Common Samsung Galaxy S23 problems (and how to fix them)

Now that the Galaxy S23 is here, Samsung fans are flocking to get their hands on the company’s new smartphone lineup. While they’re certainly some of the most advanced phones in the entire Galaxy lineup, there are still plenty of issues that users can run into if they’re not careful.

Fortunately, most of these issues are quite easily resolved. Here are six of the most common problems users are experiencing with their newly purchased Galaxy S23 and tips on how to fix them.

Slow charging speeds

One of the big selling points for many current flagship smartphones is their fast charging speeds. The base Galaxy S23 can use 25W chargers, while the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra can use 45W chargers for ultra-fast charge times. While all S23 devices support fast charging, not all chargers have the same power output. If it takes a long time to charge your batteries, you probably have a problem with using a low watt charger and not a problem with the phone itself.

Charger bricks often state what charging speeds they support on the side that plugs into an outlet. Take a look there and you might find you’re using a 5W charger, which will take a lot longer to get your phone back up and running if it’s been drained. Upgrade your charger and you will probably solve your problem completely.

Step 1: If you’re still having battery issues, open it up Settings application.

Step 2: Find and select it Battery and device care ear. Here, you will be able to see how healthy your battery is. If you find that your battery has some issues, this may also be the root of your charging problem and needs to be replaced. If this is the case, contact Samsung support to learn how to replace your battery.

Blurry photos (aka camera shutter lag)

One of the most impressive things about the S23, especially the S23 Ultra, is its array of excellent cameras. Unfortunately, many people are reporting motion blur issues when taking photos using the 200MP main lens on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

This is obviously not ideal since it can easily ruin an otherwise great shot. Despite the excellent camera the S23 Ultra is equipped with, the problem is that Samsung’s photo editing software isn’t as good as what’s on current Apple and Google phones.

There are a few things you can do to try to reduce the amount of motion blur in your images, but none completely solve the problem. The first is to ensure that the subjects of your photos are as well lit as possible and are standing extremely still. Obviously, this will only be possible in a small fraction of environments and with people and objects that can stay still. The other main thing you can do is increase your camera’s shutter speed. However, this has its own problems as it will darken the image.

Step 1: A relatively reliable thing you can also do is download the Camera assistant app from the Galaxy store.

Step 2: Open the app and activate it Quick press shutter setting that changes a setting on your S23’s camera so that a photo is taken the moment you press the shutter button rather than when your finger leaves the screen. This can help reduce camera shake which often adds a small amount of motion blur to images.

Step 3: If you’re frustrated with the blurry photos the S23 Ultra often takes, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll all have to try the steps above and wait for Samsung to officially address the issue.

It’s also worth noting that most complaints about blurry photos come when shooting full 200MP images on the S23 Ultra. To return to standard 12 MP mode, open it camera application, tap it 3:4 and make sure 200MP is not selected.

Disconnect S Pen

The S Pen is a feature exclusive to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, allowing owners to quickly take notes on the screen, among other uses. Unfortunately, there have been several reports of users claiming that their S Pens disconnect from their phone randomly during use. Fortunately, there are some simple solutions to the problem.

The first, and perhaps the simplest, is to simply put the S Pen back into its slot and take it out again. Obviously, this is a bit irritating and hinders the convenience of being able to pull out the pen to jot something down quickly. However, it will automatically pair the pen with your phone and likely fix any issues you’re having.

Step 1: Sometimes the S Pen needs a reset to start working properly again. To restore it, open it Settings application.

Step 2: Choose Advanced featuresafterward S pen.

Step 3: Select the three top dots in the upper right corner, then select Reset the S Pen.

Step 4: A final solution to fixing a disconnecting S Pen is to keep it permanently connected to your phone. go to Settings application, and then select Advanced featuresafterward S pen, in the same place where you found the reset option. However, instead of resetting the pen, select More S Pen settings.

Step 5: In the More S Pen settings menu, toggle Keep the S Pen connected so that it is enabled. This is a setting that is turned off by default to help combat battery drain, but it’s useful if you use the pen frequently and experience connectivity issues.

Low touch sensitivity

It’s a very good idea to use a screen protector on your Galaxy S23 if you want to keep its display chip and scratch-free. A problem that often occurs, however, when users apply a screen protector to their device is that they notice reduced touch sensitivity and problems using the on-screen fingerprint scanner to unlock their phone. Fortunately, there is a fairly simple solution that can compensate for the reduced sensitivity that users experience from using a screen protector.

Step 1: Head to Settings application and then go to Display ear.

Step 2: At the bottom of the menu, you’ll find a toggle for Touch sensitivity this is disabled by default. Turn it on and your screen will read inputs much more clearly with a screen saver on. You should notice drastically fewer problems with low touch sensitivity as a result.

Wi-Fi connection issues

Some Reddit users have reported an issue with their Galaxy S23 Ultras where the phone won’t connect to their Wi-Fi, or if it does, the phone will say it’s connected but won’t load any web pages. This is, obviously, a major issue, but there seems to be some good news around it.

The first is that the problem has been addressed by Samsung, which says it’s currently working on a fix. This means it shouldn’t be long before the issue is fully resolved in an upcoming software update. In fact, some people reported that the February update fixed the problem, so it’s clear that Samsung is committed to getting to the root of the problem quickly. If you’re having trouble and don’t want or can wait for the update, it looks like there’s a workaround you can do.

Thanks to some solid community research, it looks like Reddit users have been able to figure out that the problem lies with Wi-Fi routers that use Wi-Fi 6, the latest version of the Wi-Fi connection. This means that if you can use a router that uses Wi-Fi 5, you should be able to bypass the problem entirely. Other users have also noted that factory resetting their devices has solved the problem.

Slow, sluggish performance

Equipped with Samsung’s best technology, the Galaxy S23 series is among the fastest phones currently on the market. Some people, however, report performance issues that cause their S23 to be slow.

Performance can be affected by many things, so it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the root of the problem. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do that can address a large number of potential problems.

Step 1: The first and simplest solution is to restart your phone. Either turn it off and then on again or use the restart command from the shutdown menu. Although it sounds simple, a restart will close anything running in the background and can affect your performance, so it’s always a good idea to do it whenever you’re having problems.

Step 2: If you’re still having performance issues after a reboot, open it Settings app and go to Battery and device care menu.

Step 3: Here, you can take a look at how your Galaxy S23 is performing and if there are any issues with it. If your phone sees a way it can optimize performance, a big blue button will appear at the top of the menu that says optimize now.

If you’re looking for more specific information about your phone’s performance, select it Memory tab and you can see how much of your phone’s RAM is being used, as well as options to optimize it.

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