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Galaxy S3 Battery Drain with KitKat

Hi,

I updated to KitKat (4.4.2) a few days ago on my Samsung Galaxy S3. Since then my battery hasn't lasted nearly as long as it used to. The stock battery monitor (under Settings) shows 'Android System' is consuming way more battery life this ever used to. Upwards of 25% - 45% at any given moment I check. It's now the top battery drain when the Screen used to be.

Things I've done:

1) Leave the battery out for a few minutes

2) Wipe the system cache partitiion

3) Factory reset (several times)

4) A combination of 1,2 & 3.

I've also done a factory reset and left the phone alone (no extra apps, airplane mode, no use) and the Android System still consumes all kinds of battery life. This looks like a OS-level bug.

Comments

Verizon_Support

NicholasJay We are sorry to hear about the battery issues since the update. I see that you have completed the steps we would have you try. Please try to place the phone in Safe mode and allow it to charge to 100% http://vz.to/1lMpHif

Sheritah_vzw

Follow us on Twitter

@VZWSupport

NicholasJay

Thanks for the reply! Coincidentally, starting this morning, I charged the phone up to 100%, and rebooted it into safe mode here are the screen shots so far from the Battery screens. I can post more screen shots later if you'd like. Is there anything else I can do? Or you can do?

Verizon_Support

Thanks so much for doing that for us, NicholasJay.

We do have other ways to extend the battery life for the Galaxy SIII. Please take a look here http://vz.to/1mbq3iN to see if these are some best practices that you are using.

We are on a mission to ensure you have the best battery life possible.

TamaraH_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

NicholasJay

Thanks. I'm already doing most of the things on the list ( leaving GPS/Wifi/Bluetooth off, no widgets, screen dimmed, etc). I'm just really shocked that after the update the Android System is taking a large amount of battery life. It looks like it is forcing the CPU to stay awake a lot longer than it used to. I'm hoping someone is working on an update to 4.4.2 that fixes this problem. Android System never took this amount of battery life before.

Ann154

what is the reason you don't seem to have any cell signal for most of time shown in your screenshot?

NicholasJay

I'm not sure why it doesn't show green across the board. As you can see fro the other screen shots I have full bars and LTE coverage. In fact from my office desk (where the phone was sitting the entire time) I can see a Verizon cell tower out my window.

boychik0830

do not count on a fix because I have had huge battery drain since I got 4.3 on my s3 and Verizon refuses to fix it. so stupid and I cannot wait till I can get a new phone.

Patience_Gone

Have you tried contacting Samsung Tech Support?

The manufacturer support may have fixes for the Android update that may or may not be passed on to the carrier.

boychik0830

I have before about 4.3 and they were not very helpful. the only option they gave me was to do a reset of my device which I did not want to do because I did not want to loose my data. every time I try to contact them they act like they have not heard about any problems.

Patience_Gone

I believe you. I have gotten mixed service from Samsung as well. One rep is knowledgeable and aggressive to fix the problem sending me files and applications to help, and another rep acts completely ignorant.

mkroll

After the new 4.4.2 update my phone has charging issues. I am sure it is related to the update, nothing else has changed, not new software. I now get an X in the battery charging icon, this has never happened before the update. The battery still appears to charge if not quite as fast.

What was done in this update to cause this error and when will it be fixed. You have caused an error in my otherwise great phone.

Thank you.

Patience_Gone

It was definitely the update. Why would you update an old phone without doing the research on the update first?

NicholasJay

At the time I did the update, I did do research. And there really wasn't anyone online complaining about it yet. It was several days after the update had become available, and usually within a days or so the internet is ablaze with issues if there are any.

boychik0830

I hope something can be done about this I never have had a phone with this many problems in my life. things like this need to be figured out before phones get released.

boychik0830

what can I do to turn my one great s3 into a better phone again. I have already gotten a replacement and my battery life is still crap what can be done about it or nothing at all. I cannot get a new phone until October unless I can get a early upgrade. with each update my s3 has gotten worse not better. update should fix phones not give them more problems.

NicholasJay

You've already gotten a replacement? How did you go about it?

TomLGenV-T

Re: "...with each update my s3 has gotten worse not better. update should fix phones not give them more problems."

On my S3, Jelly Bean 4.1.2 was better than after the JB 4.3 and the KitKat 4.4.2 updates. With this latest 'update' (plus factory resets) my 4G/LTE and my Wi-Fi connections are erratic... frequently get "your data connection is unstable" notifications. Very frustrating.

Why didn't we get the 4.4.3 update (instead of 4.4.2) as most S3 update pundits reported?

boychik0830

would that have fixed our problems or not. if not that I do not want it.

NicholasJay

I called tech support this morning and we went over my options. Since my phone is out of warranty by 2 months there's nothing that they could do. Well, that's not exactly true. They could've upgraded me (since I'm out of contract) and taken away my unlimited data plan and given me a ~6GB plan for the same price as a 2GB plan, but I'm not willing to give up my unlimited data just yet.

TomLGenV-T

Re: boychik0830

"would that [4.4.3] have fixed our problems or not"

Probably not, if my stated S3 update pattern holds...you do have the option NOT TO UPDATE, which (in hindsight) I should have done with the 4.3 update. This problem-riddled update pattern, in my opinion, will continue as long as there's a hands-off policy with the ram-hogging TouchWiz.

TomLGenV-T

Re:

NicholasJay

"Thanks for the reply! Coincidentally, starting this morning, I charged the phone up to 100%, and rebooted it into safe mode...."

--------

I just checked my battery data and the double-digit users in regular startup mode were:

ANDROID SYSTEM............24%

SCREEN..............................22%

ANDROID OS......................11%

GOOGLE SERVICES...........11%

The double-digit users in the above same battery data check in safe mode were:

ANDROID SYSTEM............25%

SCREEN..............................22%

ANDROID OS......................11%

GOOGLE SERVICES...........11%

Footnote: Battery drainage, though personally annoying in each of the last two S3 updates, is not my greatest disappointment as I'm near my home/auto chargers and I carry a fully-charged Samsung spare battery when away from home longer. The bigger issues (STILL) are unstable data connections, LTE/4G and Wi-Fi. When this is corrected, I will be a happy S3er again.

stef7

toml did you ever try backing up all your personal content to a PC, like videos, mp3s, ringtones, pictures, other files, writing down critical settings like email, jotting down where you have app icons placed, writing dwn critical contacts... and performing a factory data reset?

i cant say it will address the lte/4g or wifi issues (i think samsung and motorola devices badly need a patch to KitKat) but after the FDR and three charge cycles, ithink the battery longevity would be improved.

bpage

Actually theres a loop hole for that. When u get your upgrade. Dont let them activate your sim card. Either keep yours. Or call verizon when you leave the store to activate the new sim

Dr_X1

I have the exact same problem as the original poster (re battery) and I find it unacceptable. I can't believe there is no fix forethis. The Android system appears to be running tasks in the background that are unnecessary and that even stopping them manually (for me) did not yield any results. And yes, I have tried everything listed above. Does anyone know if there is a software fix in the works? The battery drain is so poor that my device is nearly unusable.

Elmore1

Removed ISIS Wallet imbeded app and battery consumption returned to normal.

NicholasJay

Great! Any specific instructions? Do you need root privileges Elmore1 ?

EDIT: I've had the ISIS Mobile Wallet App turned off (in the Application Manager) since I updated to 4.4.2 and I've always had the Android System take up the plurality of the battery life.

Elmore1

No root. Settings applications all isis wallet remove.

On Jul 21, 2014 9:45 PM, "Verizon Wireless Community" <

NicholasJay

There's no 'Remove' on my S3 with 4.4.2 installed. Just 'Turn Off.'

Elmore1

The first time I went to ISIS Wallet it gave me the option of factory reset for that app. I answered yes and it removed it and placed it in the turned off column. I have 9 hrs since last charging and have 72% battery with moderate use.

I don't know if this will help all but has improved my battery life since removal.

Hope Samsung / Verizon push updates / fixes soon.

Thanks from a novice user.

DedicatedVerizonCusto

I have the same problem. Android update 4.4.2 reduced battery life by over 1/2!!! The battery can no longer make it through a normal business day. As there were no other changes to the device the software update is most likely the problem. I called Verizon support and I asked to downgrade to the previous release but they don't have a method to do that. They went through the "normal" canned responses for battery life that have nothing to do with the update, haven't helped me at all, and they haven't yet acknowledged the software update is the source of the problem.

According to ZDNet, Google acknowledged this problem and suggested uninstalling Skype (which I have done). That actually made a difference but android 4.4.2 it is still a huge battery hog. KitKat giving you battery drain problems? Try uninstalling Skype, says Google as it prepares a fix | ZDNet

If Verizon can support a downgrade of the software that is probably the best fix for right now.

Otherwise we have to wait for Verizon to release the updated version of software with bug fixes for these issues.

- Concerned Verizon Customer

boychik0830

they will not fix it so you will have to upgrade to a newer phone. they did nothing for me with my s3 problems and it will never be fixed

ohiodave_batteryDrain

same problem here with battery life cut way over half. have tried the troubleshooting steps.

It happened directly after the upgrade with isis wallet and verizon customer service sent me a replacement phone without a battery. i asked the customer service rep how new hardware would fix their software problem and he said we have to try it first. I disabled isis wallet and battery life improved very slightly but it is still horrible. I used to go 8 hours before having to charge the phone and as soon as the last upgrade installed my phone will be at 20% battery by 2 hours of light use. with the multiple problems billing and account wise that I had last upgrade, bad signal and dropped calls only to be told to buy a cell booster, and customer service reps that follow the canned responses rather than listening to their customers and attempting to provide a reasonable / logical solution I doubt I'm going to stick around once the contract expires this Oct.

NicholasJay

I've tried a different S3 with 4.4.2. Same problem. Battery drops considerably. Andoid System is taking the plurality of the battery life (~24%) all the time.

boychik0830

just get a new phone when you can because VZW will not fix s3 problems. they should not release updates if a phone cannot handle them at all. the s3 was the top of the line phone so they should have made a effort to fix it. I was lucky to get a early upgrade or else I would have had to deal with this GARBAGE phone until October. I have a s5 now and I love it.

jenroy21

I have an S3 and mine started doing this battery issue out of nowhere few weeks ago. I don't remember my phone doing an upgrade so I took it to the verizon store and they told me that cop out story of its your phone cells you need a new phone and since mine was under warranty I got a replacement and guess what?! It's still doing it and even got a new battery. I am still on 4.4.2. I am about ready to be done with this phone.

boychik0830

go get a new phone because the s3 is a PIECE OF JUNK. VERIZON would not fix the problems. replacement phone did not work for me either so I got a s5 which is so much better than my old s3. the problems people were having should have been fixed.

dbekas

It's not just Samsung. I have a Motorola RAZR M which has worked quite well for the 2 years or so that I've had it. Never a complaint about the battery life, in fact better than I've been led to expect and better than many other folks I know with other Android phone. KitKat messed it up for me, too. I put up with it for a while but finally decided to call VZW support. I could not get the tech to admit a general problem with KitKat. We went through very basic and useless steps - checking the installed apps, battery usage etc, after which he offered to send me up to level 2 support. I couldn't do it at that time, though, and haven't called back yet.

Then today my wife and I were in the Verizon store to upgrade her phone. She decided she wanted something like mine, so we opted for a RAZR Mini. Similar in more ways than different. As we were waiting for the computer to finish up transaction, I got confirmation from the tech that there have been lots of complaints and he personally saw the same problem on his own Samsung. Curiously enough, I was able to tell just from today that the battery on this new RAZR, also with KitKat, is draining very quickly.

As far as I'm concerned this is a general KitKat problem and would really like for them to just fess up and move on and fix the problem.

OK, that's my rant... :smileyhappy:

Bettebet

It says turning off ISIS wallet may cause problems with other apps and all my data will be deleted. Do they mean all my phone data? Or the isis data ?

Verizon_Support

NicholasJay,

You have asked a great question. We do not want you to lose all the data on your device. If you are turning off just ISIS wallet only the data for ISIS wallet will be deleted. The only time you will lose all the data on your phone is if you perform a factory reset.

LindseyT_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

DanielaMarcial

It's bitter sweet that I found this forum with all of these people having the same problem. I thought that something was wrong with my phone such as a bad battery, cord, charge port, etc. Verizon...if you see all of these people having the same problem, then why haven't you done something about it? I am tempted to write a letter to the CEO and BBB. As consumers, we are bullied into buying newer, more expensive models all the time but I wouldn't expect something like this in less than a year after paying over $500 for a phone and then over $250 a month for service. It's not fair! Now that I've got that out, I will say that I have found that it has something to do with the cord. The red X, the moving around of the cable, the 1 amp vs 2.1 amp charger with different cables, the resetting of the device...all of these things have happened to my phone. The strangest thing is that I have used other people's chargers and so far I've found two that will charge my S3 normally and quickly, just as they did before the update because the charger that came with the phone won't work. Even with the black lightning strike it charges at 1% per five minutes or so and then drains quickly. I've purchased and returned a wide variety and combination of chargers and cables. It seems I'm going to have to ask my co-worker where she got her charger so I can buy one because hers works on my phone. I feel like this is their way of making us buy new phones but I don't have that kind of money and our contact still has over a year left on it.

dennygreen

I had the same problem with my vzw gs3 in the short time I used it after it was updated to KK.

I've also got the same problem with the gs3 that I switched to on another carrier.

my wife also has a vzw gs3, and it has the battery drain, although it isn't a problem for her since she rarely uses her phone and still makes it through a day with juice to spare. But if I look at her battery use, Android System is always her #1 battery user behind Screen.

As for me, I've had to resort to using a 4.3 custom rom to get the battery life that I was used to during the first two years of owning a gs3.

Whenever I switch back to KK, whether it's a custom rom or the official version, Android System shoots up to #2 on my battery usage behind Screen, and I can barely make it 14 hours on my extended battery. that's ridiculous. I used to get 17 hours out of my vzw gs3 on a stock battery when I got it in 2012.

When I switch back to 4.3, I can easily make it through 20 hours or so with the same pattern of use, and Android System uses much less battery than before.

boychik0830

4.3 was a piece of junk on my s3 battery drain apps crashing and lagging. but now I have a s5 which lasts so much longer. I feel bad for all of the people who are having problems with their s3's. VZW should have fixed them by now.

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