Common OnePlus 7 Pro problems, and how to fix them

Despite now having reached the end of its life, the OnePlus 7 Pro is still a wonderful smartphone with bags of power and a truly stunning display. This flagship-level phone came with a flagship-level price though, and for that price you might expect perfection. Unfortunately, that’s almost never the case, and even the best built phones have problems now and again. We’ve dug around and compiled a list of common OnePlus 7 Pro problems, with advice on how to work around or fix them.

Wi-Fi issues after Android 11 update

A number of users are complaining that they are having issues with Wi-Fi on the OnePlus 7 Pro after updating to Oxygen OS 11. These issues stem from Wi-Fi refusing to turn on, to it consistently toggling on and off, dropping your Wi-Fi connection.

Potential solution:

Reseting the network adapter in the Settings app has fixed this issue for a number of people. To do this, head to Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile, & Bluetooth > Reset Settings. Enter your PIN or passcode, then tap Next > Reset Settings to confirm. Keep in mind this will delete all of your settings for your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data.

Apps crashing a lot

Some users are complaining their apps are crashing a lot. The problem doesn’t seem to be limited to any specific apps, with users reporting disparate apps like TikTok and Gmail are suffering. This problem is related to the big Android System WebView update, and has hit a lot of different phones. Thankfully, there’s a fairly easy solution.

Solution:

Open the Google Play Store and go to My Apps & Games > Installed. Then find Android System WebView and tap Uninstall. Reboot your device and the problem should be solved.

Screen flickering on 90Hz setting

Another issue apparently related to the Android 11 update, users on the OnePlus forum have been complaining of flickering when the OnePlus 7 Pro’s display is set to 90Hz mode. This sort of flickering is obviously not good for your eyes, and can become very uncomfortable over a longer period of time. This seems to be a problem mostly for the OnePlus 7 Pro.

Workaround:

Unfortunately, there’s not much to do other than wait for OnePlus to roll out an update that fixes this issue. To check whether you have the latest update, head to Settings > System Update. If there’s a Download & Install Now button then you’re good to update.
However, there is one workaround that seems to work for many, and that’s dropping the resolution down. To do so, head to Settings > Display > Advanced > Resolution, then tap FHD+.

Problem: Ghost touches on the screen

We reported on this OnePlus 7 Pro touchscreen issue, which has prompted several large threads on the OnePlus forum. People are suffering from phantom touches on the touchscreen which they aren’t responsible for. The problem seems to be random and most often happens on the top portion of the screen. Apparently, the CPU-Z app is a good way to test for the problem, as it seems to trigger consistent ghost touches, but they are happening intermittently for sufferers in a variety of apps.

Workarounds:

Some people report that the ghost touches dry up if you toggle NFC off in the Quick Settings.

Possible fix:

Some people are suggesting that the issue is fixed or reduced in the latest official Oxygen OS build. However, this is disputed, and others are apparently still suffering from ghost touches after updating.

Problem: OK, Google not working

We’ve seen threads at the OnePlus forum and the XDA Developers forum about the “OK, Google” voice command either not working at all or only working intermittently on the OnePlus 7 Pro. For some people, it seems random, while others report that it only fails to work when the phone is unlocked. There are a few different potential solutions you can try.

Possible fixes:

If you have the Plus Beat app installed, then try uninstalling it and test to see if that resolves your issue.
Open the Play Store and find the Google app, then tap Uninstall and uninstall all the updates. Once it’s done, try tapping Update and reboot your OnePlus 7 Pro. Now, set up “OK, Google” again.
Some people have had success after a factory reset, though it’s a drastic step to take. If you want to try it, then make sure you back up everything first and then go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data > Reset Phone > Enter PIN or Password > Next > Erase Everything.

Issue: Unresponsive screen

Even with a modern chipset and 12GB of RAM, mishandling a smartphone can lead to lag, or in the worst case, an unresponsive screen. Sadly, this seems to happen more often than we expect with numerous users on Reddit reporting issues with their screens.

Possible fixes:

While this isn’t a permanent fix, a hard reset of your OnePlus 7 Pro will get you out of a frozen screen. Press and hold the power button and volume up button until the phone shuts off and boots up the OnePlus logo. You’ll be able to resume your activities once the lock screen loads up.

Issue: Battery drain and overheating

Even though the OnePlus 7 Pro has a big, 4,000mAh battery, we haven’t been impressed by its stamina. With battery life and overheating, much depends on how you use your phone. You have to accept that long gaming sessions with graphically intensive games are going to use up a lot of power and generate a lot of heat. People are discussing their experiences in this OnePlus forum thread, and not everyone is happy.

This is an ongoing problem with the OnePlus 7 Pro, and it seems hardware based, as there are still complaints coming in two years later. The best advice if you’re absolutely sick of a warm phone is, well, to look at buying a new phone.

Workarounds:

Start with our general guide on how to save battery life on your smartphone for some ideas.
The display is going to be your big power drain, so consider heading into Settings > Display and drop the screen timeout in Sleep, set Ambient Display off or to only come on when you tap the screen, and consider dropping the screen resolution and refresh rate.
Consider picking up one of our favorite portable chargers to top your OnePlus 7 Pro up when you need to.
Take a look in Settings > Battery > View Detailed Usage and look for a problem app that’s draining too much power.
Make sure that you uninstall any apps or games that you aren’t using.
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and configure when you want it to turn on.

Glitch: Incoming calls and texts not working on Verizon

There are threads at Reddit and the XDA Developers forum concerning incoming calls and text messages failing to come through at all or dropping instantly on pick up for people using the OnePlus 7 Pro on Verizon. Outgoing calls and texts seem to work just fine. Luckily, this should be easy to sort out.

Possible fixes:

If you’ve just taken your old SIM card and put it into your new OnePlus 7 Pro, then you should go to the Verizon website and sign in to your account. You need to go to My Verizon > My Device > Activate or Switch Device > Activate On an Existing Line and then follow the instructions to register your OnePlus 7 Pro.
Alternatively, you can phone Verizon up and tell them you want to add a CDMA-less device to your account. When they add CDMA-less to your account, you may have to reboot your phone to get it working.
- Otherwise, Verizon may be able to reactivate your SIM, as one Redditor had success with that method.
You should also make sure that HD Voice is turned on. It should be free and you can get it by calling up and asking, or add it yourself via your Verizon account in My Verizon > Products & Apps > Get Products > HD Voice > Get it now > choose your OnePlus 7 Pro > Confirm Purchase > OK.

Annoyance: Fingerprint scanner is rarely successful

While in-display fingerprint scanners are futuristic (and cool to use), they’re still not as reliable as the physical fingerprint scanners of the past. From high rates of unsuccessful unlocks to wet finger issues, many OnePlus 7 Pro users have shown dissatisfaction with their in-display fingerprint scanners. Here are some possible fixes for the most effective fingerprint scanning.

Possible fixes:

The first method is by re-registering your fingerprints. Go to Settings > Security & lock screen > Fingerprint and tap on the garbage can next to the fingerprint profiles. Ignore this step if it’s your first time setting up a fingerprint. Once there are no registered fingerprints saved, tap on Add fingerprint and follow the setup process. It’s important to position your hand and finger the same way that you would when unlocking your phone.
The accuracy of your fingerprint scanner varies based on your screen protector’s thickness. For the most precise scan, try removing your screen protector or consider using a plastic film protector instead of one made of tempered glass.

Annoyance: Auto-brightness not working well

Auto-brightness is the feature in your phone that causes the screen to automatically dim or brighten based on the light in your current environment. The tool is a life-saver when it comes to saving your phone’s battery life, and it can be a relief for your eyes. That said, when this feature isn’t working in top-form, it can be frustrating to get blasted by a bright screen. Some users have complained this feature doesn’t work consistently on their OnePlus 7 Pro. They say that they don’t get a smooth shift in brightness levels like the company promises. Instead, their display brightness will flicker, change to an incorrect level, or never adjust at all.

Possible fixes:

Follow the pathway: Settings > Display and then switch the Adaptive brightness toggle on. From there, you’ll need to dim and brighten your screen levels in different environments manually to teach your phone which levels you prefer. After a few days, your phone should begin adjusting to your preferred levels automatically.
Try using the DC dimming feature under Settings > Utilities > OnePlus Laboratory > DC dimming. This tool helps limit any screen flickering at lower brightness levels, but you may notice some unusual display colors in the process.