LG Env3 Problems - Shutting Down, Charging Screen, External Texting

My new Env3 powers off randomly. It does so numerous times a day. I was told by the Verizon technican when I took it to the store yesterday that it was a known issue that was fixed by a software update. He loaded software version VX920V03 on my phone, and it is still having the same exact problem. I am about to head back to the store, now, although I seriously doubt they will be able to help me, especially after reading the many posts on this forum. :smileysad:

The charging screen stays lit all the time. I have to place the phone face down in order to get any sleep at night. This is an irritating problem but one that I can live with.

I also have a strange problem with texting on the external keypad. The default texting mode is Abc. When I create a new text message, I have to press the second letter of the first word an extra time for it to work properly. So, if I am sending the message "hey", for example, when I create a new text message, I press the "g-h-i" key twice to make an "h". Then, I have to press the "d-e-f" key three times to make an "e". If I press the "d-e-f" key just twice, which should make an "e", it makes a "d". After that, all other keys work properly. And this happens with any key that you press to make the second letter of your first word, unless you first press the space key or wait for the cursor to move to the second letter on it's own. It's very strange. And frustrating. Has anyone else seen this problem? The Verizon technician and I checked it together on the demo phone, and it has the same problem, as well. He just scratched his head. So am I.

To all these issues, the Verizon technician would only say that "LG will someday make some updated software that might fix these problems." Wow. Thanks a lot! :smileymad:

I have had other LG phones in the past with which I was very happy. But, with my recent experiences, and considering that my daughter has had countless problems with her LG Rumor (on Sprint), I am left wondering if I should steer clear of them.

Accepted answers

acraftylady2

snowman2011 wrote:
I have the LG Env3 and I liked it a lot.

After a bad bump or something, it stopped holding a charge in a normal way. It also looks like the external screen is always white which drains the battery fast if it stays turned on.

I lowered the setting time for the external backlite to stay on. But,is there anyway to fully shut the external screen off? If so, I think I could use this as my main (I am on a back-up).

If you have any suggestions, please email me at [removed personal information].
Thanks in advance!

Hmm my exyernal screen I have one of the built in pictures on it and after 7 seconds which is the time I set it to goes black and into sleep mode. The only time my external screen is white is when I have it charging and it goes to fully charged. I have the charge setting for the external screen off but you can set that screen to display the clock or calendar after it's charged. Sounds like if it got bumped it got damaged. Mary

All comments

pompousplatypus

my only complaint about the phone is ABC being the default text mode.

since it does ABC default i end up always opening the phone to use the keypad and have never gotten aroung to checking out whether or not the phone will remember words in the T9 dictionary.

swbrodie

Well, you can change the default Entry Mode by going into the Messaging menu, pressing the Settings button, and selecting Entry Mode from the menu.

Unfortunately, the T9 system will NOT allow you to add words to the dictionary. There may be sort of a workaround for this issue, outlined on other posts in this forum, but it only seems to work if you keep your phone in Abc mode. So, apparently, you can't have it both ways. I have not tried this workaround, myself, and it seems that it's success may be questionable.

sanvanjo

HI!! I have had six different phones in the past 9 years and all but one has been LG. I think LG phones are great and seriouly doubt that I will change. Since your phone stills powers off randomly, I would take it back and get another one. I've had my EnV3 for over a month and I have not had this problem.

I don't think I have ever had a phone where the charging screen goes off but the light is generally a soft light.

I am not a fan of T9 and you have listed some reasons that explain why. That is the main reason that I was attracted to the first EnV phone...qwerty keyboard. I don't like having to hit the same key more than once or type a few letters to get a word but that is just my preference. I can type alot faster with the qwerty keyboard.

With any phone, the more bells and whistles you have, the more chances of having some glitches. I always take into consideration what is important to me and go from there. I have read alot of the problems people are having with the EnV3 and the EnV Touch. I can only say that I have not had near the problems with my phone. I would also suggest that you go on the Verizon phone site and read some of the reviews there as well. There are a few things that do not work on my phone...charging screen wallpaper and the charging alert. Overall, my phone works great and I am quite pleased with it. I love my phone.

Take care and good luck.

swbrodie

Well, I just got back from the Verizon store, with a new Env3. It still has the previous version VX920V02 of the software loaded on it. We'll see how this one works.

It behaves the same way in regards to composing a text message on the external keypad. So odd. I haven't seen any other posts on this issue, and I wonder if that function is not widely used or people just haven't noticed the issue. Since it is a texting phone with a QWERTY keyboard, I expect more people use it than the external keypad. I'd love some feedback from someone who has attempted what I describe in this post. My two phones and two store demo models have all had this quirk.

The only real problem that would prevent me from keeping this phone is the random shutdown "feature". Aside from that, I really, really like the phone. And I, too, have always been a die hard LG fan. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

royclose

Did the previous version help? My phone just started doing the same thing today. It powers it self on and off about every 10 seconds or so.

If this is a known problem is the a real fix?

swbrodie

I guess the previous version helped, although it could have been something wrong with the phone itself, too. There's no way to know for sure. Since getting the new phone, it's only powered itself off randomly 3 or 4 times, which is manageable. I'm afraid to upgrade this one to the new software, though. Maybe I'll try again on the next release.

it-is-me

Hi. I have seen quite a few posts on other boards in regard to the external keypad and text messaging. Mine does the same thing. I have had it for a few months and when I try any Env3 phone, they all do it. I have found there is a sort of rhythm that you have to use for that second letter. It seems if you text too fast, it happens and if you pause too long it happens. I am a very fast "texter" from the external keyboard, strange I know :smileyhappy: I have finally gotten used to it and rarely have it happen anymore.

I did not have the shutdown problem or any other. I do love the phone.

mcroozer

I am having the same powering off problems. Verizon upgraded the software on my first phone with no luck and then they gave me a new phone which has now started powering off. However, now I think I can duplicate the powering off myself. It appears to be an issue with the connection between the battery and the phone.

If I hold the phone with my fingertips with the phone facing away and I press both sides of the battery with my thumbs, I can get the phone to shut down. (at least I could consistently last night and now it's not responding so it must know that I'm on here complaning). Anyway it appears that certain pressure to the battery may cause it to shut off. I'm not sure what can be done about it but I may stop by Verizon to get their input (assuming it keeps happening). Just my observations.

I have had the same problem... have had it for a month, love the phone but it shuts down randomly - and most annoyingly -while in the middle of a text message session. Just goes down... no rhyme or reason! I took it to Verizon store this last night - they said it was a software issue and loaded Ver 05 which would solve the problem... but it just did the same thing again tonight - randomly shut down 3 times while I tried to create a 3 line text message!! This is very frustrating. I will be going back to the store. Why are they still selling these phones if they know there is a problem? Some postings said that Ver. 03 would solve it - we aer up to 05 with the same result!

onipar

KM wrote:
I have had the same problem... have had it for a month, love the phone but it shuts down randomly - and most annoyingly -while in the middle of a text message session. Just goes down... no rhyme or reason! I took it to Verizon store this last night - they said it was a software issue and loaded Ver 05 which would solve the problem... but it just did the same thing again tonight - randomly shut down 3 times while I tried to create a 3 line text message!! This is very frustrating. I will be going back to the store. Why are they still selling these phones if they know there is a problem? Some postings said that Ver. 03 would solve it - we aer up to 05 with the same result!

I'm not sure why they would only give you version 5, but we are actually up to version 6 now.

acraftylady2

KM wrote:
I have had the same problem... have had it for a month, love the phone but it shuts down randomly - and most annoyingly -while in the middle of a text message session. Just goes down... no rhyme or reason! I took it to Verizon store this last night - they said it was a software issue and loaded Ver 05 which would solve the problem... but it just did the same thing again tonight - randomly shut down 3 times while I tried to create a 3 line text message!! This is very frustrating. I will be going back to the store. Why are they still selling these phones if they know there is a problem? Some postings said that Ver. 03 would solve it - we aer up to 05 with the same result!

Are you sure they gave you version 5? I ordered mine online after Christmas and activated it at home and it automatically updated to version 6. Try going to phone info, software update, status. If it says 5 then try option 2 check for new and see if it gives you version 6. I have no issues what so ever with my phone. Mary

Chesterface

I've seen this issue before, get the software update either way, just for good measure. But there IS a "sweet post" that you can press down on the battery that will cause it to shut off. It will most likely happen when you're trying to text, since technically you will be putting pressure on the battery while you hold it to text.

MambaFace

The newer software should fix the problem, but as Chesterface said, there is also sometimes a "sweet spot" that you can push on the battery to make the phone shut off. I'm not sure why it happens, but I've seen it on a friend's phone, and heard about it a couple of times from different people. Just don't go pushing hard on the phone looking for a sweet spot, or you might just cause one. :smileytongue:

onipar

MambaFace wrote:
The newer software should fix the problem, but as Chesterface said, there is also sometimes a "sweet spot" that you can push on the battery to make the phone shut off. I'm not sure why it happens, but I've seen it on a friend's phone, and heard about it a couple of times from different people. Just don't go pushing hard on the phone looking for a sweet spot, or you might just cause one.

HA :smileyvery-happy: Yeah, i was actually saying in a different thread that it seems like most of the things you do with the env3 (texting, typing in a phone number, navigating the menu, etc) puts a certain amount of pressure onto the back of the phone where the battery is.

So it does make sense that if it was constructed poorly, after a while this pressure will cause the shutdown problem through either a loosening of the battery or something like that.

SydneyK

This is the one I wanted. It's cheap plastic but would do the trick. And I like plaid. :smileytongue:

acraftylady2

Nice if you like plaid and don't need the swivel clip. I like the rubber as it seemed sturdier to me. I am trying to figure out of any of these have the plastic screen protector on the top of the front bit. Maybe tomorrow I will e-mail that site and ask as those colored rubber ones would be perfect as long as it has the screen protector. Mary

onipar

This is the pack I got:

http://www.amazon.com/Charger-Crystal-Screen-Protector-Verizon/dp/B002FKNQBI/ref=pd_cp_cps_3

It is in two pieces so I can use the phone normally without any problem. it's just a simple clear plastic case to avoid putting pressure on the back. The other stuff was just a bonus for the price...

acraftylady2

So is the screen protector actually on the front top of the case built in or separate? My black rubber one for the 2 the front piece had hard clear plastic on the top of that part built in so that's what I want again but something other than ugly black. Mary

mattdash

My env3 also turned itself off all the time, and I eventually figured out it was from pushing on the battery a certain way. I fixed it by carefully pulling up the battery connectors on the phone so they stick out further and apply more force to the battery. With some small pointy tools, push down on the top (flat) end of the conenctor to avoid ripping it out, then lift up the bottom (raised) part of the connector until it pops out of its pocket. The end you're trying to lift has little tabs that stick out and hold it in place that you need to pop out, so it takes some force... just make sure you keep the top pushed down so you dont tear it off completely. (The electrical connections are all at the top, the bottom tabs are just for strength) Repeat for all 4 connectors, and you should be good. Just be very careful you dont break them off!

drpaul40

This is it for shutting down. We have two phones just like this, one does not do it, but mine shuts down all the time. After reading this message about the battery, and just pressing it on the back, that is exactly why it shuts down. I put my phone in my pocket, and the other phone (my wife's) goes in her purse, so that is why hers never shut down. It is pretty annoying to find that its turned off without knowing, and then find out that someone has been trying to reach you. Something LG or Verizon needs to figure out.

Chelsea

I got my first EnV3 on December of last year. Within a month it was powering off about 8-12 times a day, which was extremely frustrating! I tolerated it for a while, but got annoyed and took it to my local Verizon where they agreed to give me a new EnV3. I've had this one for a little less than 2 months, it is now power off about 15 times per day. I've had LG phones before and have never had so many problems!

seahawkdad

Ready for a long short story? We purchased 3 LG env3 phones August 2009. By December they were starting to randomly shut off on their own (sitting on a table, in a pocket, in a purse, if the sun was shining, if there was a full moon, you get the picture). By February we've had enough. We take them to the Verizon store. They keep them for 2 hours to do a firmware update. We take them home. Same problem. We go back a week later, they replace the phones. We take them home. Same problem. I take them back to the Verizon store where I waited 45 minutes for someone to take care of me. I couldn't wait any longer and left with a very bad taste in my mouth. When I get home I call the Verizon customer service number. They send me new phones. Same problem. Next weekend I go back to the Verizon store. I ask them to replace the phones with a different model phone. No deal! He says that they were just notified (April 16, 2010) that LG the batteries don't make a proper contact in the phone. He says they will send me new phones with new, better fitting, batteries. Wed. April 21, 2010 the new phones arrive WITHOUT NEW BATTERIES! I call Verizon customer service. She says the store used the wrong item number to order the new phones with the new batteries. She is sending us the new phones with the new batteries, using the correct item number. I ask for overnight delivery. No can do. Two day FedEx. Delivery scheduled for Friday April 24, 2010. Of course they didn't arrive on Friday. I track the delivery on FedEx and it says the scheduled delivery date is Monday April 27, 2010. Signature required of course. WHAT A RUN-AROUND! This is such poor service that I'm notifying my employer (9000 employees in Fort Myers, FL) about this poor service and asking them to notify all employees of this poor service from Verizon. If these phones that are supposed to be here Monday don't work, Verizon better switch us to other phones or we're moving to another provider.

unknown

This is the problem with cell service providers being in the handset business. The company actually at fault here is LG, they manufactured a defective device and took quite a while to acknowledge this fact and make it possible for consumers to obtain a reliable fix.

If we separted carriers from cell phone providers, I think a lot of good things would happen. Have you contacted LG to see if they can offer you any advice in the interim?

slovesc21

omg i have two env phones first they were both env2s and my honey had probs(verizon said env2 defective) so they sent him and env3 and what do u know, his phone keeps turing off,freezes,light wont go off,inside key pad works half the time, inside screen turns black...

now my env2 is having probs with the key pad not working screen staying on it says i have a new text when my inbox is empty,

we have had 4 replcement env3s and 3 replacement env2s and they all have the SAME PROB! im sick of it

MambaFace

From what I understand, the random shutdowns are actually from a battery that does not fit snugly in the phone itself. A friend of mine recently had this issue, and while they didn't have the phones in the store, they did ship him a new EnV3 with a battery what fits better, and he hasn't had any issues since then.

theraptor

i have been having the same problem with my phone and i tried pressing on the battery like you said and my phone shuts off every time this is my second env3. i am headed back tonight to tell them to give me another or one of similar value

jmsythe

Hey, my phone used to do that too. The reason was that when a force is applied to the back of the phone, the middle of the battery bends inward slightly and the outer edges (where the leads are) are bent upwards, sometimes enough to disconnect the leads of the battery from the phone. My fix: take out the battery and put a few of layers of tape on the phone in the middle of the space where the battery goes, then put the battery back in. That keeps the middle of the battery from being able to bend inwards which keeps the edges from bending outwards. My phone hasn't randomly shut off since I tried this two weeks ago.

timoteo

If it turns off randomly with out making any noise its the battery conection, mine turned off randomly, the first time they sent me a new one without the battery it worked for a few months but started shuting off randomly again because of the battery connection, so now there sending me a new one with a new battery, but I have a feeling that after a few months its probably going to happen again. If it does happen again I'm going to tell them to get me a different new phone.

MhsMustang

I completely understand what you are talking about. I have the Env3 as well and my phone has problems whenever I have it on vibrate, and I do not know if you do as well, but when vibrate is on, and I set my phone down on a table gently it shuts off, or also if I happen to close my phone, it does it as well. And it is very annoying. Another thing I noticed with my phone is the screen/exterior keyboard that flips out to view the inside, the hinges are loose and I wonder if it happens to be with a bad connection that it shuts off for you as well as me. I have 8months left in my contract and I am going to get a replacement because I bought the extended warranty and if you happen to realize that vibrate might be a possibility that when it is activated and you receive a text and it shuts off sometimes, don't use vibrate for a while and see if that is the problem. :smileyhappy:

ZSch

Every sense I left state the other day my Env3 has been turning off when using the Interal keyboard. It seems to do it 3-7 times before I can get my message sent. It seems to do it when Texting out of state numbers or when texting the same person for a period of time. I haven't brought the phone to Verizon because I got it off a friend n I'm not sure if they can do anything about it. Ive had the phone for over 3 months and it turns off at random times (fine with) but when sending a message and have to retype it many times before I can get it to send is an issue.

Also my front phone part dont work so I have to use the speaker phone when I get a call or have to call someone. I don't need everyone to hear whats going on.

stacie88

Wow so glad that its not just me having these issues the thing is I actually loved this phone until about a month ago when all this started and now that I see that SO many other people are having problems I'm not really understating why VERIZON has not addressed this issue and I see oh about 20 posts just on this thread yet not one wireless rep has responded to it I did notice however that they have no problem responding to requests for people wanting to change their plan upgrade their phones etc... This is just frustrating I have have Verizon for about 12 years and I am seriously thinking it just may be worth the $150 fee to break my contract and switch providers. SO HEY VERIZON EMPLOYEES HOW ABOUT SOME SORT OF RESPONSE OR RESOLUTION TO THESE ISSUES SINCE I TOO AM ON MY 4TH MFC REPLACEMENT PHONE THAT IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY !???!

acraftylady2

stacie88 wrote:
Wow so glad that its not just me having these issues the thing is I actually loved this phone until about a month ago when all this started and now that I see that SO many other people are having problems I'm not really understating why VERIZON has not addressed this issue and I see oh about 20 posts just on this thread yet not one wireless rep has responded to it I did notice however that they have no problem responding to requests for people wanting to change their plan upgrade their phones etc... This is just frustrating I have have Verizon for about 12 years and I am seriously thinking it just may be worth the $150 fee to break my contract and switch providers. SO HEY VERIZON EMPLOYEES HOW ABOUT SOME SORT OF RESPONSE OR RESOLUTION TO THESE ISSUES SINCE I TOO AM ON MY 4TH MFC REPLACEMENT PHONE THAT IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY !???!

They have addressed the issue. If you are in the 1yr. manufacturers warranty they will give you a corrected phone with a tight battery or so it has been said on the boards. I have no trouble with mine but my son had the shut down issue horrible with his ENV2 and they replaced it for him. Mary

stacie88

Well I just had this one replaced two weeks ago and the issue is the same so I know they have not fixed the issue for me you said your sons is the ENV2 this is an envy3 so maybe the problem is different I didn't have any problems with this phone until the last software and firmware updates so I will be waiting for an answer from Verizon which I'm sure I wont get until I'm outside of my one year

acraftylady2

stacie88 wrote:
Well I just had this one replaced two weeks ago and the issue is the same so I know they have not fixed the issue for me you said your sons is the ENV2 this is an envy3 so maybe the problem is different I didn't have any problems with this phone until the last software and firmware updates so I will be waiting for an answer from Verizon which I'm sure I wont get until I'm outside of my one year

Well then maybe yours is not due to a loose battery if it just started after the latest update then I would say it's the update. I have not updated and not planning on it since my phone is working fine with version 6 and I never had shut down issues with mine. Most people with the shut down issues on the 3 it's because the battery contacts not tight and it's been going on a while before this update and that's what happened on my sons 2 the contacts I think got loose aftrer time causing it to constantly shut down and they replaced it and all was fine. If the replaced phone has version 7 of the software then I bet that's the problem. Take it back and see what they do because even the replacements have a 30 day warranty I was told when we did my sons so you need to go in and insist on a phone that works right. Mary

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