topic Xperia Z3 compact tablet Home and Open app key not working in Z Series

Xperia Z3 compact tablet Home and Open app key not working

Lotech — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:57:29 GMT

Have tried Safe Mode and support test which has not helped. Prior to this issue to touch a browser occasionally causes a re-boot.

Suggestions welcome please.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet touch and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 16:18:58 GMT

@Lotech

Do you experience the same reboots if you remove both SIM and SD cards?

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet touch and open app key not working

Lotech — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 08:02:19 GMT

This is my second reply to this post.

My tablet does not have a SIM or SD card.

Apart from the home and open app. key not working every other function is normal.

As previously mentioned the occasional reboot still occurs.

In addition occasionally a small bright flash appears from the top black boarder for no apparent reason.

Any help appreciated.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet touch and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 01:28:35 GMT

@Lotech

What if you repair the tablet with Xperia Companion, it's a long shot but it might help you narrow down the possible issues.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 07:13:22 GMT

Xperia Companion reports tablet Locked when attempting to initially use.

The backup feature is greyed out which I would like to use via USB to Win 10 PC before effecting a repair.

Tried various solutions. Am I missing the obvious.

Any help more than welcome.

Whilst I'm here can the thread title be edited?

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 05:32:19 GMT

@Lotech

at the top right corner you should see a "gears" icon, there you can edit the message (title)

could you test with a different computer and cable if possible?

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 21:37:18 GMT

Succeeded in getting the Backup feature to work for the odd file, but the majority failed suggesting I try again or restart both desktop and tablet.

Unfortunately unable to get past this point.

Any other ideas welcome please.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 22:29:07 GMT

@Lotech

You could downtload Xperifirm/flashtool and manually flash the tablet or contact your Local Support to get it inspected

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 20:32:56 GMT

In search for a simple solution I would prefer initially to opt for a factory reset.

However, whilst I will be able to save the data files I am not certain about what happens to the app/programs installed with initial purchase.

My question therefore, are these onboard app/programs all removed as a result of the reset or just as important which if any will remain? In addition it would be helpful to know which of these two senarios will affect those installed separately?

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 04:01:39 GMT

any app that you have installed in your tablet should be available with your Gmail account with any other android device (as long as the app its compatible)

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 07:41:35 GMT

Thank you Uliwooly.

As mentioned in my post my main concern is loosing all the apps that were installed when I purchased the Tablet from new, including the Android operating system.

I will have to be patient and see if the community can help from their experience.!

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

CosmicTomato — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 10:26:26 GMT

The apps which came with the phone are preinstalled and cannot be uninstalled, just as the Operating System the phone doesn't lower or get back to the earliest version that was on the phone, it remains the latest that was installed, I'd done a factory reset before, it only erased the apps that I installed from Google Play Store.

Just make sure you have a full backup for your stuff before you do it, you can use the Google cloud services, instead of the PC and companion app, since It's safer and easier anyway. Good luck.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 10:50:20 GMT

Thank you Cosmic Tomato very helpful. Can I assume same applies to my Tablet as your Smart Mobile with the same name?

Before I try the reset would you happen to know what could be causing these two keys to stop working?

Both keys respond to touch (e.g. cause vibrate and a halo behind the black border) but unfortunately the command does not initiate any activiy. To me a driver issue, but that's just a clueless observation!!

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

CosmicTomato — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:30:07 GMT

Well it'd be hard to tell what exactly is the cause, but if the factory reset fixed it, it'd mean it was an operating system issue.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 17:40:30 GMT

@Lotech

Ok, I thought you were concerned about purchased apps, if you are, don't, you should be able to access/install any app, book, movie that you have purchased as long as you have the same Gmail account with your phone.

Let us know if repairing the phone with Xperia Companion solves the issue.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 18:35:40 GMT

Thanks for the additional information.

I am talking about the installed apps which came with the initial Tablet purchase and appear as Icons on the apps page, to name a few------camera, FM radio, Gallery, Sketch etc.

So to repeat will they magically re-appear after the reset without any intervention by me.

Yes you will be the first to know if the reset via Companion goes well.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Uliwooly — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 22:36:08 GMT

@Lotech

Yeah, like @CosmicTomato stated, everything should be back to the way it was (last update) with preinstalled apps.

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

Lotech — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 21:22:34 GMT

Just attempted to backup the files using the Xperia Companion and on completion a message confirmed virtually all had failed.

What's more frustration the Companion doesn't confirm the location of the backed up files if any, so not easy to see what's missing?

Not keen to try XperiFirm/flashtool.

Anyone else have any bright ideas before I stick the Tablet in the recycle bin and see yet more of my hard earned cash waisted|

Re: Xperia Z3 compact tablet home and open app key not working

CosmicTomato — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 11:37:19 GMT

That's some rough luck, I don't trust the apps or independent backup services, I stick to Google, they have all our info and data anyway, so why not store them to their cloud and be able to access them myself, from any device. I break my devices all the time, and constantly restore all the backed up data, only using my email account for these Google apps and Drive. Google Photos for media and there's one for contacts too. Give it a go, and keep the automatic backup on, so you don't lose everything when accidents take place.