Z Fold 4 Crashes when Unfolding

[jhk987]

So recently MY ZF4 has started giving me a black screen and become unresponsive when I unfold the phone, it will also then sometimes automatically restart itself after the screen goes black. I have tried everything, including a factory reset but nothing has fixed this. I am just wondering it anybody else has had this? This phone is not even a month old, if it is a bug in the hardware or software, samsung needs to address it,

[Members_a3dY6Mk]

Mine has just started to do this today. I panicked. Did a soft reset and then opened the phone again and crackle and black, unresponsive. Did anyone have any luck with Samsung repair. I have extended warranty on my phone as its 2K. I hope they fix or replace. How do I back up my phone before I send it in?

[jamie112]

Yep, mine started this today! Booked in for repair 😞

[jamie112]

One thing I've noticed whilst I wait to drop my phone in, is that when I'm using dex the phone doesn't crash or go blank when open. Surely this means it's software?

[Lakshmi Srinivas K]

I think Audio is the culprit. The speakers or audio is crashing whenever the inner screen is opened. Here are my observations.

Reboot phone. Normal usage on outer screen including playing Audio over the speaker. Everything is good.

Open the inner screen when no audio is being played. The inner screen works fine but in the background the audio has already crashed. The phone crashes and screen turns off whenever an attempt playing Audio is made after the inner screen is opened atleast once.

Connect a Bluetooth headset and everything works perfectly both inner screen and outer screen including the transition being very smooth.

Continuing on the above test, turn off the Bluetooth whole playing video on inner screen and the phone crashes instantly.

About to do a factory reset now to see if it helps before taking it in for service. I am just one month away from warranty expiry, lucky the timing of this unfortunate situation is perfect.

[jamie112]

Thank you for your reply. I've done the factory reset and still no luck. My drop off appointment is on Monday so I can update you if it was a straight swap or not. 👍

[RicardoGA]

Summary: My fold 4 died with the same issue. It started sporadically but then became worse until complete malfunction. After a very tedious 2 month long warranty claim I now have a brand new s23 ultra.  (Samsung official technitians said the cause was a bad folding screen)

Actual events. My fold 4 got repaired 3 times in 2 months. First, this inner screen problem, inmediately after pick up, vibration motor was not working properly, two days later after 2nd pickup, the outter screen lost tactile function.  

I had to place a "lawsuit" against Samsung to get a new device.

Problem was in Costa Rica. Not U.S

[jamie112]

Ouch

[jamie112]

They told me because I have a slight scratch on the back of my phone it's "hinge area damage" which is absolute rubbish. They won't repair the phone unless they give them £500 as the scratch deems it as warranty void. I have care plus but thats gonna still be £150. Do we think this is a software issue?

Terrible customer service, really disappointed with Samsung and the way I was treated.

[Members_XyzDPET]

Same issue happened to me, bought my Fold 4 8 months ago. Try factory reset, but problem remain. I think it is not software issue.

Service Center said it is a hinge issue, need to replace the hinge together with the inner screen. Mine still under guarantee, but they said there is a scratch on the bottom of the hinge, means my guarantee is void. The cost for repair is USD 500. I complained to HQ Service Center, their solution is giving me USD 320 discount. So i need to pay USD 180. When I contacted local service center for repair, they said they do not have stock for the spare part. The spare part still under production, so I need to wait at least 14 working days to wait for the spare part. 1 month wasted with non functional expensive phone, and only God's know when it will get repaired.

I am in Indonesia, I bought Samsung phone starting S3 up to S20, Samsung Note (Loved Note 7), change my Note 20 to Fold 4 for bigger screen, only enjoy for 8 months to find myself need to spend another USD 180 for something that is not my fault. Well done, Samsung.

[Omega8]

I just has the same issue with phone crashing when opening the folding screen with a breif audible distortion. I can confirm the fold 4 also operates with the screen open while paired in bluetooth to a headset. The phone will also allow to be opened while not paired in bluetooth in recovery mode (not to be confused with safe mode). Can test graphics while the inner screen functions in recovery mode without any crashes as well.

I had this issue starting on 9/26/2023 and have had the phone for several months. It looks like this is a software issue possibly with the OS and as other have been having this exact same issues since 2022 it can't be limited to any particular update. Which means  this is almost certainly planned obsolescence to cause failure to incentivize repair costs or purchasing a new model.

Given the countless issue people are having with being charged $500 to have their phones repaired despite under warranty due to a "minor scratch" ANYWHERE on the phone gives Samsung customer service representatives an easy out voiding ANY warranty service on an issue that is seemingly intentional.

And despite all these issues Samsung backs off very quickly and seeks to resolve the issue ASAP when a lawsuit is mentioned because they know they can't fight this is it gets a heavy investigation.