HTC Desire HD keeps opening the Locations app, and goes to speaker during phone calls.
Annoying phone troubles? Yes sir!
My previously wonderful Android phone was recently becoming quite moody. It kept opening the ‘Locations’ application, as if it wanted to navigate away. I get the hint, phone. Even more annoying: during phone calls, it kept turning on the speaker, which made for ringing ears and fragmented conversations.
After reading all across the net, and many people offering solutions to do with removing or blocking the Locations application, I came across a post which hinted it might have something to do with dirt stuck in the micro-USB connector. The post explained that the USB pins 4 and 5 are used, when connected with a resistance between them, as an indicator of a dock being present. Such a dock would be a car kit or a desk dock, and it seems logical to expect the behaviour my phone was displaying. You would indeed want the phone to go to speaker when docked!
Solution
The solution is clear, but is a bit more complex than it seems: Clean your Micro-USB port and headphone jack on your phone.
I had to try this three times before I achieved actual results. Many people suggest compressed air for blowing clean the connector, but that wasn’t enough in my case. Here’s what I did.
- Shut down your phone.
- Remove obvious dirt, dust and grime by blowing in the connector.
- Use a cotton-tip (with a tiny drop of sunflower-oil) to remove large pieces of dirt that are stuck.
- Use a tooth-pick to scrape clean the copper leads of the Micro-USB port.
- Use a tooth-pick to make sure you cleaned out all smaller pieces, and that the port is absolutely clean.
- Try booting up your phone. If the problem persists, try the above steps again.
Comments
I only have this problem when i use the cable of htc itself when i use the cable from nokia it doesn’t start the location app..
This could be because not all USB cables have all pins connected. If I’m not mistaken, Nokia phones don’t use all pins, and so it would figure Nokia’s cables aren’t provided with them all either.
This has been driving me crazy for weeks. Unfortunately not even this fix works for long (About 2 hours) before the problem starts all over again, so it does has some effect, it just doesn’t last. Any ideas?
I had the same problem (it only worked temporarily) but that’s because there’s still junk in the connectors. You should probably clean it a couple of times more. For me it took three times to get completely rid of it.
Since you say it’s partially effective, it makes me think that you’re on the right track cleaning it, but perhaps your dirt is just more stubborn then mine :)
Another thing: You might want to try to clear it out first with compressed air to clear loose dust, and then use a q-tip with sunflower oil for the stuff that’s really stuck.
This really worked
i tried cleaning it up . but its not working . Is there any other way by which I can get rid of this ?
Just to say that this really does work. I had exactly the same problems as described, the locations app loading all by itself and the speaker coming on during calls. I used a cocktail stick and a pin (found a cotton bud too big) and was amazed at the amount of fluff and stuff that I got out of each. When I thought I’d got it all out, there would still be more to come. It took me 3 attempts before I had success, so persevere; this really is the answer to the problem.
Great to hear it worked for you too!
gr8 tips – working after one round of cleaning with suggested tips..
cheers
Thank you soo much for your advice. I had so much trouble with my phone, I almost trowed it out of the window because it is so annoying! But now I cleaned it (took me 5 minutes) with the oil. Last time I tried to clean it with a tooth pick (no oil, no ear stick). But it didn’t work. The combination of olive oil, tooth pick and the ear stick made it work now! Thank you so much!
regards, Esther
Worked for me; has still happened once over night, but better than every 2 mins!!
It worked for me too !
I used a little WD40, took me 3 tries before
I finally succeeded :)
Ah, WD-40, the duct tape of the lubrication world :)
Basically you can use any non-conductive, non-hardening oil to clean electronic components. The only downside of using edible or cooking oils is that they will eventually spoil. So you need to either clean up afterwards very thoroughly, or indeed use something like WD-40. That is partly mineral-based, and it also contains some stabilizers, so it doesn’t spoil.
thanks for the advice Mark Lindhout….really worked for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!cleaned the device HTC DESIRE HD with cotton n toothpick…..
i have a problem some times my desire hd open things my itself………… to fix the problem i have to press lock button n it works but do u know how to get rid of this… plz help