Home Screen Folder Issues After Update

I had a software update this weekend and almost immediately I started having issues with the folders on my home screens. When I open the folder and go to an app within the folder the app opens without any problems, but when I return to the home screen the folder is still open. This is more of an annoyance, but after a few hours the folders won't open at all. The screen transparency will kick in when I attempt to open a folder, but the folder or the contents will not display. Once this happens if hit the Apps icon non of the apps will display at all. The only resolution I have found so far is to reboot the phone...which I have to do every 2-3 hours.

Is anyone else having similar issues?

Accepted answers

Verizon_Support

@rossw56,

Let's get to the bottom of this! The update should have improved your phone and not cause you headaches.

A lot of the times rebooting the phone by removing the battery for a minute or two will help. Have you tried this since the issue started?

If the reboot doesn't help, a hard reset http://vz.to/176v3fz is often needed after a major software update to clear up any corrupted files that may be causing these issues.

Please give these steps a try and keep me posted if the issue persists.

JohnB_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

All comments

Verizon_Support

An update should only improve your performance blacklion2837! Are you having difficulties with any other content inside your folders? What happens when you access the apps directly versus going through the folders? Functionality for customized setups may differ slightly with a new os. Power cycling the device daily is always a good idea for maintenance.

JonathanK_VZW

VZW Support

Follow Us on Twitter@VZWSupport

rossw56

Mine as well...i open a folder with 3 apps in it...the folder shows that its open..becuase the home screen dims to a gray...thing is nothing shows inside the folder...only way i can access them is actually going to the apps in the app section rather than homescreen ...again never happened since this update!!!

blacklion2837

Functionality for customized setups may differ slightly with a new os. Power cycling the device daily is always a good idea for maintenance.

I don't really consider having groups of icons on my home screen a customized setup. This is a native feature of the Android OS and something on the update caused this issue. I've been running 4.3 on two other devices (Nexus 7 and Sprint Galaxy S4) for months and I've had zero issues. If I didn't use folders I would need to fill up 3+ home screens just to have enough space for the apps I have on my main home screen. I have an identical setup on the Sprint Galaxy S4 (test phone for work) that is running 4.3 and I don't have this issue.

Second, are you officially saying that rebooting an Android device on a daily basis is a best practice? I typically reboot my phone every couple of weeks, but daily seems a bit excessive. Since the update I have to reboot at least once every 2-3 hours during the day to resolve the folder issue. It's the first thing I have to do in the morning to be able to access any apps that are within a folder.

Dave-in-Decatur

I've also got the issue with folders not closing. It's been very widely reported, and seems to be intended as a "feature." It breaks something that was working well, IMHO.

But I haven't (yet) had the problem with folder contents not displaying at all. Perhpas it's a less widespread problem.

I agree that no one should have to reboot that often. And that even once a day seems excessive.

Verizon_Support

Dave-in-Decatur,

And we're here to put a stop to those issues. As advised by another representative, may I ask if you've attempted a hard reset http://vz.to/176v3fz ? We don't typically like jumping into this step straight away but after a new software installation it's the next best step for what you're reporting.

EvanO_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Kvasko

I'm having very similar issue. Randomly when opening an application in a folder on 4.3 and after closing it when I go to open a folder again the folder will gray out (as if it's open) but no contents will be displayed. If I open the apps drawer no apps will display. The only apps that I can launch is the ones not in folders on my home screens.

There are 2 ways I have been able to work around this.

1. Reboot the phone

2. Go to application manager--> all apps --> touch wiz --> force stop

After you force stop touch wiz, it starts up again and everything works like normal. Until it does it again. I've had it happen 10 times within 3 hours.

I have hard reset twice. One time after 4.3 update and once after the update a few days ago.

I've had 4.3 a few months now and that is when it started. This is so thoroughly frustrating it is unbelievable.