Droid running rampantly through apps on its own, entering text into messages & calling people

[wisconsinbadger]

Since the latest system upgrade and especially within the last 4 days, my Droid has been been doing many things, very rapidly on its own. It will sit calmly for a period, and then out of the blue, it will just start adding random text strings to a text and not let you get out of it. It will also rapidly fire through many different apps on the phone.  This morning it even called a couple of people without me ever touching it while it sat on the dash of my car.  What's up with this operating system?  Seems like you have some serious bugs. It's getting so I really am not liking this phone right now.  It locks up when it does this and has to be shut down.  Shutting down constantly and taking the battery out to reset things is not very productive!  Please get this fixed ASAP!

[Ann154]

Did you download an application during that time? It might actually be a bad application. Try uninstallin any applications you installed starting with the most recent one. Then add then back slowly maybe even taking a few days between each one. If it starts happening again after an application installation, it was a bad application. If that doesn't work, a factory reset might be a good idea and start fresh again.

[Ms_Shonta]

Try doing a hard reset on the device.

Performing a hard reset will remove ALL data including the Google account, system data, application data, application settings, and downloaded applications. Only perform this reset if absolutely necessary.

After a hard reset has been performed, initial setup may need to be performed. For assistance refer to Initial Activation and setup - Motorola Droid (A855).

Preferred method

1. From the home screen, touch the applications tab (located on the bottom of the screen).
    
2. Touch Settings.
   
3. Touch Privacy.
    
4. Touch Factory data reset.
    
5. Touch Reset phone. 
   
6. Touch Erase Everything.
   

[mrsmisha]

I have the same issue as the original poster.  With help from the Verizon folks (using my husband's phone because mine was a {word filter avoidance} I have gone through the steps for a hard reset (Ctrl X, etc etc) and a factory resent as described by Ms_Shonta.

NEITHER HAS WORKED.

Verizon by phone guy suggested a get my phone flashed, or rather, re-load the OS.  One problem: HOW???  The Verizon Store DOES NOT reload OS, and neither does the Verizon over the phone help line.

I refuse to believe something is wrong with the screen.  My phone worked perfectly until the new OS was downloaded to my phone.  It seems every Verizon person so far has been more intersted in seliing me a new phone (at full retail because I am not eligible for an upgrade until April 2011) than in telling me how to fix my current phone.

Oh, and going to Motorola's website doesn't work either!

MrsMisha

[basstrax]

I too am having the same problem! Just started a couple of days ago! I can't uninstall any apps cause it starts rapidly scrolling up and down, and selecting things to uninstall on it's own...I have to pull the battery to stop it from uninstalling something I don't want to uninstall...is this happening to any other droid models (X, Pro, 2)!?!?

[thereed]

I have this same issue.  I have done a hard restart and have reset to factory default settings.  Still not working!!!!  

[pcmills70]

I started having the same issues this morning. I think what we're dealing with here is a virus, and I think it's a hack which is allowing someone or something to remotely control our phones.

For instance, here's what's happened while trying to remedy the problem:

1. I tried to download an antivirus app, but the download would never be successful.

2. While trying to scroll the the menu, various apps would open up, and then items would be clicked through the program, almost as though someone was searching for something.

3. My Messenger program opened up and then a contact was clicked, and then a message was being typed.

4. I finally managed to get Settings opened up. As I'm scrolling down, the keyboard controls were taken over and it unclicked my SwiftKey option. I clicked it back on, and it clicked back off.

After doing a little research online, I found where there is a new trojan virus dubbed 'Gemini', although I've seen where one called it ‘Geinimi’. Do some research on it and you'll see why I'm worried this is what's happening with our phones.

[quinn]

Agreed. Since the most recent upgrade my phone freezes, starts random apps and is extremely slow. Often requires a "force close". Clearly the upgrade was not tested on the original phone, this phone can not handle the upgrade...the Verizon store told me so - - - we're out of luck unless you want to buy a new phone. CRAZY.

[nikmark]

Is it possible to down grade?

[wgjhs]

Mine is doing the exact same thing but on a rare and random basis. Usually while I am trying to send a text. I too have tried the reset, uninstalling everything and also clearing the memory card. Nothing has worked yet. Also since the update my screen now freezes on a regular basis and the only way out of it is to remove the battery.

[SheWho]

I, too,  watched in horror as  my phone  dialed out by itself; sent  emails I did not type;  and opened and closed apps and websites on its own. I drew the line -- and pulled the battery -- when  the Marketplace app opened itself and started to download  software for purchase!

I did the hard reset twice, to no avail. Then, I called the VerizonWireless Customer Service Line. In short, VerizonWireless is aware of this problem, and Verizon is aware that the hard reset does not work. Apparently, the Android OS update is so corrupted  that the only solution is to replace the phone.

Here is what worked for me:

• I called Verizon Customer Assistance, who connected me to the Droid technical help person.
• I explained the problem and referenced this page to show that it is a known problem.
• I explained that I had tried the hard reset twice, and my  phone remained unusable.
• They offered to send a replacement phone, at no charge if I sent the inoperable phone back. Replacement phones are NOT available at VerizonWireless stores, only by mail.
• They suggested that I keep the battery and all accessories when I returned the damaged phone
• The new phone does not have a new warranty period - it only extends your current warranty by 30 days. So, my warranty was due to expire April1, but the new phone will be under warranty until May 1.

The help desk was pleasant and helpful, but I am disgruntled to have no phone service for three days while this ships -- no expidited shipping option was available. I also think Verizon should  reduce my bill, to reflect my 10% loss of this month's service.

I hope this info helps others!

[Bkatebird08]

My phone did same thing and got replacement through mail, and my boyfriends Droid 2 did also, only thing replacements are used refurbished phones. Our replacements seem to have something wrong with them within a month or two.

[silverton34x]

since the last update my droid has been doing (or not) the following:

1.autodialing phone numbers-had to install an app to prevent it (does not stop the attempt to call, just asks me if i really want to place that call and gives me the option to say yes or no. this has added yet one more step to call someone when i really want to place a call). could be sitting on the table or desk and voila! it calls someone

2. will not play videos

3. keeps locking up text file, says it's full when it is not

4. extremely slow to load the "home page"

5. constantly goes into the sleep mode, even though that function is turned off

6. generally running extremely slow

BTW... i am sick of being told to do a hard reset....the time it takes to re-set up the phone is rediculous. should not have to hard reset the phone every 6 weeks.

[trinity1 · Accepted solution]

My Droid is just about a year old and about 10 days it started dialing random numbers while I was talking on the phone.  Sometimes it would be random digits and other times it would be numbers in my phone book.  It would also mute itself on it's own.  When it does this, it is almost impossible to get it to hang up--it takes forever.  Last night it did it again and after I finally got it to hang up, it called three numbers from my call log on it's own.  I took it into the Verizon store today and they did a hard reset.  Of course it didn't work... It's still muting itself and hanging up on it's own.

[mac420]

going to switch to I-phone. my friends who use I-phone don't have any problems with theres! Nothing like what I'm expeiriencing with the droid. Been paying for two phones that haven't worked in about 8 months now. With the money I wasted I could've taken my wife to Mexico for a week! Bull S-h- it Verizon. doodie heads.

[Cschmeer]

About a month ago used my upgrade to replace my daughter's Droid 2 - which had already been sent back twice for issues but was told it couldn't be fixed and insurance wouldn't cover another replacement.  Now her Droid 4 - on which I lost unlimited data even though her contract wasn't up (thought you couldn't change the terms of a contract right in the middle - oh and the fifty dollar upgrade discount suddenly became a thirty dollar discount)- has a touch screen that is going crazy and operating on its own.  Paying a ton of money for these stupid phones and I feel like half the time they are having issues that require hours in a Verizon store only to learn it has to be sent back - after all the data has been lost - and is going to cost me yet more money.  Oh and the replacement insurance, still cost one hundred dollars to get the replacement phone when my son lost his.  Getting seriously tired of this.