A13 ghost touch/flickering, apps opening on their own

[jcordaro]

A few weeks ago, my A13 started spontaneously opening apps and taking actions. I cleaned the screen and replaced the screen protector, but the issue got worse to the point where I couldn't do anything. After getting it into Safe mode, the problem disappeared. I reset the phone, uninstalled apps I'd added recently or don't use, made sure everything was updated, and a few days later it started again. I've had it checked at a Samsung repair center and their diagnostics showed everything is fine. Antivirus software found nothing either. They suggested it might be overheating but there's no indication of that happening.  I've only had the phone for a little over a year and don't want to replace it so soon. Any suggestions?

[Dinop43]

You may have had a bad app and when you reset you may have had a back up with that same app data in it. I'm not a expert but maybe that's a possibility. You may have to safe mode every app until you find which one it is

[userGGCC6ora9W]

My A13 5G is working fine it overheats due to use, but everything is up-to-date. Nothing seems wrong with it, so all I can say is mine has an unresponsive screen, I do get ghost touches on my phone, but they're not caused by not using the phone

[realaud]

It may be overheating at the time that happens, which makes it difficult to diagnose.  Download Good Guardians and then the thermal guardian module.  You will be able to see if you've had periods of overheating, and what may have caused it - usually high CPU usage. It doesn't keep a running graph but will show you 24 hours worth.  If you have this phenomenon again, you should go to the thermal guardian either during or right after to see what's happening.  You will see immediately if the phone is overheating, even if it doesn't feel hot.  I don't have the same phone, but I've never had a screen flicker when overheating.  Sounds more like a combination event -- overheating with a defective screen; which may show as not defective when not overheating.

[SamsungRyder · Accepted solution]

Hello, thanks for reaching out, and welcome to the Community. As @Dinop43 said, make sure you did not restore a backup of the app(s) or file(s) that may have contributed to this.

Next, test in Safe mode again (guide here: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062983/). If it behaves normally in Safe mode, there is still all application causing this, and finding it is crucial to restoring normal behavior of the A13. 

Lastly, I'd try another factory reset should Safe mode show the same things happening. Make sure to back up everything critical first (files and apps you KNOW are safe) using this guide: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00060517/, then perform the reset: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062029/

If the troubleshooting is not helpful, the phone will need to be evaluated by a certified technician. For service in the U.S., you can take the phone to a local U.S. walk-in service location again for a second diagnostic and opinion https://www.ubreakifix.com/samsung  or to ship the phone in for service, please reach out to us via one of the following options:

1. Facebook Messenger: http://m.me/samsungsupport

2. Twitter: https://twitter.com/messages/compose?recipient_id=18768513-

3. Private Message: https://bit.ly/3hzZfw8

If the PM link is not working for you, you can click on my name and send me a private message directly from my profile.

For service outside of the U.S., please use this link: https://www.samsung.com/us/common/visitlocationsite.html