Changing display settings causes blank screen on Galaxy S10+

/e/OS Devices Samsung
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1

I have e/os successfully up and running on my old Galaxy S10+. I noticed a problem with Bedtime Mode where the phone would display a black screen and refuse to wake when Bedtime Mode was activated. Fortunately this was scheduled so I just had to wait for the phone to automatically turn Bedtime Mode off again to regain access. However, I was setting up a Custom Mode as I wanted to greyscale the screen at night and I selected the Dim Screen (I think that’s what it was labelled, I can’t check as I can’t see the screen anymore) option too. I switched it on to check it and the screen went blank and does not wake up and display the usual screen. Unfortunately it wasn’t scheduled so I can’t wait for it to turn itself off again and I’m stuck with a phone I cannot use. It appears to respond to touch as there is haptic feedback triggered when I touch some parts of the screen but all I can do is turn it off and on, the same issue persists.

I have tried rebooting into safe mode, but the phone doesn’t seem to want to do it. I’ve tried multiple button combos but the phone either loops through the boot sequence or shows the e intro animation and goes blank again.

I would be very appreciative if anyone could suggest a remedy. I have spent quite a few hours getting this phone up to speed so I can use it on a daily basis and it is now sat on my desk no better than a paperweight.

2

Without diving into the Modes issue … on a Samsung Soft reset can be a fix. No data is lost except unsaved work.

From running phone Volume Down + Power

3

Thanks for your reply. I’ve tried that and the phone simply shows the bootloader unlocked message, then the “not running official software” message, the “e” logo splash and then back to the blank screen. So, no change. Thanks again.

4

Hmmm … a severe fail then.

Maybe you tried already to Reboot System from e-Recovery already?

Failing that do you want to go as far as Factory reset? This will put the phone back to the position of newly installed /e/OS.

Boot to e-Recovery with the device powered off hold Volume Up + Bixby + Power.

On e-Recovery main screen:

  1. Select Factory reset
  2. Select Format data / Factory reset option
  3. Next screen will display a warning that this action cannot be undone
  4. Select Format data to proceed or Cancel if you want to go back
  5. If you selected Format data, the format process will complete.
  6. Display will now return to the Factory Reset screen
  7. You should now navigate to Reboot System / Reboot System now

You should hopefully be back at running First Start Wizard.

5

I have the exact same problem on a Galaxy S10e. Screen turns completely black once bedtime mode starts. Via adb I can see that the phone is working normally. Unfortunately, nothing helps except waiting until the bedtime period is over. Even restarting doesn’t help. Telltale signal is that the jumping e dot freezes shortly just before “my data is my data” would appear. From then on, screen stays black.

What would be really useful is if one could stop this via adb, but I haven’t found the correct command.

This is an extremely annoying bug, took me pretty long to find the reason for the black screen…

7

Previously

Then thinking of System > Modes

How are you setting up “bedtime mode”? Is it different from:

What is bedtime mode and what do you need?
Bedtime mode is part of Digital Wellbeing and works with the Clock app to help you unwind. For it to work properly, It is essential to use the Digital Wellbeing app on Android and have permissions enabled for Clock.

8

yes, I’m talking about System→Modes.

Probably that’s why it takes over right after the system boots. If it were an app I could just stop it via adb.

9

I would expect the “preset” Mode can be deselected. Do you have different?

I have speculated previously, after my poor experience with the “preset” Modes that they are provided as a “Demo”.

I did not use / test Sleeping Mode but you might compare with

… and I continue :slight_smile: but no feedback.

If I am understanding you right, might it be worth to create your own “new” bedtime Mode (??).

From my experience best not to edit existing but create your own, perhaps with minimal changes to start with.

Meanwhile the serious nature of the fail deserves Report an issue.

I returned to this and the OP,

and now see

Settings > Display > Night light.

This turns the screen amber with option to change intensity for me, but I have only tested this briefly. Is this the problem feature?