The kinda-official LG G4 bootloop thread

[misterbill99]

So, my Verizon G4 became a victim this week. It initially just shut down, then would not power up, and then did the boot loop. I have a return label from LG but may try stopping by Verizon later to see if they can do anything.

Anyway, I want to try the freezer thing. Is there any harm leaving the memory card in the phone when doing this? I've been hesitating doing this until I figure out if I should do it with or without the memory card.

 

[Mooncatt]

Anyway, I want to try the freezer thing. Is there any harm leaving the memory card in the phone when doing this? I've been hesitating doing this until I figure out if I should do it with or without the memory card.

Nope, the SD card should be fine.

 

[illumillama]

So my G4 also went into a boot loop yesterday and I haven't been able to fix it. I have managed to briefly get it to boot up using the freezer trick, but for nowhere near long enough to be able to transfer my files (about a minute at the most, even when I kept it in the freezer). I have months worth of pictures on there that I really don't want to lose (yes, I know, I should've backed them up!) so I'm trying to figure out an alternative method to recover them.

I've read around that I might be able to recover my files using download mode, but haven't been able to find anything written in layman's terms. The phone loads into download mode just fine, but I really have no idea where to go from here.

I also doesn't have root access since I've never really messed around with stuff like this before now. Is this going to be an issue? And if so, is it possible to gain root access to a phone that won't boot up properly anymore?

If anyone can help me out with this it'd be a great help.

 

[misterbill99]

So, I put it in the freezer for 25 minutes, and it powered up when I took it out. I got to the backup/restore screen and had clicked on backup, and it shut off again. I wonder if I didn't get it cold enough since I left the plastic case I use on it.

I don't know whether I should try it again or just send it in. Maybe I'll hold onto it for the weekend to see if I can get it to work and send it back Monday one way or the other.

PS my serial starts with 508, I don't think I've seen that prefix mentioned previously.

 

[misterbill99]

I have months worth of pictures on there that I really don't want to lose (yes, I know, I should've backed them up!) so I'm trying to figure out an alternative method to recover them.

Have you checked Google Photos to see if they're there?

 

[illumillama]

Have you checked Google Photos to see if they're there?

I have, unfortunately there's nothing. It's so frustrating knowing the files are intact but I just can't get to them.

 

[RedOctobyr]

I don't know of another way to get the files off, though I didn't have to dig into it further. I'd expect that rooting a phone that won't boot is likely quite difficult, but I don't know.

The freezer trick worked for me for a while. But just before mailing it back, I was about to do a factory data reset to wipe it, and it rebooted again. That was it, I was not able to get it to boot up again, even keeping it in the freezer for a while.

So cold can help, but even if you can it running, the clock is ticking. Get your data off quickly.

The experience has motivated me to try and keep most of my data (pics, etc) on the SD card, if possible.

My replacement from Verizon looks like probably a refurb, since the serial number starts with 505. So it's an early production unit. I have no idea if it already has the bootloop fix, or if it's also a ticking time bomb.

Google's app & data backup/restore didn't seem to do much for me. It put my apps back, but the ones that I checked did not have my data. Then I restored my LG Backup file on top of that, and my apps had their data once again. So that was at least a big help.

I really like Android, but I freely admit that phone backup/restore is an area that could use a LOT of work.

My wife just upgraded her iPhone to a new model. She backed it up to iTunes on her laptop, then restored that to the new phone. Done, she has everything. I spent MUCH more time trying to get a backup that could go from G4 to G4, and it still missed some stuff.

 

[misterbill99]

I just put my phone in the freezer for around 30 minutes, in a cold spot. Took it out, booted and got to the Verizon screen. Then it rebooted, got to the Verizon screen again and it shut off and won't power up again. I'm guessing the freezer trick isn't going to work for my phone. Or am I now getting it TOO cold?

 

[RedOctobyr]

Mine never got too cold, as far as I could tell (I never saw it fail to try and power up). I would usually try to boot it with it still in the freezer, since it normally gets warm while starting up.

I didn't worry too much about the temperature. I figure it should be able to survive cold temps, like being in my pocket during a day of skiing.

 

[misterbill99]

So, I tried putting it in the freezer again (this time our standalone one which I figured would be colder). After one reboot after getting to the Verizon screen, I actually got it to boot into Android, got to the LG Backup screen, only to be told it could not back up because my battery was under 30% (it was 28%). Tried plugging it in but it died before it got to 30% (no, it would not backup while plugged in and below 30%).

I didn't feel like waiting 2+ weeks for LG to get it (Fedex ground NY->TX), fix it and return it, and my photos are on an SD card anyway, so I went to my local Verizon store. They (employee and manager he went to get after seeing the situation) initially gave me trouble because it wasn't on the account that I bought it under, and then oddly because it wasn't currently activated (they also weren't thrilled that I hadn't brought the battery with me). I told them to check other phones that had been activated on the current number and they found it, so that seemed to satisfy them. They ordered me a replacement phone, the model is CLNRLGVS986, which it claims is a Best Buy Exclusive (which is not what I had). That was 90 minutes ago and I already have a shipping notice saying that it will be delivered tomorrow.

I'm not sure what color phone they are sending me, but if it's the blue one (BB exclusive) I will be fine with it (I have the grey one now). I'll see how much gets restored when I set up the new phone and if I'm missing anything major, I will try booting the phone again before sending it back (they did not keep the old phone, I need to send it back).

I do hope that the replacement phones they are sending out have the motherboard fix so I won't have this happen again after any replacement warranty is over. Is there any way to tell?

 

[chasg2013]

I have to send my G4 in for repair. What is the best way to package it. The directions say to just send the phone, without the battery or back cover. Would a padded envelope be okay, or should I get a small box?

 

[Guatiao]

I have to send my G4 in for repair. What is the best way to package it. The directions say to just send the phone, without the battery or back cover. Would a padded envelope be okay, or should I get a small box?

Definitely a small box, with either bubble wrap or stuffed newspaper. Both would be even better. Better safe than sorry!

 

[GrooveRite]

Just wanted to let you all know if anyone has a G4 NOT under warranty, now is your chance to have them fix your device. I had my Int unlocked G4 given to me by the great folks on this site set up for repair yesterday and will be sending mine in today. You have to call LG to get it resolved. Good luck!

 

[RapidTurtle]

Just had mine bootloop the other day. Called AT&T , and they are sending me a replacement. The rep was nice enough to send out a replacement, even though I've had the phone for about 14 months.
It was a 5 minute phone call, as she seemed very familiar with the boot loop issue. Didn't even have to do any troubleshooting.

 

[Doohickie]

Who did you call at AT&T? I just called and the guy couldn't do anything because I couldn't tell him my "passcode" and I have no way to get to it at work.

 

[Doohickie]

Just wanted to let you all know if anyone has a G4 NOT under warranty, now is your chance to have them fix your device. I had my Int unlocked G4 given to me by the great folks on this site set up for repair yesterday and will be sending mine in today. You have to call LG to get it resolved. Good luck!

Okay, so since mine is more than a year old, who did you call at LG? I checked their website and didn't find a phone number.

EDIT: Okay, so the phone number icon is right at the bottom of their page. I called them and they said, yeah, G4, free repair even though more than a year old, set up the repair through lgmobilerepair.com. I used category "Power" for the type of issue and in the explanation said it won't make it past the LG splash screen (although once it a while it will get to the AT&T splash before giving up and ONCE got all the way through the boot before it looked up again. I was able to unlock the phone, but then it didn't let me open any app; it was locked again.

 

[GrooveRite]

Okay, so since mine is more than a year old, who did you call at LG? I checked their website and didn't find a phone number.

Go to lgmobilerepair.com and scroll to the bottom of the page. You'll find the contact number there.

 

[Doohickie]

Yeah, I got it.

 

[Doohickie]

I didn't feel like waiting 2+ weeks for LG to get it (Fedex ground NY->TX),

I'm in the opposite boat; the repair center is less than an hour from me. I wonder if they take walk-ins?

 

[misterbill99]

So I got my replacement phone from Verizon. The white sticker with the serial number and other info has a blue dot on it that my original phone did not. Does that mean it's been repaired and hopefully that the boot loop problem won't occur on this one? I also had a small LG 1638 sticker above it, perhaps that is the person who repaired it (like the old "Inspected by 42" stickers you'd find in packages).