What to do if Galaxy S8 Plus Netflix app keeps freezing and showing pixelated shows
Hello Android fans! This troubleshooting article will answer four different issues in a #GalaxyS8. The main topic for this post though is about Netflix and how to fix it if it keeps on freezing or showing pixelated videos.
Before we proceed, we want to remind you that if you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page. When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.
Problem #1: Galaxy S8 Plus Netflix app keeps freezing and showing pixelated shows
Galaxy S8 Plus. Netflix freezes and pixelates badly on most, but not all of their content. I travel constantly, so this occurred every time I try to watch no matter where I am out how strong the signal. I’ve tried all the typical fixes (clear memory and cache, uninstall, reinstall, etc.) Nothing helps. Netflix ignores my queries. This does not occur on any other form of video, Hulu, Prime, HBO… Please help. Thanks. — Kevin
Solution: Hi Kevin. We don’t work for Netflix so we are not the authorized party to be handling this particular question. As Netflix users ourselves, we in the TheDroidGuy office made sure that we take care of at least 2 basic requirements to avoid pixelation or poor performance when watching Netflix videos:
Pick the right Netflix plan. Netflix has two types of playback output — Standard definition (SD) and High Definition (HD). If your plan does not support HD, this may be the reason why videos are shown in SD or pixelated condition instead of HD. if you’re paying for a 1 screen plan only, then it doesn’t support HD at all. Make sure to pick 2 screens or 4 screens plans to view your shows on HD.
Ensure that internet connection is fast. When streaming music or videos, it’s imperative that a device is connected to a reliable and fast connection, whether using wifi or mobile data. Based in our own experience, Netflix playback quality decreases if your connection speed drops below 5 Mbps. Having fast connection in burst won’t do much to help either. If you only experiences fast internet connection in a short time before it drops out again (intermittent connection issue), streaming Netflix won’t perform as expected. Make sure that your device does not have intermittent connection issue (this is a separate troubleshooting scenario so do some research).
Check Netflix playback settings. Your account’s playback settings can also play a role in the quality of the video being shown on your device. If you are positive that there’s no intermittent connection issue on your phone, or that your connection is more than capable enough to play HD or non-SD titles. Try to check playback settings and set it to High. Here’s how:
Factory reset. We don’t know the full history of your device so there’s no way for us to know if there’s something that you’ve done before that might have caused this problem. We can’t also know if there’s any phone setting that might have caused only Netflix to perform poorly. To restore everything to their default settings, we suggest that you try a factory reset. Here’s how:
Let Netflix know about the issue. As much as we love to help, there’s really nothing much we can do, especially if nothing changed after you reset your device. Make sure to contact Netflix for a possible solution.
Problem #2: How to fix corrupted photos on Galaxy S8
In the last week or so, I’m having a problem with my camera. It works fine until you go into the Gallery and all I see are grey squares with a circle with an exclamation point in the middle. A few are there, but when I tap to open them, they disappear and I get the grey box. In addition, if I try to attach one of those photos to a facebook page I get an error message and I can’t do it. I’m very upset because I waited many months to see Bruce Springsteen on Broadway and I don’t have most of the photos. My students graduation the other day and I only have 3 from that day. Please help!! Thanks. — Eva
Solution: Hi Eva. If those photos that you want to open are stored in an SD card, try to see if a computer can access them. You can use an SD card reader, insert your SD card to the reader, and connect it to your computer. If you have a laptop with a built-in card reader, then will work too. Our goal in doing this is to see if a second device can still detect and read those files.
If the problematic files are either stored in your phone’s internal storage device, or a computer can no longer read the files in the SD card, you should consult a professional to help you recover them. If you’re lucky and those files are not totally corrupted, there may be a way to repair them using a special software.
Data recovery is a tricky business and is not guaranteed to work. Depending on the true state of the files, there may or may not be a way to get them back. The process involving professional data recovery is also costly because it often requires proprietary software and trained personnel. If those files are worth several hundred dollars, then you have to at least try letting a professional handle the job.
While looking for a good company that can help you, make sure not to use the phone or the SD card. Turn it off and do not attempt to save or delete something from the SD card (if those photos are stored in one) to avoid overwriting on sectors that store the damaged files.
Problem #3: Galaxy S8 can’t assign custom ringtone and notification for contacts after Oreo update
I received the new (oreo?) software update over the weekend – and now I am wishing I had not! I assign sound notifications to popular people in my contact list – so what when I hear those sounds – other than my default – I know that I need to pay attention to a notification. With this update it appears that Samsung decided to do away with that ability – and I am not happy. I have loved Samsung devices since I received my gs5 years ago. I now have a S8 – and love it. Please return this feature to the Samsung phones – and push out a new update!! Every other update that I have ever taken has been a positive impact on the features and use of my phone. This Oreo update changed a lot of things, I have noticed. The one thing that I am NOT pleased with is the ability to assign a notification sound to individual people in my contact list. PLEASE PLEASE return this feature. — Gerrian
Solution: Hi Gerrian. This problem is only limited to Samsung’s Messages app. At this time, there’s no official word from Samsung if their text messaging app will be patched to allow the use of custom ringtone and notification for contacts. If you badly need to use this feature, we suggest that you skip Samsung Messages app for now and try to use replacement like Google’s Android Messages. There are other third party messaging apps that still supports custom ringtone and notifications so feel free to visit the Play Store.
Problem #4: How to unlock a Galaxy S8 of a deceased relative
It’s a long shot…but even if you just have a lead anything… our son died in a car crash…i have birth and death certificate and of course my id …i’m his mother…all we have is his phone and no way to get passed the screen code… i contacted google already , but even if they let us have some data…most likely not his passwords…anyhow… it’s all we have… i just want to see photos …. we’ve researched like mad and tech-limited as we are understand that there is no way? it can’t be. Not 100% sure. Please help. — Martina
Solution: Hi Martina. As far as we know, Samsung and Google can only wipe a locked phone even if you can present valid documents required. We don’t know exactly if they have exemptions for this policy though. Make sure to visit your local Samsung dealership and see if there’s an option to unlock the device for you. Technically, there should be a way to brute force crack the screen passcode of an Android device. The procedure requires specialized software that only law enforcement agencies have access to as part of their mobile forensics capabilities. Such tools are not readily available for public consumption for security reasons.
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