S7 won't go into safe mode

[ZoneXQ]

I have this issue where wi-fi calling won't enable. When I try to enable it, it just loops back to the toggle on/off screen and immediately toggles itself off. I want to try to enable it in safe mode to see if it behaves the same way. The problem is that the two ways that are supposed to get the S7 into safe mode aren't working on this phone for some reason.

The first way that doesn't work is pressing and holding in the volume-down key when the Galaxy S7 logo first appears during the boot sequence from power off. I hold the key in until the phone is completely finished booting and there is never a "safe mode" message at the screen's bottom left-hand corner as there should be. That's because it's not in safe mode.

The other way that doesn't work is, when the phone's on, I should be able to hold in the power key for a couple of seconds to bring up the Power off/Restart menu screen. Then once that screen is up, I should be able to press and hold the "Power off" button on the screen to make a "Do you want to reboot into safe mode?" popup dialog appear. But with this phone, when I tap and hold the Power off button, nothing at all happens. The option screen just sits there.

And by the way, this is a Sprint SG-G930P S7 and it just took an OTA firmware update a few days ago. The current software version is: G930PVPS4APJ2

So does anyone have any idea what's going on with this S7?

Thanks in advance.

 

[B. Diddy]

My understanding is that Samsung phones don't use the second method you described. The first way should work, as described here: https://support.sprint.com/support/...WScenario_542_63063_771_en_279-dvc10180008prd. You're releasing the Power button once the screen turns on, right?

Does your Vol Down button work normally to control volume? A common reason for problems like this is a faulty button.

 

[ZoneXQ]

My understanding is that Samsung phones don't use the second method you described.

Then please watch this video and explain why it works on the S7 shown therein: Galaxy S7: How to Boot into Safe Mode

The first way should work, as described here: https://support.sprint.com/support/...WScenario_542_63063_771_en_279-dvc10180008prd.

It does not.

You're releasing the Power button once the screen turns on, right?

Yes I am.

Does your Vol Down button work normally to control volume? A common reason for problems like this is a faulty button.

The volume button works perfectly fine.

 

[B. Diddy]

Then please watch this video and explain why it works on the S7 shown therein: Galaxy S7: How to Boot into Safe Mode

You're right! But that's with a Verizon model. Scratching my head as to why different carrier models would have different methods to get to Safe Mode!

I'm assuming you saw the followup video by the same person that shows the AT&T and Sprint Safe Mode procedure -- but you're saying that even that doesn't work.

 

[ZoneXQ]

You're right! But that's with a Verizon model. Scratching my head as to why different carrier models would have different methods to get to Safe Mode!

Yes, I too find it strange that the various carrier versions seem to have adopted different particulars about certain features for the same OS. Not sure why they do that, either. The notification bar's signal strength ramp (as opposed to signal strength bar segments) on Sprint's version comes to mind.

I'm assuming you saw the followup video by the same person that shows the AT&T and Sprint Safe Mode procedure -- but you're saying that even that doesn't work.

No, actually I was in a rush when I viewed the first video (in a reduced window) and thus failed to scroll down to the next one. But I'm happy to say that you've solved this problem for me by calling attention to that next video. The problem was that I was pressing and holding the volume-down key from the first splash animation (which shows a "Galaxy S7" logo), not from the second one (which is a "SAMSUNG" logo animation). The other tutorials I found made no mention to wait for the second one. So thank you very much for directing me to the answer - which I probably should have discovered on my own.

FWIW, once in safe mode I turned on wi-fi, then attempted to enable wi-fi calling but it just looped back to off, the same as it does in normal mode. I really wish I could get wi-fi calling to work. Neither Samsung's nor Sprint's support folks have been able to help me resolve this matter. It does the same thing regardless of which wi-fi network I'm connected to. Wi-fi itself always works fine for browsing etc. I welcome any thoughts you might have on this issue as well.

Thanks again.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm. It could be that the firmware copy you have got corrupted slightly, or it could be an actual bug with the firmware version. Can you try reinstalling the firmware using Smart Switch? SmartSwitch: Install & update or replace firmware

 

[ZoneXQ]

Hmm. It could be that the firmware copy you have got corrupted slightly, or it could be an actual bug with the firmware version. Can you try reinstalling the firmware using Smart Switch? SmartSwitch: Install & update or replace firmware

Well, I could do that. But since wi-fi calling activation did the same looping-to-off thing after the previous firmware update that I pulled in about one month ago --it ended with PH7 I believe, whereas the current one ends with PJ2-- if it were a firmware corruption issue, wouldn't the PJ2 update have presumably corrected it?

 

[B. Diddy]

That's true. It'd be pretty unlikely for the same corruption to happen twice.

 

[monicakm]

Tonight I booted into safe mode for the first time. I used the first method you listed. Thank you for mentioning the second method. I didn't know about that and it's much easier. I'm on Verizon and both methods worked for me. Hope you can figure out what's wrong.

 

[ZoneXQ]

Tonight I booted into safe mode for the first time. I used the first method you listed. Thank you for mentioning the second method. I didn't know about that and it's much easier. I'm on Verizon and both methods worked for me. Hope you can figure out what's wrong.

Glad to hear it helped. And thank you