Updated on 7-27-2014 by Simon Hill: Added problem with SIM card, glitch with Nexus 7 not recognized by computer, camera issues, and updated won’t recharge or rapid battery drain with new solutions.
The undisputed king of the hill when it comes to small Android tablets is Google’s Nexus 7, manufactured by Asus. It has been selling well since its July 2012 release and Google updated the line with a new version – the Nexus 7 (2013) in July 2013. It has a much higher resolution display, a faster processor, more RAM, and a camera, but Google has already acknowledged problems with multi-touch and GPS, which we deal with below.
While the diminutive tablet has been well received by critics and consumers alike, no product is perfect. That’s why we’ve dug up a list of Nexus 7 problems and tried to find potential solutions and workarounds for anyone suffering. On this page we’ll deal with the latest 2013 version, so if you have the older 2012 model then skip to page two.
Related: Helpful Nexus 7 tips and tricks, our favorite Nexus 7 cases, Nexus 7 (2013) review.
A few people with the LTE version of the Nexus 7 (2013) have run into problems where the SIM card seems to stop working. This is usually accompanied by a “No SIM card” message. Sometimes they get the message “SIM card added” and a prompt to restart. For some people the network just seems to go missing and there’s no service, but they don’t get any message about the SIM card. Bear in mind that SIM cards from U.S. carriers will not necessarily work in European Nexus 7 tablets and vice versa because they may use different channels.
If you find that you plug your Nexus 7 into your computer or laptop using the USB cable and the computer fails to recognize it then you’re not the only one. Luckily it should be an easy fix in the settings. If not you may need a new driver, here’s what you should try:
There have been a few problems reported with the Nexus 7 camera. Some people have found that there’s no option to switch to the rear camera in the camera app. Others have tried to start the app only to see the message “Camera error. Can’t connect to the camera.”
A lot of people have reported an issue when they turn the Nexus 7 on. They hold down the Power button until it starts up, and it gets as far as the Google logo screen or maybe the colored X, but won’t go any further; it just freezes on that screen.
Here are the steps to do it without the screen:
A number of Nexus 7 owners have been complaining about a buzzing or static sound that is especially apparent at low volumes. For some people the noise is still there even if they mute the speaker.
A lot of people have encountered issues with the new Nexus 7 (2013) randomly restarting. This was a common problem on the old Nexus 7 as well. With the new model, many people report that the reboots are occurring when using Chrome, but the issue doesn’t seem to be limited to that.
A few owners have had problems with their new Nexus 7 (2013) registering multiple touches on the screen and skipping around erratically. There have also been reports of single taps on the touchscreen keyboard being registered as double or triple taps. If you’re uncertain whether you have a genuine problem with your touchscreen then try installing an app like Yet Another MultiTouch Test and you can see visually whether it is registering touches correctly.
It seems that quite a few Nexus 7 (2013) owners are reporting problems with the GPS. For most people it seems to connect fine initially, but after a few minutes, or when switching apps, the GPS drops and won’t reconnect.
A few people have noticed that the screen of their Nexus 7 (2013) is prone to flickering. This is particularly noticeable on lower brightness settings.
Some owners have reported that their Nexus 7 (2013) will not charge up at all when plugged in. Others have found that the battery is discharging much faster than expected.
That’s all of our Nexus 7 (2013) problems and fixes for now, but please post a comment if you have a solution that isn’t mentioned or if you’ve encountered a different issue that isn’t listed. You can move on to page two for some Nexus 7 (2012) problems and potential solutions.
Updated on 6-17-2014 by Simon Hill: Tidied up and added stuck on Google logo, new solution for weak Wi-Fi, and speaker buzzing problem.
Updated on 8/01/2013 by Simon Hill: Added page one to deal with the new Nexus 7 (2013) model and split old Nexus 7 problems onto page two.
Updated on 8/14/2013 by Simon Hill: Tweaked intro and added the news that Google is investigating GPS and multi-touch issues.
Next Page: Nexus 7 (2012) Problems
Have you ever found that your Nexus 7 won’t turn on at all and it won’t charge when you plug it in? Don’t worry. You are not alone. There are a couple of things you can try to bring it back to life. This problem seems to occur frequently if you allow your Nexus 7 battery to run completely down or leave it idle for long periods.
A lot of Nexus 7 owners reported serious problems after updating the tablet to Android 4.2. Some people encountered general lag or sluggish performance, others complained of brightness issues for the display, and worst of all, some people encountered random reboots. There was also a bug introduced in the People app that removed the month of December, but Google rolled out an update to fix that bug quickly.
Some Nexus 7 tablets shipped with a screen defect which means that the screen lifts slightly away from the plastic bezel, which can create some creaking noises. It’s generally caused by screws that haven’t been properly tightened, or in some cases, screws that are completely missing. It’s relatively easy to fix and you’ll find guides online, but you shouldn’t have to fix yourself and you could void your warranty so we don’t recommend that course of action.
Solution: If you bought your Nexus 7 from Google Play then call Google customer support. If you bought it elsewhere, then you need to contact Asus directly. In both cases you should get a replacement free of charge because this is a known issue.
You may find that the Nexus 7 microphone is failing to pick up any sound. This could be because of a fault; it could be because of the placement or the cover; or it could be because something got in there and blocked it.
There have been quite a few reports of people getting no sound at all when they plug in their headphones, or getting crackly intermittent sound. Before you panic, make sure to try your headphones in another device so you know they aren’t the problem. You should also check that the volume is turned up on the Nexus 7 and not very low or even muted. If that doesn’t help, there are a couple of other potential solutions.
You may find that your Nexus 7 refuses to connect to your Wi-Fi network or drops it frequently. There are various potential causes for this and not all of them are Nexus 7 related, but if the tablet is your problem then you can try a few things.
If you are unlucky enough to find that your touchscreen doesn’t respond or that it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t then you can try the standard troubleshooting steps.
The Nexus 7 speaker can sound distorted, especially at high volumes, and sometimes people report loss of sound completely. If you find that your sound is fine through headphones, but problems with the speaker persist, then it’s likely to be a hardware fault.
Solution: You’ll need to request a replacement from Google, Asus, or the retailer where you bought the Nexus 7.
That’s it for now, but if you have another Nexus 7 problem you’d like to share then post a comment. Even better, if you have a solution that isn’t listed here then please share it.
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