hub is the first of four to be launched countrywide, with the others coming on stream in Letterkenny in Donegal, Waterford City and Dundrum in Dublin later in the year. The hubs are being delivered in a partnership between Trinity College Dublin, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), ESB and Enterprise Car Club. Funding is being provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme 2022. Mr Canney said: "I'm delighted to support the launch of the Westside EV Charging Pilot on behalf of the Department of Transport and ZEVI. "This is a smart and forward-thinking project that makes use of the building's existing electricity supply, along with solar panels and battery storage, to deliver fast and reliable charging for electric vehicle users. "It allows people charge with minimal impact on the local electricity grid, and it creates a convenient neighbourhood charging option for people living nearby or working in the area who may not be able to charge at home. This is the first of several EV charging pilots the department and ZEVI are supporting with local authorities in 2025. "The approach is designed to be scalable and easily replicated right across the country and support other national initiatives led by ZEVI, including the Shared Island Sports Club scheme and national roads/motorway schemes." The hubs will also serve as testing grounds for electric bike sharing and will allow people to try them out before buying one. The hub sites will include an ESB charge station with one e-cargo bicycle, four electric bicycles, and two shared EVs provided by Enterprise Car Club. The e-bikes can be used via the ESB e-Hub app on Android and iPhone. They will require a minimum wallet top-up of €10 to begin using the e-bikes and e-cargo bicycle service. The bikes will use a €1 unlock fee with the first minute free, and after that, the e-bikes rentable for €0.25 per minute and the cargo bicycle for €5 per hour. Both have daily caps of a maximum of €60 per day. Engineer at Galway City Council Colm Shaughnessy said: "Galway City Council is the first public body to provide EV infrastructure exploring solar and battery technology to power electric vehicles. Findings from this pilot will provide much-needed learnings to allow other local authorities and private EV suppliers provide much-needed EV charging without the requirement for large on-grid connections. "In particular, this set-up could be the ideal solution for rural locations where the on-grid capacity is not available for high-powered EV charging infrastructure. Other potential applications of this system include powering supermarket fridges or leisure centre pools, for example - so the learnings of this pilot could have significant impacts in the switch to more sustainable power options." Head of innovation at the ESB Group Donal Phelan, said: "We continuously strive to explore the potential of new technology to achieve ESB's Net Zero by 2040 goal through three key objectives: decarbonising energy, building resilient infrastructure and empowering customers to live more sustainably." He added: "Our commitment to sustainability and innovation is at the heart of this e-mobility hub pilot. Working with key partners to deliver this pilot ensures that we are collectively working towards a cleaner, greener, and more connected urban future."
