Sure, there are newer Huawei models, but sometimes an older model is just what we need, and if you’re looking for a device that’s rugged and eye-catching in design, a long-lasting battery, and a great-quality camera, the P20 Pro certainly remains an excellent choice. If you are thinking of buying it or already own one, it is useful to know the common problems of the Huawei P20 Pro and its possible solutions.
Problem: the Play Store and other Google apps have disappeared
Some have noticed that the Google Play Store has disappeared from their devices. The problem is that this is not a problem; Due to the conflict Huawei is in with the US government, the brand does not have permission to use Google services. This means: no Play Store, not Google Maps, etc.
Unfortunately, this does not have a solution, as it is not a fault or something that can be corrected. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have access to new applications. Perhaps the Huawei App Gallery is not as extensive as the Google Play Store, but it offers enough alternatives so that you do not miss the Play Store too much.
Problem: the fingerprint sensor doesn’t work
Many people noticed that the fingerprint sensor on their P20 Pro was not working properly. There are threads on the subject in the XDA developer forum and on Reddit , among others. Although most simply did not respond, others noted that the sensor was heating up and that the options in the Settings menu were becoming inaccessible.
- Try to go to Settings> Security and privacy> Fingerprint ID . You will have to enter your PIN and then try to add a new fingerprint .
- If you can’t access the settings, try resetting to factory settings, but be sure to backup everything as this will erase your phone completely. Once you’ve backed up, go to Settings> System> Reset> Factory data reset> Reset phone .
- If the problem persists after a factory reset, it could be a hardware failure. You’ll need to contact your provider, retailer, or Huawei for information on a repair.
Problem: push notifications don’t work
Some people have had problems with push notifications, either with a new WhatsApp message or an incoming Outlook email, and it is not working as it should. When the P20 Pro is on standby, with the screen off, the notifications seem to stop and then appear when the phone is lifted and unlocked again. There is a thread about it on the XDA developer forum . This is probably due to the settings on your P20 Pro and it is easy to fix.
Possible solutions:
- To get started, go to Settings> Battery> More (gear icon at the top right) and make sure Keep Wi-Fi on is set to Always , as is Turn on mobile data .
- Look under Settings> Apps & notifications> Apps> Settings> Special access> Ignore battery optimization and select any app you are having trouble with.
- Go to Settings> Battery> Start app and toggle any apps you have trouble managing manually.
- Go to Settings> Wireless & networks> Mobile data or Data usage and make sure the data saver is disabled.
Problem: random restart
There are several comments in the XDA Developers forum of users who express their disagreement, for having to be victims of unanticipated restarts of their Huawei P20 Pro. One of the people stated that this happened to him repeatedly when he was in the Gallery application, but to others it seems to be a little more random when it happens. Apparently, the P20 Pro shuts down and will restart suddenly, for no apparent reason.
Possible solutions:
- Try wiping the cache partition to get started. Turn off your Huawei P20 Pro by holding down the power key, and then tap Power off . Once it’s turned off, press and hold the Power and Volume Up keys until you see the Huawei logo. Then release the Power key, but press and hold the Volume up key until you see the IEMU on the screen. You can use Volume Down to highlight Delete Cache Partition and the Power key to select it. When you’re done, use Volume Up to highlight Reboot System Now and the Power key to select it.
- If the reboot problem persists after this, the culprit may be an app or configuration. The easiest way to test this hypothesis is to factory reset the phone. Make a backup of everything first, then head to Settings> System> Reset> Factory data reset> Reset phone> Reset phone . When you’re done, try setting up your phone as new instead of restoring the backup, to see if the reboot problem returns. If not, you can selectively start reinstalling applications, keeping an eye on the recurrence of the restart problem.
- If you do a factory reset and set the Huawei P20 Pro to like-new and it still restarts unexpectedly, then it’s time to contact Huawei, or your provider.
Problem: very fast battery wear
We are impressed by the battery life of the Huawei P20 Pro as it is 4000 mAh. This means it should easily last you a day and a half to two full days. However, some users have reflected on the XDA Developers forum and the Android Central forum about disappointing battery performance.
Find out what our suggestions are to make the most of the battery of your Huawei P20 Pro.
Solutions:
- You can go to Settings> Battery and activate power saving mode or Ultra power saving mode. However, it is important to know that by choosing this option, some background operations will not work and performance will decrease.
- You can save some battery life by going to Settings> Security> Screen lock and passwords and toggling Always show info.
- You can also consider going to Settings> Battery to toggle between the colors of the darker interface.
- Take a look at Settings> Battery> App Launch and consider adjusting some settings to save power.
- Head to Settings> Display and change the screen resolution from FHD + to HD + or set it to Smart .
- Set the Sleep setting in Settings> Show as low as you can tolerate.
Possible solutions:
- First make a backup of everything, then head to Settings> System> Reset> Factory data reset> Reset phone> Reset phone . If you restore a backup after reboot and the problem returns, try factory resetting and set your phone as new. It is possible that a configuration or application in the backup is causing the problem.
Problem: touchscreen delays
We’ve seen a couple of posts, mostly in the XDA Developers forum about touchscreen lag or when people are scrolling or trying to make small, precise movements on the screen.
Possible solutions:
- Some users have suggested going to Settings> Smart Assist> Motion Control to trigger things like smart screen capture. These gestures may be adjusting the response of the touch screen. You should also make sure Gloves mode is disabled in Settings> Smart assistance .
- Some people say that a software update fixed the problem. Go to System update settings> Check for updates and see if there is a software update available.
Solutions:
- Try going to Settings> Display and change the screen resolution from FHD + to HD + to see if that makes any difference.
Problem: slow charge
Huawei’s SuperCharge system can take the battery from zero to full in about 90 minutes, but some people have had trouble getting fast charging speeds. There are a couple of topics on the XDA Developers forum about this.
Possible solutions:
- Make sure you are using the cable and charger that come with your Huawei P20 Pro and that you are connecting it to a working electrical outlet.
- If your Huawei P20 Pro got wet then it could be limiting charging speed as a form of security. Just wait to dry or place in a cupful of uncooked rice to extract the moisture. Then try again.
- If the problem persists, contact Huawei, your supplier or vendor.
Problem: the microphone does not work properly
We have seen some people who claim that their phone’s microphone is not working properly, as they have noticed that when they make a call, the other person cannot hear them and the same thing happens when recording audio or video messages. But don’t worry, there are a few options to fix the problem, according to the XDA Developers forum.
Solutions:
- Hold down the Power button and tap Restart . This seems to work at least temporarily for most people. The problem may be caused by using private space, using the USB-C headphone adapter, or using Bluetooth for audio, so you may want to restart after any of those activities.
- If you have an app that uses the microphone, consider removing the permission from the microphone or uninstalling it and testing to see if that solves the problem. You can check through Settings> Applications and notifications> Permissions .
Possible solution:
Hopefully this is just a software bug and will be fixed. Go to System update settings> Check for updates and see if there is a software update available. You may also want to open the Play Store, tap the three horizontal lines icon (known as the hamburger) located at the top left, and tap My apps & games> Update all .