Jolla Phone USB charging crash

Bug Reports
1

REPRODUCIBILITY: Always (with exception)
OS VERSION: 5.2.0.17
HARDWARE: Jolla Phone (Batch 1#)
UI LANGUAGE: English US
REGRESSION: From first charge onward

DESCRIPTION:

Inserting USB causes crash and I cannot start device when USB is connected. When attempting to start the haptic response happens, but it does not start. When USB is disconnected the device starts, but shows either 56% charge or a Lightning Symbol. If USB is inserted after boot the device crashes etc.

PRECONDITIONS:

If USB is attached during start-up after the Jolla logo is seen, the device can (sometimes) start with USB connected. In this case it charges but only to 56% (the device says it is full and stops charging but when rebooted it shows 56%).

When the device is successfully booted (USB attached in right moment) and proceeds to charge, and eventually shows a Lightning Symbol in top left (instead battery percentage)… In this state I can plug any USB without causing a crash. In this state, I can attach it to computer and the device ask which USB mode I want to use (and transfer files etc).

Sometimes it hangs up to “Enter security code” step or shows a logo of a lightning box with a charger connected to it (this is also documented in the log shared below). Battery Buddy application does not recognize the battery properly and says the charge is -1%. It feels like the device cannot handle battery charging and crashes when it initiates charging.

Tested with different chargers, all chargers and all USB connections cause crash & fail to start device -issue. I can telnet to the device when booting to recovery mode. Tested to change USB default mode to “Charge only” and other options (no change). Performed telnet wipe “Reset device…” (no change in weird behavior). Lifted battery, reinserted it and “Reset device…” (no change).

The left screw hole threads securing the battery bracket is stripped. This was likely caused by over tightening during assembly. It does not connect to device chassis but the issue can be unrelated. I can use the device to install applications etc. but this issue prevents daily use.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE:

  1. Insert USB to charge device, crash
  2. Start device with USB connected, crash
  3. Insert USB during boot (when Jolla text is show), works until USB is disconnected and reconnected, crash

EXPECTED RESULT:

The device should initiate charging or allow the user to select between file-storage / developer options.

ACTUAL RESULT:

The device crashes when USB is inserted, every time and in most settings (USB can be attached during startup when Jolla logo is visible)

MODIFICATIONS:

After observing bug, I installed Battery Buddy and Whisperfish from relevant repositories. Details in the persistent log.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Persistent log here: usb-crash.targz (494.7 KB)

The log also includes “Enter security code” -hangup during startup, as detailed above. Issue is being discussed in this thread in the General category.

Screenshot of Battery Buddy information when USB is not connected.

Screenshot_20260829_141522_001
Screenshot_20260829_141522_001930Ă—2048 290 KB

2

Can you verfiy that your problem is different from Complete crash when charging ?

1 Like
3

Most likely my issue is different, since the crash happens immediately when the USB is connected. Perhaps @d.geelen can confirm, but my reading of their bug report is that the crash occurs during their charging cycle, rather than upon connection.

4

I’ll repeat it here:

  • ohmd is way too present in the journal
  • grepping for usb or USB shows some interesting stuff, at a glance one entry looked like pulseaudio thinks the USB is a sound card or a headphone or something like that.
1 Like
5

Yeah, I haven’t had an issue when connecting USB

1 Like
6

After using the battery dry, charging a tad, inserting USB during boot and running Test tool CSD, the device says that Battery: Fail and USB charging: Fail. But it does still charge anyway… Weird. Is it safe to use the device or is there a risk of a battery overcharge etc. issue? Flashlight does not work either and it hangup at “Enter security code” more frequently during boot.

Screenshot_20260901_200729_001
Screenshot_20260901_200729_001930Ă—2048 129 KB

7

I would power off the phone and remove the battery for a few minutes. That way hardware will fully reset as it now seems stuck in unpredictable state.

1 Like
8

I did this now. Sadly the USB crash bug persists and CSD shows that both battery and charging fail.

9

I don’t have a JP2, but if if this is possible, I’d also check the connectors before I re-plug it.

2 Likes
10

I checked the pin connectors carefully before assembly but it did not appear bent or broken (I’m familiar with small electronic repair). Executed a dmesg in terminal and when USB was connected it showed (among other things):

mt6379-gauge ...: instant_current, Failed to get MT6720 GAUGE battery status(battery not exist!!, ret:0).

And, it also shows:

healthd: battery l=-1 v=4519 t=-40.0 h=2 st=2 c=0 fc=3760000 cc=1 chg=a

Should I disassemble battery entirely from the device?

Edit: I noted in the initial post that the left screw hole threads securing the battery bracket was stripped: It was not stripped, but the screw could not reach the threads. I used a slightly longer screw to secure the bracket… I assembled first the screw closer to the battery connector, to apply pressure (leverage) so that the connector would be firmly in place.

11

I’ve used the Jolla Phone 2026 for a week now, and tried lifting the battery a few times, charges it full and used it empty (to somehow calibrate the device).

  • It (still) crashes when I insert USB to charge the device. It does not crash when connecting to a device. Or when the battery has just been charged.
  • It (still) does not boot when USB is connected. I observed new behaviour: When rebooting with USB connected it does not boot… I remove the USB and it stays closed… But when I insert the USB and it boots without pressing the on button.
  • When rebooting after some use, it can sometimes show a battery % but the number can be anything between 3%-68% (if it shows under 10% it sends battery low alarms which is super annoying).

I can almost use the device but I often turn it off to charge etc. Should I buy a new battery from the Jolla store? To test if this is a battery issue?

12

USB charging crashes is a known issue. I recommend to wait for a next release. Look around for more info.

1 Like