Samsung Galaxy S23 problems and how to fix them

It’s still early in the year, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra in particular, is making a great case for being one of the best smartphones of 2023. With excellent build quality, a powerful processing package, a smooth software experience, and some of the best phone cameras in the game, every device in the series is worth buying. However, like any new release, the Galaxy S23 is, unfortunately, no stranger to bugs and glitches. While Samsung does a good job squashing major issues with software updates, a few still continue to plague owners. Here’s a look at some common Samsung Galaxy S23 problems and how to fix them!

There have been a few complaints from users about Android Auto not running in their cars with the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. Android Auto problems are common with any new device, particularly when using Android Auto Wireless, and the issue is mostly caused because of problems during the initial setup.

Potential solutions:

• You might run into problems using Android Auto if you’ve used Smart Switch to set up your new phone. Before deleting and reinstalling Android Auto, you can try going to Settings > Apps > Android Auto and tap Force Stop. Then tap Storage and select both Clear cache and Clear data. However, the best option might be to uninstall and reinstall the app through the Google Play Store.
• If you have problems using Android Auto Wireless with the Galaxy S23, try and set up and wired connection first if possible. Plug the phone in using a cable and set up Android Auto. After initially setting up a wired connection, Android Auto Wireless should work as expected after that. This is a step that has worked for me when I ran into Android Auto problems.
• It could be an issue with the settings. The phone should automatically detect a car/Android Auto connection when you plug it in. If it doesn’t, tap the Android System notification in the drop-down panel and ensure it’s set to Transferring files/Android Auto.
• If you run into problems like frequent disconnections, check to make sure that the cable is working properly and isn’t torn or frayed.
• For issues like a blank screen, Android Auto not loading, and other software problems, don’t forget to report them to Samsung. Go to the Samsung Members app and go to Get help > Send feedback > Error reports.

A common complaint about the new Galaxy S23 series is regarding fast charging. While the Galaxy S23 features 25W fast charging, the S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra offer 45W wired charging. These phones don’t come with a charger in the box, so owners might have a problem with slower-than-expected charging when using older chargers.

Keep in mind that even with the advertised fast charging, the Galaxy S23 series doesn’t charge nearly as fast as some of the competition out there from OnePlus and Xiaomi. In Android Authority’s Galaxy S23 Ultra charging test, we found that the phone takes 57 minutes to fully charge with a compatible fast charger and can take as long as 110 minutes with Samsung’s older 15W chargers.

Potential solutions:

• Samsung’s fast charging is based on the USB Power Delivery PPS standard, so there are plenty of third-party chargers available that you can use aside from the official Samsung 45W wall charger. You’ll find excellent compatible options in our roundup of the best chargers you can get for the Galaxy S23.
• A Reddit user has also found that the cable Samsung includes in the box is a 3A one that only supports 25W charging. They mention that you will need a different 5A cable and a compatible 45W charger to get the fastest charging speeds on the S23 Plus and Ultra. Check out our roundup of the best charging cables if you need to buy a new one. The official Samsung 45W charger also comes with the correct cable.
• Slow charging might simply be a Settings issue. Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > More battery settings and ensure that Fast charging is enabled. If you have a compatible 45W charger, this setting will automatically enable Super Fast Charging. For wireless charging, toggle on Fast wireless charging.

Some Samsung Galaxy S23 owners are facing problems with app notifications not showing up until they open the app. The issue seems to affect banking apps for some users, while others are seeing the problem with social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook.

Potential solutions:

• The phone’s battery optimization settings may cause notification delays. Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits. Ensure that the apps you are having notification problems with aren’t on the Sleeping apps and Deep sleeping apps lists. Then, tap Never sleeping apps and tap the plus icon at the top right corner. Add the problem apps from the list.
• If it’s a specific app, Go to Settings > Apps > (app name) > Battery and select Unrestricted.
• If the issue persists, you may need to reset the app. Go to Settings > Apps > (app name) > Storage and select Clear cache and Clear data. Clearing app data will log you out of your account and you may lose your chats if they aren’t backed up. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app if nothing else works.

One of the biggest selling points of the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the S Pen stylus. However, quite a few users have come across a problem with the stylus frequently disconnecting when using Bluetooth. While a Bluetooth connection isn’t necessary to use the stylus to write on the phone, it’s necessary for features like Air Actions.

Potential solutions:

• While Samsung is seemingly rolling out software updates to fix the connection problem, users are still facing the issue. A simple workaround that works temporarily is to place the stylus in its slot, wait a few seconds, and take it out again to re-establish the connection. However, users say that the S Pen disconnects once again.
• Another workaround that seems to work is to enable “Keep S Pen connected.” Go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > More S Pen settings and select Keep S Pen connected. This will keep the stylus connected even when it’s in the slot. This will cause some battery drain, though.
• Another option is to reset the S Pen. Go to Settings > Advanced features > S Pen, tap on the three vertical dots icon at the top right corner, and select Reset S Pen. Go back to the S Pen page and you will see a message saying the stylus is connecting to Air Actions. Wait for the connection to complete. If it doesn’t after a few minutes, you might have to restart your phone.

A few users are facing Wi-Fi connection issues on their Galaxy S23 devices when using Wi-Fi 6 routers. They are seeing a “Connected but no Internet” error.

Potential solutions:

• Samsung is aware of this problem and is rolling out an update to fix it. Some users say that the February update has solved the issue, but some complaints remain. This problem should be completely fixed in an upcoming software update.
• This workaround is from the Galaxy S22, which suffered from frequent disconnections when connected to Wi-Fi 6 routers. But it could apply in this case as well. A router setting could be causing the issue. The settings might be in a different settings menu depending on your router, but the setting you want to disable is called Fast Roaming. On a Linksys router, go to the router settings page, select Privacy, and disable Fast roaming (802.11r).

Some users say that Edge lighting isn’t working for all apps on their Galaxy S23 devices.

Potential solutions:

• Edge lighting might not be enabled on your device. Go to Settings > Notifications > Notification pop-up style > Edge lighting style and ensure that one of the options is selected. In the previous screen, toggle on Show even while screen is off. For the apps for which edge lighting is not working, check that “pop-up notifications” is activated. Go to Settings > Notifications > App notifications, tap the app name, and go to Notification categories. Select a category and toggle on Show as pop-up. On the previous screen, ensure that Pop-up is allowed in the Notification types section.

While the Galaxy S23 faces problems that are unexpected and requires workarounds or software update fixes, some users complain about issues that are normal and will be on every device. Of course, even expected issues shouldn’t happen on such expensive phones, but the solutions are easily accessible in the Settings menu.

Battery life problems

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series, and the S23 Ultra in particular, offers fantastic battery life. However, not everyone is happy with their battery life experience. There’s plenty you can do to further enhance the battery life of your phone.

• Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > More battery settings > Performance profile and select Light. This setting prioritizes battery life and cooling efficiency over processing speed. Plenty of users say that they don’t notice much of a difference in everyday performance after switching to this profile.
• You can also make changes to other settings on your phone, but these may affect the smooth experience you enjoy on the phone. On the Galaxy S23 Ultra, go to Settings > Display > Screen resolution and switch the resolution from WQHD+ to FHD+. On all S23 devices, go to Settings > Display > Motion smoothness and select Standard. This will reduce the refresh rate from 120Hz to 60Hz, which will make a noticeable difference in how scrolling feels. In the Display settings, you can also switch the device to Dark mode. Another Display setting to toggle off is Extra brightness. While this is a useful feature to have while outdoors, it will cause more battery drain.
• The phone’s always-on display may also cause battery drain. Go to Settings > Lock screen > Always-on Display. You can toggle it off. But Samsung actually offers a few helpful options. You can change the setting to Show for new notifications, or tap Show as scheduled to set up a schedule for when the AOD will be active.
• You can save some battery while connected to a Wi-Fi network as well. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi and tap on the Wi-Fi name. Tap the three vertical dots icon at the top right corner and go to Intelligent Wi-Fi. Scroll down and enable Wi-Fi power-saving mode.
• The final setting you should consider enabling isn’t for immediate battery life but helps ensure longevity. Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > More battery settings and toggle on Protect battery. This setting will ensure that your phone only charges to 85%.
• Another useful way to ensure longevity and a good gaming experience is to use the Galaxy S23’s bypass charging feature.

The fingerprint scanner not working because of a tempered glass screen protector

This is an unfortunate problem that is actually “normal” because the under-display fingerprint scanner of the Galaxy S23 doesn’t play well with tempered glass screen protectors. It’s better to get a TPU film screen protector for the Galaxy S23, but there are some tempered glass options that work with the fingerprint scanner after tweaking a phone setting. Go to Settings > Display and enable Touch sensitivity. You may also want to add your fingerprints again after applying the screen protector.

Rattling noise when shaking the phone

You might hear a slight rattling noise while shaking the phone centered around the camera. That rattling is because of the phone’s optical image stabilization components moving around when you shake it. It’s completely normal and something you’ll find on every smartphone that has OIS.

Note: To enter the recovery menu to factory reset the phone or to wipe the cache partition, you must plug your Galaxy S23 series phone in. You can connect the phone to your PC, but some users have also found success by plugging in USB-C earphones into the port. Also, keep in mind that it might take a few attempts to get into the recovery menu as the timing of pressing the buttons can be difficult to get right.

Factory reset Galaxy S23

• To factory reset the Galaxy S23, first turn the phone off.
• Press and hold the volume up and power buttons and release them when the Android logo appears.
• Use the volume down button to navigate this menu. Move down to Wipe data/factory reset.
• Press the power button to select the highlighted option. Finally, use the volume button to choose Yes – delete all user data. Use the power button again to confirm your selection.
• Tap the power button to select Reboot system now.

Boot Galaxy S23 into Safe Mode

• Turn the phone off.
• Press and hold the power button until the phone’s model name and number appear on the screen.
• Once the Samsung logo appears, release the power button and press and hold the volume down button. Hold the volume down button until the phone fully restarts.
• You will see Safe Mode at the bottom left corner of the screen.

Wipe cache partition on Galaxy S23

• Turn the phone off.
• Press and hold the volume up and power buttons and release them when the Android logo appears.
• Use the volume down button to go to the Wipe cache partition setting and press the power button to confirm your selection.
• Press the volume button to select Yes, and press the power button to confirm.
• Restart the device once you see Reboot system now.

What Galaxy S23 problems have you encountered? Be sure to let us know in the comments below. We’ll do our best to help.