Moto Z Force Droid extreme battery drain since Oreo update
Looneyman
Enthusiast - Level 3

Recently, my Moto Z Force Droid finally received the long promised 8.0 Oreo update. And, like many, many others, Oreo has rendered my Z Force phone basiclly useless due to a ridiculously fast battery drain, even when the phone is sitting idle with the screen off. Just a week or so ago, before the trainwreck that is Android 8, the battery would last in standby mode for days, and would easily last an entire day of my "normal" amount of use. Now, when idle with the screen off the battery drains from 100% to 0 in less than seven hours, and if I actually try to use the phone the battery life drops to under two hours. This is unacceptable.  Personally, I think it's time for Lenovo and Verizon to step up and admit they totally messed things  up with this update, and either release a downgrade back to Android 7, or, if the rumors are true that the Oreo update did in fact damage these phones, replace all affected Moto Z Force Droids free of charge.

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401 Replies
CINWIL73
Enthusiast - Level 3

I have no apps on my phone - due to the fact i have did restore- and battery still dies - just cuts off.

BykaChic
Enthusiast - Level 1

Update on my phone.  So after going to the Verizon store last Saturday and them telling me they are averaging 5-9 people a day the last few weeks coming in with the same issues.  They straight up told me it's a OS problem (Oreo update) and either keep the phone on the charger until a new update comes out or nothing.  Most all the phones are having issues as well as the new galaxy phones, etc.

I opted to just hang on to it and deal.  There is no sense paying off a phone that is only a little over a year old, then buying a new phone with the same issues.

Monday this week, 2 days later went back in ticked off.  Couldn't even keep the thing on for 1/2 an hour without shutting off at a full 100% charge!  Since I had insurance, I can get a new refurbished phone no charge.  I told them to order it and get it here.  It was here overnight.  Got it yesterday.

This morning I went through and set it up AND DID NOT install the Oreo 8.0 update.  It's running on the 7.1.1. still.  I did get the little notification to update it.  NO WAY...... I went in as developer and turned off the auto updates.  Period.

I had my phone on 100% charge at 10am this morning.  It is still at 89% and it is 1:30pm now with normal usage!  So for all the "solutions" listed here by the help team....just say it's the Oreo 8.0 update.  Call it what it is.  My people at the Verizon store had no problem telling me flat out that is exactly what it is and none of those solutions I showed him from this thread would work.  Don't bother factory resetting. That isn't going to work and just waste your time.

I suggest if you have insurance, get a free phone replacement and immediately after setting it up (DON'T click the update notification!!)  Go right in, make yourself a developer and turn the auto updates OFF)

My original comment:

Re: Moto Z Force Droid extreme battery drain since Oreo update

Lori Eby

Same issues as everyone else and reading the same bla bla bla over and over again for suggestions.  Obviously this is a HUGE issue that makes no difference.   I am also a 17 year customer.  This phone is a little over a year old and the last month it is has gotten to the point of worthless.....and I still owe $130 bucks on it!  Since it's OBVIOUS this is an issue with the update and battery, why the heck should I have to pay to have it fixed?  I didn't break it.

My phone has completely shut down 5 x today with hardly any use or time on the thing.

I'm so ticked that after 17 years and they can't solve this issue, then maybe it's time to move on.

I am going tomorrow to the store and have a discussion.  I have read all the comments here as well as everywhere else on the web about people being ticked with the same exact issues with the battery drain.

chapsme
Newbie

I have similar issues... I had two lines using this crappy MotoZ Force phone.  My son's phone starting having the constant reboot issue, they recommended battery replacement, I just ended up get him an iPhone8.  My phone has been seeing battery drain issue since Oreo.  I started at 100% this AM (full charge on OEM charger) and now at 60% after hour of light web browsing... Mostly from reading this sh*tshow of a 20 page thread...  Still paying this phone off to boot.  Seems like a good business model... buy $800 phone every two years, unless you get expensive insurance and extended warranties which add up to cost of new phone after two years...

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SHADAPAR
Newbie

Screenshot_20181006-221737.png

Completely unacceptable. Not only did a full reset, I used the repair utility to reload Oreo. Then I put it through normal use. 2 hours of battery life before shutting down at 37%. Plugged in and powered on back to 37%. My phone is paid off. What steps are going to be taken to address this issue as it is clearly the oreo update causing the problem. Updating my phone really isn't a good option as it's my understanding the camera has been downgraded in later models. Might be willing to upgrade if the camera mod was included at no cost. However switching to another model, I like the pixel, mean my speaker and battery mods are useless. At this point I am considering using the developer sdk to reload nuget, but I'm not sure if that violates terms of use. Realistically, if that is the route necessary I probably should be charging my hourly contractor rate as this issue is NOT being addressed. Please fix or advise on this issue.

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SHADAPAR
Newbie

Does reloading nuget violate the terms of use?

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Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

SHADAPAR wrote:

Does reloading nuget violate the terms of use?

You can't restore to the previous version of the OS.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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Wouby
Enthusiast - Level 1

My moto z just started doing this yesterday.  Goes dead about 7 - 9 hours after a full charge.  I never leave wireless, bluetooth, navigation, etc. on while in standby.  I have not added any new apps, I use smart actions to shut things off when not in use, and there is nothing new happening around me.  I am now on my 3rd charge in less than 24 hours and I have only made one phone call that lasted about 30 minutes.

This is a pretty big problem for me as I do things I can't do without 2 factor authentication...from my phone.

Way to go on updates, Verizon.

And, if this issue is not resolved quickly and I end up not being able to do what I need to do because my battery does overnight and I can't get 2 factor authentication completed before I need to log in, I will not be buying a new phone for a couple hundred dollars to fix something Verizon messed up.  I'll simply take my account elsewhere, somewhere that cares about what I use my phone for and doesn't create situations for me where I stand to lose a significant amount of money because I can't use the phone for the things I need to use the phone for.

Quite frankly, this is all starting to sound like a darn good class action lawsuit against Verizon for providing something that actually stops us from using what we pay them a lot of money to not be able to use.  My deadline for 2 factor authentication use is 5:00 tomorrow (10/8) morning.

Verizon has 20 hours to figure this out and fix my phone before it impacts my finances.  I didn't have to send my phone in for Verizon to mess it up and I certainly didn't ask them to screw it up, I shouldn't have to send it in or ask them to fix it...NOW.

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Wouby
Enthusiast - Level 1

I forgot to mention, my phone is now totally dead and I can't even get it turned on.  Sooooooo Happy about all this.

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Wouby, we always want our customers to have the reliable device they need. As it's not our intention to see you leave the Verizon Family as we don't want to see you go. To see that you’re having issues is troubling. Let’s check out what’s going on and see how we can help. Have you tried to do a Factory Data Reset on the device and then re-calibrate your battery? To re-calibrate the battery:


•Press and hold the power button until the phone reboots (10secs)
•Plug phone into the OEM Turbo charger
•Allow phone to charge to 100% (leave on the charger overnight).

 

Continue to test for 72 hours after this has been done.

 

Takendra_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Chandler44
Enthusiast - Level 2

You must be joking , it isn't an app issue draining the battery and if you look on this thread obviously that does not fix the problem. What a freaking joke.

KevinARigney
Enthusiast - Level 2

Same issue with mine. Bought day after Christmas in 2017 and loved it. For the past month, it drains in less than 2 hours. Have disabled or force-stopped apps where possible, but no avail.

Last time I did a factory reset on a phone, I lost everything and have no intention of doing that again.

Verizon, you have millions of customers and to literally dismiss the issue here is unacceptable. Either work with the equipment manufacturer and your techs or watch the potential bad press flood the web.

Furthermore, why should anyone settle for a refurbished phone when we bought them new and with warranties? Want to make things right? Replace new with new and show customers on how to avoid 8.0 updates.

vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

KevinARigney I can understand your feelings, I depend on having enough power in my cell phone battery to get me through the day. I know we can resolve this issue for you, and I am sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. First, can you please try to clear the cache partition? This will not wipe your phone or cause you to lose anything. Here are those steps: http://spr.ly/6586DhhzO

Please keep us posted. 

 

Rosanne_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Chandler44
Enthusiast - Level 2

My phone lasts a whopping 3-4 hours tops after I finally gave in and downloaded the "update". This is beyond frustrating!!!! Any light at the end of the tunnel ?

Low_Teq
Newbie

I started having the same issue over the last few weeks. My phone was pretty much rendered useless. I could almost watch the battery life go down as I used the device.  If i received a text or a call it would just turn off regardless of battery percentage remaining- and then I couldn't turn it back on until it was on a charger.

This phone is less than a year old since the original was replaced under warranty for a green line on the screen that wouldn't go away. The warranty does not start over with the new device. I tried all the usual stuff like the battery calibration, battery optimization, force stopped most apps before removing from charger, etc. Nothing changed one bit. So I have this phone that is useless that I still owe 11 payments of $40 on. 

I don't remember if I read in this thread or others I found while looking for a solution- but some people went to their store and their battery "tested good" on a machine or maybe just an employee plugging a charger in and seeing if the charge percentage would increase? So they are convinced it's a software issue.

That didn't seem right to me and I took it upon myself to replace my battery with a motorola brand one off ebay for $14.  FIXED! I'm back to normal.  I go to work at 8am and randomly text, google, twitter, text more, google more, etc. Go home around 5pm and still have around 90% battery left.

So a battery replacement may be your answer.  Maybe its a coincidence about the update and sudden downslide.  Also worth mentioning that the battery replacement on this phone is a bit more in depth than others i've had such as the well known junk Droid Turbo. It would be worth the money to have a store replace the battery if you haven't done this before.  My old battery was actually puffed up a bit - also a good indicator of a failed battery.

I'm happy it is back to its old self but I have to say-This is the last Motorola. It's all I've ever had and looking back they have all been junk. I went from Droid x, Razr HD, Droid Turbo, another Droid turbo after the original screen shattered easily, and now this Moto z2 Force.    I blame this on myself for not realizing this pattern of buying trash. I'm like a person that keeps buying chrysler products.

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Notsoc
Newbie

Clearly there is a problem with the 8.0 Oreo update and certain models of Motorola phones. Motorola/Lenovo are aware of the problem and don't seem to be willing or able to resolve the battery drain issue.

My Moto Z Droid was useless unless plugged in, after the Oreo update. The "battery problem" got progressively worse over about 3 weeks. There are numerous posts and threads on the Motorola Droid site and other articles written about the problem.

I finally went to my local Verizon store and they got me a replacement phone in about 36 hours. Avoid the aggravation and just replace the phone. The people at my Verizon store were friendly and helpful.

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SHADOWKITTEN
Newbie

Chalk another up for switched to Verizon with the original Droid. Kept loyal to Verizon and Motorola the entire time. Have a phone that in a week has gone from normal to shutting off if I touch a social media app or email at the 80% battery life it gets down to in one hour of driving to work. I'm not able to use my phone unless it is plugged in and I loved this phone a week ago because the pictures I used to be able to take with it were way above standard and it used to have great battery life. Now I have a stupidly expensive corded phone.

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Chandler44
Enthusiast - Level 2

I went into verizon and they said oh all batteries go dead in about a year, buy another phone the rep at verizon said. I'm like well I have $219 left to pay on this moto z droid.... Luckily I was fortunate enough that LG had a buyout program for $200 and got the LG v30 which granted was nice to actually have a phone that didnt die after a few hours but no info on the brick of a phone that i might have been stuck with without any answers as to what the real problem was. Verizon that is strike 2 after how high their internet plans are , one more strike and seeya .

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Chandler44, we never want to hear a customer looking to leave the Verizon family. I understand you said, the battery was strike number 2. Is the new LG working properly for you? Please share with us what was strike 1?

Rodney_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

We can't have your phone being constantly connected to the charger Shadowkitten. I know that can be difficult when you leave your charger. I am sure I can help see what options you have. I have sent you a private message so I can further assist you. 

Amber_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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ZACMON83
Newbie

Found this thread from googling this issue. Both my wife and my phone now have battery drain issues since the Oreo update. Also our phone will be paid off in 2 months. Super frustrating, factory reset phones, ran in safe mode, removed all 3rd party apps. I've even used several battery repair app. None of it works! Help us!

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vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hello there, ZACMON83! We know it is imperative for your devices to be working properly, and we would love the opportunity to help you. Can you tell us a little more? Does this happen when you use certain actions? Are you using the original chargers on both phones? 

 

Rachel_VZW

Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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