How to Fix the Soft Bricked Vivo S18?

Bricked phone is a serious problem, as your brick smartphone could be suffering from a soft brick or hard brick problem, and must be dealt with carefully. It is very common to see a brick smartphone these days. If you are wondering what exactly is a bricked phone, here is your answer.

A bricked phone, hard brick or soft brick, is a smartphone which refuses to start or boot all the way up the home/main screen of the Vivo S18 device. This issue is observed within most Android phones because users have a tendency to tamper with the Vivo S18 device settings, flashing new and customized ROMs and tweaking with the essential files. Playing around with the phone’s internal set-up leads to such errors, worst of them being a brick smartphone. Usually, a bricked phone does not switch on and stays frozen at the Vivo S18 device logo, a blank screen or even worse, doesn’t respond to any command, even the power on command.

If you are confused about the soft brick and hard brick problems and looking for solutions to fix your priced phone, then here is all you need to know.

Read on to find out more.

Part 1: What is the difference between soft brick and hard brick?

To begin with, let us understand the basic difference between a soft brick and hard brick issue. Both versions of a bricked phone prevent it from booting but differ in their causes and gravity of the problem.

A soft-brick problem is caused merely by a software error/crash and makes your device switch on automatically every time you manually turn it off. This phenomenon is referred to as Boot Loop. Soft bricked Android phones are not as difficult to fix as the hard bricked Android phones. It is convenient to say that a soft bricked phone only boots up half-way and not fully, whereas a hard bricked device does not switch on at all. A hard brick error is thus caused when the kernel, which is nothing but an interface for the software to communicate with the hardware, is tampered with. A hard bricked phone is not recognized by your PC when plugged in and is a serious problem. It requires troubleshooting techniques and cannot be easily fixed as the soft brick problem.

hard bricked v/s soft bricked

Hard bricked phones are a rare sight, but the soft brick is very common. Given below are ways to fix a soft brick Android phone. The techniques listed here are the best and the most efficient ways to get your phone back to its normal working conditions without losing your important data or damaging your device or its software.

Part 2: Stuck at the Boot Loop

This is the first sign of a soft bricked Android phone. Boot Loop is nothing but when your phone does not remain switched off and turns itself on automatically, and freezes at the logo screen or blank screen, every time you manually try to power it off.

Stuck at boot loop problem can be fixed by clearing your Cache partitions. These partitions are nothing but storage locations for your modem, kernels, system files, drivers and built-in Apps data.

It is advisable to clear Cache partitions regularly to keep your phone free from such glitches.

Since the phone refuses to boot, Cache can be cleared from entering into the Recovery Mode. Different Android devices have different ways to put it in recovery mode. Normally pressing the power key and volume down key helps, but you may refer to your phone’s guide for better understanding and then follow the steps given below to clear the cache partition:

Once you are the recovery mode screen, you will see a number of options as shown in the screenshot.

Use the volume down key to scroll down and select ”Wipe cache partition” as shown below.

After the process is completed, select “Reboot System” which is the first option in the recovery mode screen.

This method will help you erase all the clogged up and unwanted files. You may loose some App related data, but that is a small price to pay to fix your bricked phone.

If this method does not boot up your brick smartphone and the problem still persists, there are two more things you can try. Read ahead to find out about them.

Part 3: Booting straight into recovery mode

If your bricked phone does not boot up to your Home Screen or Lock screen and instead boots directly into Recovery Mode, there is not much left to do. Booting straight into recovery mode is undoubtedly a soft brick error but it also indicates a possible problem with your current ROM. The only option you have to flash a new ROM to reboot your bricked phone back to its normal functioning.

To flash a new ROM:

Firstly, you must root your phone and unlock the Bootloader. Every phone’s mechanism to unlock the bootloader is different, thus, we suggest to refer to your user manual.

Once the Bootloader is unlocked, take a backup of all your data by selecting “Backup” or “Android” back in recovery mode. The process should not take long and all you need to do is tap “OK” to config backup.

In this step, download a ROM of your choice and store it in your SD Card. Insert the SD Card in your phone to begin the flashing process.

Once at the recovery mode, select “Install Zip from SD Card” from the options.

Scroll down using the volume key and use the power key to select the downloaded ROM.

This might take a few minutes of your time, but once the process is complete, reboot your phone.

Hopefully, your bricked phone will not boot normally and work smoothly.

Part 4: Booting straight into Bootloader

If your bricked phone boots straight into Bootloader, then this a serious issue and must not be taken lightly. Flashing a new ROM or clearing cache partitions are of little help in such a brick smartphone situation. Booting straight into Bootloader is a peculiar soft bricked Android phone feature and can be tackled only by downloading and flashing your original ROM from the manufacturer. In order to do so, a detailed study about your manufacturer’s ROM, ways to download and flash must be carried out. Since different Android phones come with different types of ROMs, it difficult to cover all the aspects about the different types of ROMs.

Brick smartphone problem has become more prominent than phone freezing or hanging issue. Android users are often seen looking for solutions to fix their soft brick and hard brick phones. Android phones are prone to get bricked and thus, it is important for us to know about the three techniques given above. These methods have been tried, tested and recommended by ay affected bricked phone users. Therefore, these tips are reliable and worth a try. So if your phone acts stubborn and refuses to boot normally, examine the problem carefully and adopt one of the solutions given above which best suits your situation.

Full Guide: How To Fix Connection Is Not Private on Vivo S18

Are you encountering the “your connection is not private” issue on your phone? We found many Android users have increasingly expressed their frustrations with this recurring problem while browsing on the internet.

Usually, you can just reload the page to fix the error. But in case it doesn’t help, you may need to look for more advanced solutions. In the following discussion, we will delve into why this “your connection is not private” on Android happens and explore solutions that work for you.

Part 1: Addressing Your Connection Is Not Private on Android

First of all, what does “your connection is not private” on Android mean? To answer this question, it’s essential to understand that this error is often associated with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol issues.

SSL is a cryptographic protocol created to establish a secure communication channel over the internet. Its primary purpose is to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data exchanged between a user’s device and a website’s server.

The error message appears when there’s a problem with the SSL/TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificate of the website you are trying to access. This certificate is a digital document that authenticates the website and encrypts the data transmitted between the user’s device and the server.

Some common factors that could trigger the “your connection is not private” on Chrome Android error:

Expired or invalid SSL certificate of the website;

Certificates are issued for a specific period, and if the website owner fails to renew it in time, your browser will detect it as not secure.

There is a mismatch between the domain on the certificate and the actual domain you are trying to visit;

This discrepancy might occur due to a misconfiguration on the website or, in some cases, due to a man-in-the-middle attack where a third party intercepts the communication between your device and the server.

No HTTPS enforcement;

Another reason for the issue is if the installed SSL certificate doesn’t turn on the “force HTTPS” option. This means visitors might be using the non-secure HTTP version of the site instead of the safe URL.

So, the error serves as a warning to users, indicating that the connection may not be secure and sensitive information could be at risk.

Browsers, including those on Android devices, prioritize user safety and privacy. They will block access to potentially compromised websites to prevent data theft or unauthorized access. That’s why when you get the “your connection is not private” message on Android, you can’t access the website.

Part 2: What The Error Codes in “Your Connection Is Not Private” Mean

When “your connection is not private” on Chrome Android error shows up, it often comes along with specific error codes that can indicate the root cause of the issue. Understanding these error codes is crucial for troubleshooting and resolving the problem effectively.

ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY: Unsupported Symantec-issued certificate

This error code indicates that the website you are attempting to access is equipped with an unsupported Symantec-issued certificate. Symantec, a prominent Certificate Authority, had faced concerns about the security of its certificate issuance processes.

As a result, major browsers, including Google Chrome, no longer support certificates issued by Symantec. If you encounter this error, it implies that the website’s SSL certificate is outdated and needs to be updated with a certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority.

NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID: Unauthenticated SSL certificate

The presence of this error code suggests that the SSL certificate of the website cannot be authenticated by your browser. This could occur if the certificate is self-signed or issued by an unrecognized Certificate Authority.

NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID: Date and time mismatch

This error code points to a discrepancy between your Vivo S18’s date and time settings and the information on the website’s SSL certificate, as they have expiration dates. If the date and time settings on your device are incorrect, it may prevent the certificate from being validated. Correcting your device’s date and time settings should resolve this issue.

SSL certificate error: Generic or unspecified problem

This is a more generic error message that indicates a problem with the website’s SSL certificate without specifying the exact nature of the issue. It could indicate various issues, such as an expired certificate, a misconfiguration in the certificate chain, or other SSL-related problems.

Part 3: How To Fix Your Connection Is Not Private on Android

Encountering the “your connection is not private” error on Android can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, there are various methods to address and fix this issue, depending on its underlying cause.

In this section, we will explore some effective solutions to help you regain a secure and private connection.

Method 1: Clear your cache

When you use the internet, web browsers store information about your online activities in cached data and cookies to speed things up. However, having too much of this data can cause problems instead. It might even stop your browser from connecting securely.

So, clearing your browser cache and data can be a quick and simple “your connection is not private” Android fix. Follow the steps here:

Step 1: Open and launch Chrome.
Step 2: Access the Menu (the three dots button) to open the Settings. Select Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.
Step 3: Opt for the “All Time” option and click “Clear Data” to erase your cache.

After successfully clearing your browser cache and data, revisit the website to check if the problem persists.

Method 2: Repair the Android system

Addressing the “your connection is not private” to fix on Android involves examining both the Vivo S18 device and the website. If clearing browser data doesn’t help, there might be an issue with your Android system. One solution is to use the Wondershare Dr.Fone system repair tool to fix the issues safely.

How to perform system repair with Dr.Fone:

Step 1. Open the Repair Tool

Start by launching Wondershare Dr.Fone on your computer. Go to the Toolbox section and connect your Vivo S18. Choose System Repair and pick Android as your device type.

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Step 2. Begin Repair

Click Start on the new screen to kick off the repair. Since you’re dealing with a connection private issue on Android, select System Damage.

Step 3. Fill in the Vivo S18 device Details

The platform will detect your Vivo S18’s brand. Confirm the Name, Model, Country, and Carrier. If your device is unlocked, choose OPEN in the Carrier section. Agree to the warning, click Next, and proceed with the repair.

Step 4. Activate Download Mode

Follow the instructions to put your Vivo S18 into Download Mode. Once in Download Mode, you will start downloading the firmware.

Step 5. Confirm Installation

Remember, the repair may erase data. It’s advisable to back up your data first before starting the repair. Enter “000000” to confirm the repair process, shown by a progress bar.

When done, click Done if your Android starts properly. If not, click Try Again to repeat the process.

Method 3: Check and fix the date and time on your Android

Since the error code “NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID” indicates a mismatch between the date and time on your device and your browser, you need to adjust the date and time settings on your Android to fix it.

The specific steps can vary based on your Android model, but the general approach involves locating the “date and time” settings on your phone. How to fix the date and time on Android to bypass “your connection is not private” on Chrome Android:

Step 1: Go to your Vivo S18’s Settings > Date & Time.
Step 2: Switch on the “Automatic Date & Time” to sync with the network-provided time.

Method 4: Perform factory reset

If nothing else works, there might be malware on your phone causing trouble. It’s crucial to eliminate this threat before further damage occurs. The recommended action is to perform a factory reset on your phone.

However, keep in mind that this process can result in data loss, so it’s essential to back up your data beforehand. Follow the steps to perform a factory reset on Android:

Step 1: Go to your Android Settings.
Step 2: Select Backup and Reset > Factory data reset. Then, opt to erase all data.

Most of the time, you won’t need to go to the extreme of a factory reset. The simpler solutions mentioned earlier should take care of the Security Certificate Error on your Android.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a good grasp of the “Your Connection Is Not Private” problem on Android. This issue typically arises from complications with the SSL certificate of the website, designed to ensure a secure connection.

When you see the error message, it often comes with specific codes that indicate the underlying problem. Several methods can be employed to fix the “Your Connection Is Not Private” on Android. Clearing the browser cache, repairing the Android system using tools like Dr.Fone, checking and fixing date and time settings, and performing a factory reset as a last resort are among the solutions.

By prioritizing user safety and following the step-by-step approach in this guide, you can navigate and resolve this common internet browsing challenge on your Vivo S18s.

Gmail Not Working on Vivo S18: 7 Common Problems & Fixes

Ever since Android is introduced, it has almost eliminated the need of computers to work through Gmail. Gmail carries much importance especially when you’re a working person. A lot of work is done through mails on daily basis. But maybe today is not your lucky day. Maybe Gmail is giving you a hard time today. Is it? Is your Gmail not responding or keeps stopping you from going further? Well! There is no need to be bothered anymore. We are discussing some of the general Gmail problems along with their fixes. So, if your Gmail is not working on Android, you can go through this article and find the relevant solution.

Problem 1: Gmail App not responding or keeps crashing

First and foremost, the most common situation people meet with is when there Gmail keeps crashing. Or simply, it doesn’t respond at all. When you open it, it stuck for a few seconds and then you have to close it. It seriously is an annoying issue. If your Gmail is also not responding or crashing and you aren’t able to work properly, following are the solution you can follow.

Clear Cache

The first thing you can do to fix Gmail not responding issue is to clear the cache of Gmail. This has higher chance to get the issue resolved. To do this:

Go to “Settings” and look for “Apps & Notifications”. Please note that the option may vary in some Android phone like it maybe “Application” or “App Manager”. So, don’t panic and look for the option carefully.
Now, from the apps list, search “Gmail” and tap on it.
Go to “Storage” followed by “Clear Cache”.

Restart the Vivo S18 device

Restarting the Vivo S18 device in the first place simply resolves many problems and so in the instance when Gmail keeps stopping. Simply long press the power button of your device and restart the Vivo S18 device. See of the problem gets vanished or not.

Factory Reset the Vivo S18 device

The next option that you can try is resetting your device. This will lead to data loss so we suggest you to take backup firstly and then proceed with this method.

Hit on “Settings” and search for “Backup & Reset” option.
Tap on “Reset” or “Erase all data” (the option name again may vary).

If unfortunately the above solutions don’t work, there is a requirement to flash the stock Android ROM again. Before you wonder how, there is a professional one-click tool that can surely be of assistance. It is Dr.Fone - System Repair (Android) . The tool takes special care of the Android phones and fixes almost every system issues with ease. It takes no special technical skills and performs efficiently.

Problem 2: Gmail won’t sync between all ends

The next most common problem where people get stuck with is when there Gmail won’t sync. Here are the solutions to this particular problem.

Make Space in the Phone

When Gmail stops syncing, one of the things that can save you is clearing the storage. It is the space that maybe the culprit and therefore the syncing don’t work at all. We would like to suggest you removing the unwanted apps to clear the storage or deleting the downloaded files. You can also transfer the important files to your computer and make the space vacant.

Check Gmail Sync Settings

When still the Gmail not working issue persists and you can’t sync, make sure to check the Gmal sync settings. For this, follow the steps below:

Launch the Gmail app and tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines).
Tap “Settings” and choose your account.
Check the box next to “Sync Gmail” if it’s not checked.

Restart the Vivo S18 device

Again, restarting can also be helpful in this situation. When you boot the Vivo S18 device again, check if your Gmail can sync or not.

Problem 3: Gmail won’t load

In case you are using the Gmail over your web browser and it has tested your patience in loading, here are the solutions that could prove to be fruitful for you. Please check these out.

Ensure to Use Gmail Supported Browser

First of all, you need to make sure that the browser you are using works with Gmail or not. Gmail can smoothly perform in Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. However, the browsers should be updated. So, please make sure that these browsers are running on the latest versions. Moreover, in case you use Chromebook, don’t forget to update the operating system in order to let it support Gmail.

Clear Cache of web browser

If you tried the above method but to no avail, try to clear the cache and cookies of the web browser. But by doing so, the browser history will be removed. As well as, the records of the websites you previously enjoyed will also be lost.

Check browser extensions or add-ons

If not the above one, try this tip. It encourages you to check your browser extensions. Perhaps these are interfering with the Gmail and due to this conflict, Gmail won’t load. You can either turn off these extensions and plug-ins temporarily or make use of the incognito mode of the browser where there are no such things like extensions and plug-ins.

Problem 4: Gmail can’t send or receive

Gmail also gives you problem in sending or receive mails and messages. And to troubleshoot such issue, following are the solutions mentioned.

Check the Latest Version of Gmail

This issue is likely to emerge when you are using an outdated version of Gmail. And therefore, the first solution says you to check if the Gmail update is available. You can go to the Play Store and from the “My apps & games” option, you can see if Gmail needs to be updated or not.

Verify Internet Connection

Another thing that carries weight while you can send or receive mails is the internet connection. As we all know that Gmail won’t respond if the Vivo S18 device is not connected to the internet. Therefore, you are advised to turn off Wi-Fi and then enable it again. Also, please ensure to switch to Wi-Fi if you are using the cellular data. This may hamper the process and stop you from receiving or sending mails.

Remove you Account and Add Again

If still Gmail keeps stopping you to go ahead, make sure to once sign out from it. To do this:

Open your Gmail app and go to “Manage accounts on this device”.

![Gmail crashing on Android - open gmail](https://images.wondershare.com/drfone/article/2019/04/remove-account-1.jpg)

Now, tap on the account you are working with. Tap on “REMOVE ACCOUNT” thereafter. After this, you can again sign in and then check if the problem is gone or not.

Problem 5: Stuck in sending

Now, here is another annoying problem that doesn’t let Gmail working on Android properly. This problem addresses the situation where users send a mail but it gets stuck on sending. If this is the problem that you are going through, the following solutions will help you.

Try Alternative Gmail Address

First of all, if Gmail is not working due to stuck in sending issue, we advise you to make use of some other Gmail address to send the mail. If the problem still occurs, jump to the next solution.

Check Network Connection

As already mentioned, be sure of an active internet connection while working with Gmail. When you are not using a stable connection, it may lead to stuck on sending, Gmail crashing and many other issues. You can fix the issue by doing these three things:

Most importantly, use only Wi-Fi rather than cellular data if you want a smoother process.
Turn off Wi-Fi and then turn it on again after nearly 5 seconds. Do the same with the router. Plug it out and the plug in.
Lastly, turn on Airplane mode and after a few seconds, turn it off again.

Now try to send the mail and see if things are still the same or not.

Check Attachments

Large attachments can also be the reason for this issue. We would here like to suggest you to check the attachments you are sending. If these are not so important, you can remove them and send the mail. Or if it is not possible to send the mail without attachments, compressing the files can be a solution.

Problem 6: “Account not synced” issue

Many times, the users get the error that says “Account not synced” while they try to work with Gmail. And this is the 6^th problem we are introducing. The ways mentioned below will assist to get out of the trouble.

Make Space in the Phone

When Gmail stops to further the process by prompting “Accounts not synced” issue, be sure that your Vivo S18 has some storage in it. If not, create it straight away. As we also mentioned in one of the above solutions, you can either delete the unnecessary files or transfer the important files to the PC to make the space in the phone. Go along with this tip and see if it works.

Check Gmail Sync Settings

As another solution, check Gmail sync settings to get the issue fixed.

Simply open Gmail and hit the menu icon which is three horizontal lines on the top.
Go to “Settings” and choose your account.
See the tiny box beside “Sync Gmail” and check it if it is not.

Restart the Vivo S18 device

If the above method went futile, simply restart your device. Take help of the Power button on your device. Long press it and from the options, restart it. This will hopefully work for you.

Problem 7: Gmail app running slow

The last problem that you may face is the slow-going Gmail app. In simple words, you may experience that Gmail app is operating extremely slowly. To fix this, following solutions will help you.

Restart the Phone

It is a universal method to fix minor Android system issues. And here too, we would like you to restart your Vivo S18 in the first place when you find that Gmail is not responding due to the sluggish behavior.

Clear Storage of Device

Usually all the apps start running slow when the Vivo S18 device is not having sufficient space. As the apps need space to function quickly and appropriately, having the Vivo S18 device on low storage can prove to be a bad luck for Gmail. So, make sure you wipe out the items you no longer needed on your device and create some room so that the Gmail responds nicely and won’t be running slow anymore.

Update Gmail App

As the last tip that will indeed help you is to update the Gmail app. Until you update the app when required, Gmail keeps stopping you from working and you will definitely get frustrated. Therefore, go to Play Store and look for the Gmail update. If it is available, welcome it with smile and bid farewell to the problem of slow running Gmail.

What if your problem still doesn’t get resolved after following these 3 tips? Well! If that is the case, we will again recommend you to make use of an expert one-click tool to flash the stock Android ROM.

Dr.Fone - System Repair (Android) is going to help you serving the purpose. This mighty tool possesses huge success rate and one can rely on it for its simplicity and security. It is designed to work with numerous problem related to Android system. So, no matter if your Gmail keeps crashing or keeps stopping, it has the solution for everything.

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Fix all Gmail issues caused by Android system:

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Fix Guide

How to Fix the Soft Bricked Vivo S18? | Dr.fone