Sony z3 compact xperia back and home button not working

[User105]

I am using z3 for almost a year and dint have any issues. Since last two updates i am facing two problems.

1. The drop down notification menu does not displays properly when slided over from top to bottom

2. Back and home button works once in a blue moon. Previously they were working great. Now i will have to try for more than 25 times to make that happen or restart the device.

Please let me know if this is a software issue caused by the latest software release or is there a way to bring back the old version of software. Eventually i need a working software and not this piece of ugly software quality.

Please respond when this issue will be resolved.

[Angrandir]

It is a hardware issue, almost for sure. Turn on "Show touches" developer option and try tapping around at the bottom of the screen. I guess you'll soon see that the part of the screen is unresponsive (fails to recognize the touches). Replacing the screen (original Sony spare part) solved the issue for me, but it was not cheap. Skillful people can try to replace the digitizer layer only. As for the glove mode and "working lock screen" some affected users mention - I suppose that in these cases, active area for touching things is larger, a bit larger than the dead zone. You can test it in the "show touches" mode. It happened to me (screen started to deteoriate) on 2,5 years old phone (I expected it to last longer, definitely disappointed).

[NoNoNoNo1]

Surely you KNOW that reinstalling the latest software that CAUSED the problem is not the solution! What is with you support people! Useless

[NoNoNoNo1]

I have the same problem as you. Updated this morning now cannot use the navbar. Phone is now useless. My fault of course. Support says I have to take it in to be fixed. However sony broke it. Hows this for an idea sony? You come and get my phone and fix it and bring it back to me. 

[Ellen4]

Same problem here

[Ratzen]

From what I've read so far on this issue on several places, this is not software caused; otherwise, the only way to solve it wouldn't be replacing the digitalizer as many users mentions. This isssue has been going on at least since October 2015 and inis most cases it shows up about 18 months of use. My mileage was 28 months before it happened. 

[Alilo1]

it seems it happened to me after 2 years of use. I wonder why this chat room is under Sony if they dont give any support to this problem that is happening since 2015. i was about to buy the new xperia compact, but now i wont do it definetly!! bad service

[Sjr189]

Hi Mk2017

I did your fix but it is for the bottom navigation buttons. My problem was with the top quick access pull down menu.   I don't know how to reverse it now but it's ok!   Is there a similar fix for the top pull down menu?   

Steve

[Deuces]

There is a working fix. Follow instructions in Message 423.

Worked for me. Good luck.

[Deuces]

For instructions on installing the ADB Tools program and opening a Command prompt window, please follw this link: https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/

Also, in the last step, instead of putting in "adb shell wm overscan 0,0,0,30", put a 20 or 15 at the end instead of the 30. It still worked for me, but since I used "adb shell wm overscan 0,0,0,15" the shift upwards was half that of the 30, meaning less wasted space at the bottom of the screen, and still workes flawlessly. Do not go lower than 15!

[PaulSA]

I'm putting my hand up as another highly frustrated Sony Z3 Compact owner.  First the notification bar functionality went, then the bottom navigation, that's when I switched to glove mode.  Now (as of this week) there is a dead zone across the middle of the screen, about 2/3 of the way down, right where the suggested words row is when typing.  This cuts out essential functionality from certain apps that I use regularly too.

Thank you to everyone for the workaround suggestions, but this isnt going to solve this latest problem.  Still, your support is way better than the offical Sony support - you should send them an invoice for your time!

Sony, I've read multiple forums on your own website with countless customers complaining about this issue and going back to October 2015, which is about the time that I bought my phone.  If you knew about this problem then, why didn't you do a recall while your customers still had the option of a warranty??  It seems like these phones get about two years into their use and the issue surfaces.  My phone cost what I consider to be a lot of money - enough to justify insuring it.  I expect more than 2 years of use out of it.

Furthermore, your responses have been nothing short of pathetic.  How about actually acknowledging that you've messed up and correcting the issue.  It can't be a coincidence that all of these people are experience the exact same problem.  Instead all you've managed to do is annoy all of these customers by suggesting that they take it for repairs, where they will have to pay for the pleasure of fixing your mistakes.  Talk about poking the bear. 

I am going to look for a new phone now and it will not be a Sony, which is a pity, because I actually liked my phone before the hassles and was going to get another Sony for my next upgrade.  I will also be telling as many people as I can to not to buy your phones, and I will avoid buying any Sony product from now.  It just so happens, I will also be looking for a TV soon...lucky LG.  And, as a photographer, I won't be going anywhere near your cameras.  This is not due to the fact that my phone has broken (I get it, technology is not perfect), but purely because your response and support for the issue has been so dismal!