Common Windows Phone 8 Problems and Potential Solutions :)

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 platform is chasing third place behind the ever popular Android and iOS. It is a decent option for anyone seeking an alternative to the big two, but it’s not without its flaws. In this roundup, we take a look at common WP8 issues that have been reported by users, and we try to find good workarounds or solutions. If you’ve encountered any of these Windows Phone 8 problems and you know of a good solution that hasn’t been mentioned, then please post a comment and we’ll add it just as soon as we can.

Problem: Random rebooting

Toward the end of last year a number of WP8 users began to complain about random rebooting. The issue seemed to be common on the HTC 8X and Nokia Lumia 920, although it didn’t affect every handset. The smartphones would simply reboot without warning. There was also some suggestion that a syncing problem was related.
Solutions:

1. Microsoft investigated and then released an OTA update in North America in December, known as ‘Portico,’ which fixed the random rebooting issue (this is still rolling out to other markets). To make sure you have the latest update go to App list > Settings > Phone update > Check for updates and follow the prompts.
2. Some users reported the issue persisting, even after the update. It’s always worth trying a restart. Press and hold the Power button and then slide down when you see Slide down to power off. Turn it back on again and see if the problem repeats. You could also try removing the battery and replacing it.
3. Your final option is to try a factory reset. Make sure you backup first by going to App list > Settings > Backup and choose App list + settings and then Back up now. Then go to About > Reset your phone and tap Yes and Yes again when prompted.

Problem: Auto-brightness bug

A number of WP8 users with Nokia Lumia 920 handsets reported wildly fluctuating screen brightness, possibly due to the Portico update. It seems a bug may have been introduced that impacts on the auto-brightness and causes the screen to flicker as it struggles to find the right brightness setting.
Workarounds:

1. You could disable auto-brightness and set the phone to Medium brightness just to prevent it from changing repeatedly.
2. Some users reported success, or at least a reduced fluctuation, by turning on the phone in a completely dark environment and allowing the sensors to calibrate to the darkness.

Problem: Screen freezing

If you find your WP8 device just freezes and the touchscreen is unresponsive then you are not alone. This issue could have various causes, but the methods to fix it are the same.
Potential solutions:

1. Press and hold the Volume down and the Power button simultaneously for 10 seconds. Your device should restart and work as normal.
2. If the problem persists, check that you have the latest updates via App list > Settings > Phone update > Check for updates.

Workaround:

1. Some people have reported that turning Wi-Fi off solves the freezing problem, but obviously it also deprives you of Wi-Fi, which is no good as a long-term fix.

Problem: Fast battery drain

Some users have complained that their WP8 device is running out of battery juice very quickly. This could be caused by poorly optimized apps, syncing problems, or something else entirely. There are a few things worth trying to see if you can solve the issue. Obviously turning off NFC, Wi-Fi, mobile data, and other phone features when they aren’t needed is a good start.
Potential solutions:

1. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the Skype and Facebook apps. Some users have reported both apps as major battery hogs, but insist that uninstalling and reinstalling results in improved performance.
2. A number of apps have been cited as potential drains including Nokia Drive Beta, various messenger and music apps, and even some games. Nokia advised people to exit apps using the back button so that they close rather than continue to run in the background. You can also go to Settings > Applications > Background tasks and block any apps you don’t want running in the background.

Problem: Sync not working, can’t send or receive emails or texts

Reports of problems syncing email accounts and also sending or receiving texts or emails have cropped up. For some WP8 users this issue has also affected their contacts and other accounts on the device. It seems to have been caused by the Skype app.
Potential solutions:

1. Uninstall the Skype app and then force a sync of all problem accounts. This should resolve the issue and you should be able to reinstall the Skype app without further problems.
2. If step 1 doesn’t work then try turning off Wi-Fi and mobile data and then reboot the phone and turn them on again.
3. If you still have problems, try unlinking your Microsoft account from your Skype account and repeat the process from step 1.

More Windows Phone 8 problems

These are the main WP8 issues we’ve come across so far and the potential solutions and workarounds you’ll need to deal with them. If you’ve encountered any other Windows Phone 8 problems then feel free to post a comment and share them. We’d also love to hear from anyone with a solution for any WP8 issue that has worked for them. Check back often, as we’ll be sure to update this article over time.