Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Troubleshooting

The phone's signal bars are low, or your Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant is unable to connect to your mobile network.

If the phone’s signal readout displays that you have signal, yet calls will not go through, the problem may exist in the receptive capabilities of the tower that your device is trying to connect with. Too many people in the area may be trying to utilize the same network. The 3G data may also not be connecting due to overuse as there is not enough data bandwidth. Relocate to a new area and try to connect with the network.

In some cases the network mode settings in your phone are incorrect. To configure settings, go to Settings > Wireless and Networks > Mobile Networks

• To simply enable 2G (for making calls), select Network mode > GSM only
• If you are using applications that require 3G (higher-speed data connectivity), select Network Mode > WCDMA only.
• To scan for the available networks, select NetOperators.
  • To search manually, select Search now and select the available network.
  • Touch Select Automatically to automatically select a network connection.

If you used a SIM card from an old phone and placed it in your Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant, the capabilities may be restricted.

• Contact your mobile provider to ensure that the mobile plan you have is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant.
• In the event that the SIM card must be replaced, remove the back phone case and the old SIM card. Then place the new SIM card in the proper way and reboot your device.

The antenna cable may be worn out in your device. See Installing Samsung Vibrant Galaxy S Antenna Cable.

Your phone charger is plugged into your phone, but it will not turn on or charge.

If the plug on your charger is rusted or dirty, it will not charge the battery. Unplug the charger and check to make sure it is clean and can make full contact with the charging port on the phone.

If the charging port on your phone is dirty, rusted, or has gotten wet, it will not charge the battery. Unplug your phone, turn it off, take off the back cover, and remove the battery. Check to make sure the charging port is clean and dry. Reassemble your phone and try to charge it again.

If you have checked the above fixes and your battery still will not charge, try ordering a new battery. The battery in the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant will lose charging capacity over time, but these batteries can be purchased for approximately $10. See Installing Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Battery.

Your Samsung Vibrant won't power on or boot up.

If your device has not been charged for a while, it is possible your device failing to turn on is the result of a drained battery. Plug your device into its charger and allow it to charge for 5 - 10 minutes before attempting to turn it on again.

If your phone has been rooted, or had other software modification, it is possible that your operating system install has become corrupted. To fix a corrupt operating system, a factory reset of the phone will reload and re-install the operating system of your device. To perform a factory reset of your phone, follow the following steps:

1. With the phone turned off, press the Power key and the Volume down key at the same time until the phone turns on.
2. Once the logo appears, release the power key while continuing to hold the volume down key.
3. The phone will now load into recovery mode and display the Android System Recovery screen.
4. From the available options, select "Delete all user data" (WARNING: Selecting this option will reset your phone to factory settings and delete ALL user data, including apps, pictures, settings, contacts, etc.)

If, when you attempt to turn on your device, the menu buttons on the bottom light up, but the screen remains off, it is possible that your phone's LCD screen has been damaged. Replacement of the LCD screen may be required to fix the problem. See Installing Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant LCD Screen.

If the above fixes do not describe or fix your phone's problem, it is possible that the motherboard of your phone may be defective or damaged. Being dropped or being exposed to water are the main causes of damage to a phone's motherboard. To repair the phone, the motherboard must be replaced.

The external speaker on your Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant is not producing sound, is too quiet, or the sound is distorted and producing bleeps while playing audio.

Speakers on phones, like all speakers, will blow out when they receive too much power from the volume being set to maximum capabilities. Use the Volume Up/Down key in order to adjust the volume to a lower decibel.

This could be an electrical glitch, especially if sound is not coming through the audio jack as well. Turn off your phone, take off the back cover, remove the battery, wait 15 - 30 seconds, and then reassemble your phone. Turn on your phone and check to see if the speaker is working again.

In the case that removing the battery does not work, there is a high probability that your Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant’s speaker is blown out or broken. This might have happened after dropping the phone, or the device simply wore out when too much power was supplied. The speaker must be replaced; please see Installing Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Speaker for step-by-step instructions.

Your phone appears to be in working order, however when speakers or headphones are plugged in no sound comes out.

If the phone's volume is turned up for alert notices and ringtone, the media volume may still be turned down or muted. Using the volume up/down buttons when playing media or during a call should adjust the correct volume setting.

If the phone's media volume is turned up and there is still no sound coming from the headphones or speakers plugged into the 3.5mm audio jack, then the headphones or speakers may be malfunctioning. To test the headphones, unplug them from the phone and plug them into another device to determine if they play sound from the other device.

If the volume is turned up and your headphones/speaker are working, then it is possible there is an electrical glitch, especially if sound is not coming through the phone's speakers as well. Turn off your phone, take off the back cover, remove the battery, wait 15 - 30 seconds, and then reassemble your phone. Turn on your phone and check to see if the 3.5mm audio jack is working.

If the above options were not able to solve the problem, then it is likely that the 3.5mm audio jack of your phone is damaged and in need of replacement. See Installing Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Headphone Jack/Ear Speaker.

The microphone on your phone is too quiet, distorts sound during phone calls or recording, or does not work at all.

It is possible that a software problem could be causing the microphone to not work correctly. A factory reset of your phone can be performed to ensure the problem isn't software related. To perform a factory reset of your phone, follow the following steps:

1. With the phone turned off, press the Power key and the Volume down key at the same time until the phone turns on.
2. Once the logo appears, release the power key while continuing to hold the volume down key.
3. The phone will now load into recovery mode and display the Android System Recovery screen.
4. From the available options, select "Delete all user data" (WARNING: Selecting this option will reset your phone to factory settings and delete ALL user data, including apps, pictures, settings, contacts, etc.)

If a software reset does not fix the problem with your phone's microphone, it is possible that the microphone is damaged and needs to be replaced.

Pictures are distorted: blurry, too dark or bright, or marked. Camera won't take pictures at all.

If the camera is taking a long time to load, your cache may be storing too much memory. Clear the cache by going to

Menu>Settings>Apps>Camera

Clear the cache and turn off the phone. Remove the battery and sim card, and then place them back in the phone.

It is possible that a software problem could be causing the camera to not respond correctly. A factory reset of your phone can be performed to ensure the problem isn't software related. To perform a factory reset of your phone, follow the following steps:

1. With the phone turned off, press the Power key and the Volume down key at the same time until the phone turns on.
2. Once the logo appears, release the power key while continuing to hold the volume down key.
3. The phone will now load into recovery mode and display the Android System Recovery screen.
4. From the available options, select "Delete all user data" (WARNING: Selecting this option will reset your phone to factory settings and delete ALL user data, including apps, pictures, settings, contacts, etc.)

If none of the above work, the camera may need to be replaced. Follow the guide here.

The front glass or back panel on your phone is cracked or shattered.

In most cases when the screen or panel on your phone cracks, the phone will still work properly. If this is the case for your phone, the damage is only cosmetic. Unfortunately, to fix a cracked glass panel, you must replace the glass as well as the LCD screen. To fix a cracked plastic panel, you must replace the plastic panel; these plastic panels can be purchased for approximately $10.

The screen on your Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant may be damaged and have lines that don’t recognize or respond to touch.

It is possible there is an electrical glitch. Turn off your phone, take off the back cover, remove the battery, wait 15 - 30 seconds, and then reassemble your phone. Turn on your phone and check to see if the touch screen is working correctly.

It is possible that a software problem could be causing the touch screen to not respond correctly. A factory reset of your phone can be performed to ensure the problem isn't software related. To perform a factory reset of your phone, follow the following steps:

1. With the phone turned off, press the Power key and the Volume down key at the same time until the phone turns on.
2. Once the logo appears, release the power key while continuing to hold the volume down key.
3. The phone will now load into recovery mode and display the Android System Recovery screen.
4. From the available options, select "Delete all user data" (WARNING: Selecting this option will reset your phone to factory settings and delete ALL user data, including apps, pictures, settings, contacts, etc.)

If the problem is not fixed by resetting your phone's software, then the problem is likely due to a damaged touch screen. With the Samsung Vibrant, the touch screen is integrated into the LCD screen of the phone. To replace the touch screen requires replacing the entire LCD screen.

If your screen is cracked but the phone continues to operate normally, you can safely continue using the phone. If you’d prefer your screen no longer be cracked, replace the screen. See Installing Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant LCD Screen.

The colors on your screen seem off. There may have been damage from water or dropping the phone. If not, your display settings could have been changed, thus causing the strange appearance.

Adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation through the settings menu on your phone. To raise or lower these display options, go

Menu>Settings>Sounds and Display

Adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation as necessary.

The keypad doesn't respond or only certain buttons, either after not being used or in the middle of use.

The keypad mechanism may be damaged. Opening the phone and examining for any apparent issues could lead to this conclusion. Keypad replacements can also assist in issues with the screen suddenly turning black or white.

If the keypad isn’t broken, the connection may be. The flex ribbon inside the phone that attaches the keypad to other parts can either be loose or damaged, thus causing the malfunction apparent in the keypad not responding.