6 common problems with the Sony Xperia Z3 and how to fix them

If you’re a fan of what Sony has done with their high-end Xperia series so far, chances are that its latest offering won’t disappoint. The Sony Xperia Z3 is amazing smartphone in terms of performance, style, and substance. However, technology is very rarely perfect, and just like every other smartphone available today, the Xperia Z3 is not without its flaws. To help you get the most out of your new phone, we’ve found the most common problems that users have faced with the the Sony Xperia Z3, and provide some possible solutions on how to fix them.

Disclaimer: Not every user of the Sony Xperia Z3 will face these issues, and it is quite likely that you won’t come across any of the problems listed below.

Problem #1 – Color shading on camera

Some Xperia Z3 users have experienced a color shading problem when they attempt to take pictures. This often appears in the form of a pink, or reddish circle in the center of photographs.

Potential Solutions:

• Restart the phone
• Save any important data, then perform a software repair using the PC Companion for Windows, or Bridge for Mac.
• Attempt to adjust the camera settings as this may make a difference
• Try to avoid taking pictures in low-light conditions, as using the flash seems to make the problem worse.
• A future software update may fix this issue.

Problem #2 – Unresponsive Touch Screen

Users have complained that their touch screen suffers from response problems, especially when they are using the on-screen keyboard to send messages.

Potential Solutions:

• Restart the phone. If you cannot access the restart facility through the touchscreen, use the power button and volume up key.
• Use repair firmware to discover whether your issue is caused by a hardware or software problem.
• Make sure that any screen protectors or cases you are using with the phone are not having an impact on the touchscreen, through air bubbles or compression.
• Factory reset the phone to clear out any problems caused by unresponsive or fragmented data.

Problem #3 – Slow performance or lag

Despite packing a powerful processor, users have commented that the phone is not optimized for playing games, watching videos, and dealing with other processor-intensive activities.

Potential Solutions:

• Restart the phone by detaching the cover of the micro SIM slot and pressing the small yellow restart button until it shuts down.
• Poor performance can be caused by third party applications. Check which apps are using the most memory on your phone and try selectively uninstalling them.
• Attempt to perform a factory reset (see instructions on how to do so below).
• Make sure that all applications, and the phone itself are constantly kept up to date.

Problem #4 – Phone charges too slowly

Many users have complained that the Sony Xperia Z3 takes too long to charge back to its full capacity after use.

Potential Solutions:

• Make sure the power outlet in question works by using it to charge another device.
• Ensure that the charger and cable for the phone have been properly connected to the power source, and are not loose in any way.
• Always be sure to use the cable that was given with your phone, as alternative cables can lead to slower charging, or problems with the battery.
• Directly connect the phone to a computer or laptop via USB to ensure that the cable is not broken.
• If the charger is the problem, request a replacement. If the charger is not an issue and the phone take longer than six hours to re-charge, you may need to speak to your retailer about a replacement.

Problem #5 – Issues with connection to Wi-Fi

Users have complained that their Xperia Z3 struggles with picking up Wi-Fi signals and maintaining them.

Potential Solutions:

• Go to the Wi-Fi settings and choose to “Forget” your preferred network. Then start the connection again from scratch, ensuring you have the right details.
• Turn off the Xperia Z3 and the Wi-Fi router then wait for thirty seconds before turning them back on.
• Make sure that all of the necessary router firmware is updated. This could require confirmation with your ISP.
• Use the Wi-Fi Analyzer application to assess the level of activity on your channel. If it is abnormally high, most users benefit from switching to a less crowded alternative.
• Disable Stamina mode through your Settings
• Try booting into Safe Mode (instructions below)
• Go to Settings – About Phone and uncover the MAC address for the Xperia Z3. Make sure that this address can be recognized by your router.

Problem #6 – Battery life drains too quickly

Although the Xperia Z3 has a relatively large battery, certain users have complained that it drains too quickly.

Potential Solutions:

• Try to avoid using battery-consuming games and applications too often.
• Make sure that any applications that are not being used are switched off, such as GPS, or other programs that may run in the background without your notice.
• Go into Settings and select Stamina Mode
• Turn off vibration message alerts and reduce the brightness of the screen.
• Use Settings – Battery to analyze which applications are using excess power, and remove the ones that you don’t need.

So there are some of the problems that users have been experiencing when using their Sony Xperia Z3. Leave a comment if you have been victim one of these issues and let us know if our solutions worked, or contact us if you’ve suffered from a problem we haven’t mentioned. We’ll do our best to keep this list updated with the latest problems and solutions.

SEE ALSO: Best Sony Xperia Z3 cases & accessories

Following are the guides for how to factory reset the Xperia Z3, and how to boot into safe mode.

Boot into safe mode:

• Press and hold the Power Key until you see a list of options. These options should read: “Power off,” “Airplane mode,” and “Take Screenshot”
• Hold the “Power off” option until you receive a window prompt asking whether you’d like to “Reboot to safe mode.”
• Tap “OK”
• You should see “Safe Mode” in the lower left hand corner of the screen.

Force reset:

• Remove the cover for the micro SIM
• Use a pen tip to hold the yellow restart button until the device turns off.

Factory Reset:

• Backup any important data
• Go to the Home Screen and tap the box made up of three by three dots.
• Go to Settings – Backup and reset – Factory data reset
• Check Erase internal storage
• Select Reset phone
• Confirm by tapping “Erase everything”