Z3C Inconsistent Auto Rotate

[Void_Incarnate]

Hi,

I've had my Z3c for just under two weeks, and loving it, but suddenly the auto-rotate is not working consistently.

The phone will instantly auto-rotate in landscape I rotate it so the power button is facing the ground, but fails to rotate into portrait mode or if I have it rotated so the power button is facing the sky. Sometimes shaking the phone will place it in the correct orientation, but not always. The phone also used to automatically rotate if I docked it with the magnetic charging dock, but now does so very inconsistently.

I've tried booting it in safe mode, and the problem persists.

Phone: Z3 Compact (D5803)

OS: Android 5.1.1

Should I send it in for service/repair, or is there something else I should try first?

Many thanks,

Steven.

[Rickard]

Sorry to hear that.

I don't think it should be able to cause this but go to Settings -> Display -> Screen rotation and check if "Smart screen rotation" is on. If so, try turning it off.

[Void_Incarnate]

Thanks Rickard,

Thank you for the suggestion about smart screen rotation. I had tried toggling it on and off previously to see if it made a difference, and it doesn't.

I've also tested the auto-rotation in various apps, and also using the simple hom screen instead of the xperia home screen; the phone still prefers to rotate when held in upside down landscape rather than any other configuration.

I'm thinking the position sensors either need calibration or are busted.

[Void_Incarnate]

OK, just got off the, uh, window with Sony chat Support.

Steps they suggested I try:

 1. Toggle Auto-rotate on/off and do a force shutdown (using force shutdown button next to sim card) - didn't work

 2. Perform a PC Software repair - going to try this after work.

Wish me luck!

[Void_Incarnate]

Tried the *#*#7378423#*#* secret menu to check out the gyroscope and accelerometer.

Gyroscope is working fine.

Accelerometer works too, but seems to be biased to lower left hand corner in portrait mode.

Not sure if this is the problem, as orientating the phone to give pure "down" vector doesn't trigger auto-rotation reliably, either.

[Uliwooly]

@Void_Incarnate

What was the outcome after PCC?

[Void_Incarnate]

At work, so can't test PC reset.

Will try it when I get home from work.

[Void_Incarnate]

OK, just completed PC system reset.

Not real change, sadly.

The diagnostics and secret menu all show the accelerometers and gyroscope are working, I think my issue could be fixed if only there were some way to calibrate the sensors.

[Uliwooly]

@Void_Incarnate

Contact your Local support ASAP

[Void_Incarnate]

Thanks for the tip uliwooly.

I have contacted technical support, and they are sending me RMA instructions.

Fingers crossed.