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S5 Screen Flicker Problem.

So My S5 worked great for 2 months or so but then the screen started flickering at very low brightness. As time passed the flickers increased and now whenever the brightness goes below half, the screen shows yellow flickers. That's not even the biggest problem, when i lock my phone and then press the lock/home button to turn on the screen, it shows a flash on the screen and goes dark again. This takes around 15-20 tries everytime almost (sometimes even A LOT more) to turn back on.
There was no water or fall damage.
I've tried factory/hard resetting, disabling hardware acceleration, disabling google chrome (worked for some people on the internet) still not solved.
I don't have warranty, and i'm willing to pay for some repairs but can someone help me out here and tell me where exactly is the problem? Cause i really don't want to pay for a new LCD. It's kinda costly. Thank You

ApexPredator01 said:
So My S5
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I have the exact same problem but only at the bottom of the screen...I am sure is not a software problem because I tried everything (from reinstaling soft with odin from4.4 to 5, with kies, to CM12/13). If you find which is the hardware please let me know.
Thank you. I also don't have warranty and i got this flicker from November.

oia12344321 said:
I have the exact same problem but only at the bottom of the screen...I am sure is not a software problem because I tried everything (from reinstaling soft with odin from4.4 to 5, with kies, to CM12/13). If you find which is the hardware please let me know.
Thank you. I also don't have warranty and i got this flicker from November.
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Click to collapse
I also have this problem. I did bring my S5 for repair under warranty (but have knox tripped) and they REFUSED to repair it,because they think the problem is caused by ME. I did go to a lawyer, and I am gonna sue them. Will update you if I have new info. I am sure it is NOT a Software problem caused by the user,I also tried changing OS,reinstalling Stock,nothing solved my problem.

any update dear as i have the same problem but for me it happened when there was low light means in darkness so when i un tick the auto brightness it will be okay no more flickering issue

Same here. Flickers, stays black. Tho I can fiddle around and it will pick up touches, and have gotten it to reboot.
It will work fine charging. Batt icon works. It only seems to be an issue while its running.
Happens on stock and cyanogen 14.
I have noticed it seems to happen more when cold.

Same problem here on cyanogen 13.0, tried factory reset to no avail. I'm about to try flashing another ROM, just need to figure ou what.

Just done wiping and reinstalling new ROM, bumped up to 7.1 and the problem is still the same.
- Screen has difficulty turning and flickers when the brightness setting is low.
I guess it must be a hardware issue.
My fix for the moment is to disable automatic brightness and never set the brightness too low, so as to avoid have trouble turning on the screen.

Same here. It's a typical problem.

Same...
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

I have a feeling that the problem is caused by overheating when charging. I fell asleep and woke up with the phone underneath me, it was blazing hot. It has been doing what the rest of you describe since then.

I am not 100% sure, but I've heard that it's due to the low voltage (brightness) being applied to the screen which is causing the flickering. Unsure why it's only the bottom half (Also happens on mine).
A work around for this is to install a screen-dimmer such as Darker, set the brightness on your phone to be above the flickering amount, then use Darker (or whatever app you use) to lower the brightness down.
Because Darker (or whatever app you use), is a filter, it won't change the voltage, thus no flickering.

do any of you have the always on feature enabled on the screen?

This problem is soooooooo often. Internet full of it.
Is AMOLED designed only to work for 2 years???
Anyone any information about that?

try downgrade firmware back to Android 4.0
Edit: nevermind, this didn't work

Perhaps AMOLED life time is short.
I will buy a LCD display next.

Same here only below the screen. It happened last month

BarrettBear said:
I am not 100% sure, but I've heard that it's due to the low voltage (brightness) being applied to the screen which is causing the flickering. Unsure why it's only the bottom half (Also happens on mine).
A work around for this is to install a screen-dimmer such as Darker, set the brightness on your phone to be above the flickering amount, then use Darker (or whatever app you use) to lower the brightness down.
Because Darker (or whatever app you use), is a filter, it won't change the voltage, thus no flickering.
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How can we up to low brightness voltage? Is this possible?

It happens only at low temperatures. When you make your phone warmer, the flickering at low brightness stops.
Has anyone tried to check if some kind of cleaning the flex connector helps? I'm thinking about buying LCD sticker and give it a try.

I have the exact same problem and its related to temperature, I never face this problem in the summer.

ApexPredator01 said:
This takes around 15-20 tries everytime almost (sometimes even A LOT more) to turn back on.
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Maybe your power button is broken?

Screen flickers at low brightness in A3.

In my A3, the screen flickers when the brightness is low. It goes away if I increase brightness. Didn't drop or do anything to phone.

Exact same problem here. I came across this post when I did a Google search to see if anyone else had the problem and it seems to be an issue that effects numerous Samsung phones, not just the A3. It also seems to be a software issue rather than an actual problem with the screen. I haven't tried this myself yet but I read that if you lower the brightness as low as you can before the screen flicker starts and then download the app screen filter and turn down the brightness further using screen filter rather than the built in control you don't get the flickering which would definitely suggest a software issue rather than hardware, particularly with multiple different Samsung models being effected. It's only really an issue for me when I get to below 5% battery and the screen automatically dims otherwise I never see it happening, it was only after reading your post that I even found I could cause it to happen by lowering the brightness. If you're someone who likes to use the very low brightness then maybe the screen filter thing would be a good workaround for you until the software issue is fixed by samsung, if they ever give us Marshmallow.

My lower half of my Samsung Galaxy A3 flickers on a low light. I read that you have to shut the phone down, take the battery out and leave it awhile before putting the battery in and starting the phone again . However, battery doesn't come out of the phone and my screen doesn't flicker on full brightness either.

Its not solved that way. I took it to Samsung and they replaced the screen now everything it good

Go to developer settings and turn on " Disable hardware overlays" . This will force GPU for screen composting.

This is a common Samsung problem, not just A3. Hardware problem. My phone is knoxed so I'm not sure I'm gonna bother contacting my operator.

Knox isn't a problem. i was rooted and had custom recovery installed yet service centre replaced the display.

As mentioned by OP, the issue is caused by a layer of the AMOLED is bent (due to pressure while in pocket or other reasons).
That is the thinnest and most bendable part of an AMOLED screen.
Only fix is replacing the screen.
Source : A Samsung Employee at the service center when my sister's J7 had this issue and we sent it there.

It's not working .... :/abhijith.prakash

Hi. I just wanna share it. I found in this (xda comment post by some one I forget him for awhile looking for him to say thanks very much) fix for my s5 g900f with latest modem and bootloader. I use RR 7.1.2 rom.
The app is "active screen filter". That save my life.

How To Resolve " Screen RETENTION" Problem

I have MOTO G4 PLUS 2GB || 16 GB of indian Varient with XT1643.
After using the phone around 5 months i have such "SCREEN RETENTION" problem. I have also replaced my DISPLAY from the SERVICE CENTER but the same problem in the new Replaced DISPLAY.
Now I am using Custom Rom like Resurrection Remix v5.8.3, Pure Nexus ★ Substratum.
So Is there any solution For This Issue?

nibasman said:
I have MOTO G4 PLUS 2GB || 16 GB of indian Varient with XT1643.
After using the phone around 5 months i have such "SCREEN BURNING" problem. I have also replaced my DISPLAY from the SERVICE CENTER but the same problem in the new Replaced DISPLAY.
Now I am using Custom Rom like Resurrection Remix v5.8.3, Pure Nexus ★ Substratum.
So Is there any solution For This Issue?
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Have a look at the guides section, there are workarounds already available :good: otherwise you can let it replace again by the service center

Replacing the screen does nothing, it's just a DUMB move from service technicians that don't know better.
I agree, look at the guide section, but be aware, for everything there you would need first to unlock the bootloader with the code provided online by Moto/Lenovo. In most countries (exception EU) that means you lost the warranty (if you still have some left). I see you edited that you are using already a customized ROM, so that doesn't apply.
Install a custom kernel that allows setting of the display's RGB values lower, so they don't "saturate" the LCD (it's screen RETENTION, nothing gets "burned").
For me lowering the RGB values at 240,240,240 works fine.

SoNic67 said:
Replacing the screen does nothing, it's just a DUMB move from service technicians that don't know better.
I agree, look at the guide section, but be aware, for everything there you would need first to unlock the bootloader with the code provided online by Moto/Lenovo. In most countries (exception EU) that means you lost the warranty (if you still have some left). I see you edited that you are using already a customized ROM, so that doesn't apply.
Install a custom kernel that allows setting of the display's RGB values lower, so they don't "saturate" the LCD (it's screen RETENTION, nothing gets "burned").
For me lowering the RGB values at 240,240,240 works fine.
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Well the service centre near my place are kinda knowledgeable,they told me to wait for some days as theu had sent back the whole batch of displays they had of g4+ stating that they have this issue.And the new batch they got was the boe display (this display dont have screen burn but has Ghost touch which i dont think is happening till now in my device).

That's stupid. My display is BOE and it developed the SCREEN RETENTION (there is no "burn" on LCD) after the Nougat update (fixed it with custom lowered RGB). No "ghost touch" here.

SoNic67 said:
That's stupid. My display is BOE and it developed the SCREEN RETENTION (there is no "burn" on LCD) after the Nougat update (fixed it with custom lowered RGB). No "ghost touch" here.
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U sure?

I guess I remember wrongly, it is LGD. However, it worked fine until the Nougat update. And I saw numerous people stating that their LGD didn't have screen retention on Android 6.0 (in that thread).

I had this issue for a long time. The only workaround I came across some days back (while experimenting) is the following one:
1. Install Twilight app from Play Store.
2. Open the app.
3. Reduce the intensity to 0 %
4. Set Screen Dim to 10% or 5%. It works in both of them.
5. Change Filter Times to "Always".
After some time, the burned in icons will disappear and won't appear again.
When installing any app from Unknown Sources, just pause Twilight first, install the app, and immediately turn it on again.
The best thing about this workaround is that, it won't turn your screen reddish or yellowish. And the difference is negligible. I've tried this on many other Moto G4's and it actually works!

The best way to solve this problem will be a kernel adiutor
Where screen rgb values can be changed. Changing them all to 240 and decreasing the screen value to 121 solves that for me

Display issues

Hallo, can somebody explain why my screen is always have like a background display which is the latest app that i used. seems like the app is stuck so it become a background. its kinda annoying me when i watch some video because the video seems like have 2 different color. thanks for your information, it'll help me.

dennisirwin_ said:
Hallo, can somebody explain why my screen is always have like a background display which is the latest app that i used. seems like the app is stuck so it become a background. its kinda annoying me when i watch some video because the video seems like have 2 different color. thanks for your information, it'll help me.
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Thats called Screen burn or Ghost Image or Image Retention.. Thats a common LCD issue. Some screen filter apps will help u little. If possible post your LCD model number here. Code for getting model number is
*#*#6484#*#*
Version Information and scrool down then see LCD
Are u using Gold version?

Rajeev said:
Thats called Screen burn or Ghost Image or Image Retention.. Thats a common LCD issue. Some screen filter apps will help u little. If possible post your LCD model number here. Code for getting model number is
*#*#6484#*#*
Version Information and scrool down then see LCD
Are u using Gold version?
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Click to collapse
i have a tianma version for the LCD
yes im using a gold version
is possibe to fix this permanently?

dennisirwin_ said:
i have a tianma version for the LCD
yes im using a gold version
is possibe to fix this permanently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its a common issue for tianma version.. If u have warranty u can raise a complaint...
There is no permanent solution for this. Some screen filter apps will helps a little

dennisirwin_ said:
i have a tianma version for the LCD
yes im using a gold version
is possible to fix this permanently?
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Click to collapse
Don't use the phone display for a day and it should retain its original state. Also try to leave it in a moderate temperature during that time (20-30 degrees tops on celsius).
Mine does that on long gps journeys and retains full restoration as 5-6 hours of powered off.
Screen retention(ghosting or whatever....) is common lcd issue that emerge itself even more on higher temperatures. Just keep your phone (back and front) as cool as possible. Don't leave it for longer times on high brightness setting and be as less static as possible on the display images (this means to not keep the display on on a static image for long time) - this is valid for every lcd(TFT) device.

SCREEN ISSUE - Black flicker every 5 seconds like clockwork?? I'm baffled.

Hello,
I recently replaced the screen on my 6T after breaking it. After putting everything together and booting back up, I'm having an issue where the whole screen will flash black momentarily, like clockwork, every 5 seconds exactly.
The issue is not present in recovery or bootloader screens, only once it has booted up into the OS.
I was running RR to begin with, have since done a full wipe and flashed to liquid, issue persists..... I'm completely baffled.
Any ideas?

Try using manual brightness control, but I think that cycles at much faster intervals.
The mobo may have been damaged. Any impact that can break the display can potentially crack solder joints, break pcb traces even cause internal damage to chipsets or components.

blackhawk said:
Try using manual brightness control, but I think that cycles at much faster intervals.
The mobo may have been damaged. Any impact that can break the display can potentially crack solder joints, break pcb traces even cause internal damage to chipsets or components.
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You're correct, manual brightness control does note affect it.
I guess it is possible that the mobo was damaged, however, would that explain why it doesn't have this issue in recovery mode? I would think that whatever components are used to control the screen would be the same, so the difference between recovery and OS really throws me for a loop.

Invisibrune said:
You're correct, manual brightness control does note affect it.
I guess it is possible that the mobo was damaged, however, would that explain why it doesn't have this issue in recovery mode? I would think that whatever components are used to control the screen would be the same, so the difference between recovery and OS really throws me for a loop.
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I don't know why. Sound annoying though.
Playing with more might yeild more clues.
Maybe the display it's self.
Are you sure all the connections are good especially the ground and V+? Displays draw a lot of current.
Manufacturers use various techniques to connect subassemblies together, most common are ribbon cables but could be a screw, contact pad, the frame rail etc.
Assembly exactly the way in was and closely inspect all contact pins, sockets and surfaces.