Performance issues like frozen display are more likely due to a faulty hardware, either on the battery or device itself. The main issue tackled in this article is specifically on the Galaxy S4 that is frozen on the lock screen. It’s when the screen is not working, and primary buttons are not responding to any user-input command. Having this said, the phone cannot be used at all.
If you too are having some performance issues with your Galaxy S4, including a frozen display, you can refer to the following resolution methods.
The following steps will help you identify the underlying cause and resolve the issue. After performing each step, test to find out if the problem is fixed. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
1. Check the battery and see if it’s charging. To ensure the problem is not due to battery power issue, make sure the phone has enough battery power to work. Follow these steps to check for battery power issues on your S4 handset.
a. Turn the phone OFF. To verify if the device is completely off, press the Power button and hold it for 3-5 seconds.
b. Now remove the battery from the phone. Wait for a few seconds, then re-insert it properly.
c. Charge the phone. Be sure to use only a manufacturer-approved battery charger and USB charger (included in box) for your Samsung device. Make sure the device is properly connected to a valid power source, preferably an AC adapter.
d. Try to power on the phone while it is connected to the charger/adapter.
e. Check if both the phone and charger are displaying the appropriate charging/LED indicator.
Hints:
- If you see your phone shows a low battery image, then please wait for up to 20 minutes before turning the phone ON. Usually, a device will not power on if its battery is low. If it is completely drained, then you have to charge your phone for at least 15-20 minutes before powering it on.
- If you see the device is not charging, try to use a different charger (preferably manufacturer approved equipment) or use an alternative battery and then attempt to power on the device. If it powers on, then it means the problem is due to a faulty battery or charger. Thus, you need to replace it.
If the phone still won’t power on, then continue with the following steps.
2. Check the battery for possible water damage. Follow these steps to check the battery for any possible water damages.
a. Remove the battery from your phone and check the liquid damage indicator to ensure there has been no water damage. If water damage is present, then keep the phone dry with the battery separated from it for several days. Otherwise, you’ll have to take your phone to a Samsung-authorized repair shop (if available in your place). Just remember though that water/liquid damage is not covered under warranty.
b. Check the charging ports and battery contacts for any possible physical damages, like bents or broken pins. Also note that physical damages are not covered under warranty.
c. Make sure the battery has no corrosion on its contacts and check if it securely fits in the device.
d. Carefully remove and re-insert the battery.
e. Press the Power button for 3-5 seconds and see if it powers on this time.
If the phone won’t power on, then continue to the next troubleshooting method.
3. Perform a soft reset. A soft reset erases temporary files that may be causing a problem on your device, including a frozen display.
Follow these steps to perform a soft reset on your Galaxy S4:
a. Press and hold the Power key.
b. Tap to select Power off.
c. Tap OK to turn your phone off.
d. Wait for a few seconds, and then power your phone back on.
If you’re unable to perform a soft reset with the aforesaid methods, then simply remove and re-insert the battery. That’ll just do the same thing as soft reset does.
4. Perform a hard reset/factory data reset.
If problem persists after a soft reset, then we recommend performing a factory data reset on your device. Please note that while a factory data or hard reset could help resolve several device issues like a blank or frozen screen, doing so would also mean losing of all your personal information stored on your phone. Having this said, it’s up to you if you’re indeed willing to give this method a try. If you can, we strongly suggest you create a backup of all your necessary contents to another device, like a computer, before you perform a hard reset on your S4 handset.
Considering your Galaxy S4 is unresponsive, we recommend you refer to this alternative method to hard reset an unresponsive device. You may start, whenever you’re ready.
1. Make sure the phone is complete powered off.
2. Press and hold the Power, Volume Up and Home buttons simultaneously.
3. When the phone vibrates, release the Power button while continue holding the Volume Up and Home buttons.
4. When the Android Logo appears, release both the Volume Up and Home buttons.
5. Select wipe data/factory reset, from the Android system recovery screen. Use the Volume Up/Down buttons to highlight an option and the Power button to select.
6. Select Yes — delete all user data. Wait for several seconds for the factory data reset to complete.
7. Once the factory data reset is completed, select reboot system now. Wait for a few more minutes for the reboot process to complete.
After the hard reset has been completed, you should see your phone is reset to its factory defaut settings. You then can start setting it up to its initial setup.
If your phone still won’t power on after the hard reset, then please contact your device carrier for device problem escalation. It is most likely that your phone is experiencing some hardware faults that could not be fixed by any available troubleshooting procedure or workarounds, and that it has to be replaced.
Hope any of these methods helps.
