Screen dims/goes black while on a call

[macman90]

Hi,

Has anyone had or have this problem? On my Droid Charge; while on a call my screen goes dim then black while using my bluetooth and I have to hit the back key to see the screen; and it just dims when using the speaker. Sometimes it goes back to the lock screen as well. This is extremely annoying because I use my bluetooth 99.9% of the time and I have lost a couple of calls because of this.

I also installed an app called SOFFT and have it set to Never Time Out but that does not seem to help the on a call situation and I also have the PowerSaver button unchecked. 

Is the timeout while on the phone just a feature that can't be changed on the Charge or is there something that can fix this.

Thx much.... Macman90

[AyaniB_VZW]

Hi macman90,

I understand you concern. The phone is designed to time the screen out while on a call to conserve the battery life.  There is an option to set a 10 minute screen time out: Settings>Display>Screen Timeout.  Additionally, you can press the Power/Lock Key on the side of the phone to unlock the screen vs. the Back Button.  I am hopeful this information is helpful.  Please advise if you have any additional concerns.

Thank you for your contribution to our community forums,

[gjh123]

Hello. 

Just got my Charge the other day and I have expeiremnced the same issue.  My issue is not the timeout, which I don't mind all that much.  Rather, there have been several instances where I can't get the any phone screen to come back up until after the call has ended.  It will just stay dark regardless of what button or series of buttons I hit.  So, for example, if I am on a conference call and the screen goes dark, I can't hang up early  because the screen won't reenable because the other party has not hung up.  I have to wait for the call to end, which will reignite the screen.

Near as I can tell, bluetooth being enabled (and not using a device) does not create an issue.  It seems that I have to be using a device for the screen to go dark and stay dark.  And I am not sure, but it seems like it always happens when I switch to a bluetooth device during the call.

Ideas?  I'd really like to be able to see the screen when I am on a call. 

Thanks

[LadyLoVo]

one suggestion I have is to go to Settings -Accessibility  and check the Power Button Ends Call option.  that way, YOU CAN control when you can hang up a call. I still dont know how to get the screen display to come back on tho for instances when I want to turn the Speaker ON or OFF while on a call. Very frustrating....

[thirdworldman]

For me, the issue isn't that the screen goes black, it's that the screen won't come back unless you unlock the phone.

When I first got this Charge, it would go black during a call, when I would put the phone to my ear. But it would then come back if I moved the phone to look at it.

But recently that behavior stopped and now it won't come back unless I press the power button. Then, after I complete the call, I have to unlock the screen again.

It's very annoying and I would like to see it go back to the way it was.

[DCC1962]

I have the same issue and my display is set to a 10 minute time out..  This happens to me when I am checking a long VM.  No buttos will re-engage the screen accept when I hang up.  Too little too late.  Any idea?

Thanks

[JerryF]

On my Charge when the Dialer screen DIMS if I touch any number the screen goes bright again. 

Works okay if you're holding the phone in front of you as you talk (using the speaker) but if you miss it dimming and it goes dark "you're out of luck."

JerryF

[JerryF]

Besides what I said in this thread about immediately touching a number on the screen just as the phone dims (check out that post), if it does go dark try this.  Do a short quick press of the on/off button and then swipe your screen and the phone dial screen MIGHT come back. Try it to see if it works when you're on a call.  It does work if you bring up the dial screen and wait for it to go dark BUT I wonder if it disconnects the call.  Then you can press END CALL to end it.

Did it work?????

JerryF 

[NoJolt4U]

All of the solutions suggested do not work.  I have the same issue and have tried all of the options.  The other issue is when you dial your voice mail and it asks you to enter your password and the screen locks or dims so you can't see your number pad. I have tried pushing the power button as well as all other buttons and It doesn't resolve it. 

The same issue occur when on the phone and you call a business with a prompt to enter a password or an extension.  The screen is locked. I have tried adjusting the time out settings, the screen lock settings, the power saving settings. None of these seem to resolve the issue.

Once the phone is active it completely locks and I have to wait for the other side to hang up or for my voice mail to get annoyed and drop before I can get back to my screen.

[plainv70]

"The other issue is when you dial your voice mail and it asks you to enter your password and the screen locks or dims so you can't see your number pad. I have tried pushing the power button as well as all other buttons and It doesn't resolve it."

This one had me stumped, too, fortunately the rep that sold me the phone knew the answer--and, it's right under our noses.

Look at the face of your phone up at the top next to the ear speaker (to the right of the Verizon logo), you should see two little eyes peeking out at you. One is the front facing camera and the other is a photoelectric sensor. The phone is programmed to turn off the display when it is held up to your ear. If you are dialing voice mail and listening to the phone to determine when VM answers, the display will blank. Also, in this mode if you pass a finger over or hold the phone with a finger covering the sensor it will blank the display. The solution is to check voice mail in the speakerphone mode. 

Hope this answers your question & helps.

Happy New Year.

Peter

[NoJolt4U]

Thanks Peter but that's not really a solution.  That is more of a workaround.  I don't want the whole world hearing my voice mail messages.  This is a hardware glitch.  When you take the phone from your ear that same sensor SHOULD recognize the fact that you are attempting to use the dialer and no longer lock the screen. 

This issue is not resolved.

---

plainv70 wrote:

"The other issue is when you dial your voice mail and it asks you to enter your password and the screen locks or dims so you can't see your number pad. I have tried pushing the power button as well as all other buttons and It doesn't resolve it."

This one had me stumped, too, fortunately the rep that sold me the phone knew the answer--and, it's right under our noses.

Look at the face of your phone up at the top next to the ear speaker (to the right of the Verizon logo), you should see two little eyes peeking out at you. One is the front facing camera and the other is a photoelectric sensor. The phone is programmed to turn off the display when it is held up to your ear. If you are dialing voice mail and listening to the phone to determine when VM answers, the display will blank. Also, in this mode if you pass a finger over or hold the phone with a finger covering the sensor it will blank the display. The solution is to check voice mail in the speakerphone mode. 

Hope this answers your question & helps.

Happy New Year.

Peter

---

[JerryF]

Nojolt4U & Plainv70,

Here is a solution for when you dial your voicemail and it asks you to enter your password and the screen locks or dims so you can't see your number pad.

Here's a solution.  From the home screen go to Settings>Call Settings and click on the second item down Voicemail.  Voice mail number will come up so click on it.  Next a dialer screen should come up.  You should enter *86, (yes that's a comma) and your password.  For example, it could look like this  *86,76543   In my example the 76543 would have been your password

One other point, to get the comma (which is really a pause) or commas that follow the *86 go to a new dialer screen by pressing the key that shows the characters ?#+    NOTE:  each time you press the pause key it will insert a comma.

To get back to the original dialer screen press the key that now says 123 and enter your voicemail password.  That's it.

From here just go back to the home screen and try it.  

Please let me know if it worked for you, it did for me!

JerryF

[Terp-ME]

Over 16 months I have same issues, but didn't get time to use community forums. Screen dimming while unlocking phone or while dialing is a flaw and Samsung has no solution, but one can overcome such irritants.

Being a Tech savvy, I used all options mentioned on this thread even covered photoelectric sensor (see Peter's suggestion), but the one Jerry suggested has good options, but I have few additional tips for hands free dialing while using Voice Dialer.

1) Program the way Jerry has suggested with your Password after *86,xxxxxxx# (make sure it ends with # symbol) - (You can even create this feature in your Contact Folder if you don't want to use Voice Dialer and steps shown below).

2) Next on your dialer screen you have option to either use Keypad, Contacts or Voice Dialer (bottom left side to Phone Symbol).

3) Press Voice Dialer. Next screen (voice Dialer) will prompt to speak.

4) Say "Call Voice Mail".

5) it will bring programmed password.

5) Ignore pre-prorammed message press your password.

6) Rest follow instructions like before.

Please try and let me know if its worked for you.

Desh

[dcschnell]

I have the same problem.  I use speaker phone alot when I'm driving.  The ONLY solution that I have found is what Lady LoVo mentioned above

go to Settings -Accessibility  and uncheck the Power Button Ends Call option.  After you have done that, you can use

the Power Button to wake your screen up instead of ending the call.  Works like a charm.  Sucks for those who rely on that button to end a call but for me, having the option to wake my screen back up during calls on speaker over ending calls with that button is the best solution for me!

BTW.... I came here for a solution to this problem and with everyone's help, I believe I've found one!  Thank you!  You all rock!!

[Shelleygp]

Thank you for your answer!  I am so excited to have fixed this problem on my phone by following your suggestions!