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7 problems with the BlackBerry Priv and how to fix them
August 06, 2025
BlackBerry has certainly been witness to better days, but fans of the once iconic brand had something to get excited about when the company announced its first Android smartphone last year. TheBlackBerry Privoffers specifications that are at par with high-end competition, and the slew of BlackBerry features that are baked in to the software experience not only serve to evoke a sense of nostalgia, but actually prove to once again be very useful. The Priv may not be perfect, but is a fantastic first attempt, and definitely provides reason for us to be excited about what is in store.
As is the case with most current generation smartphones and tablets however, the BlackBerry Priv is not without its issues. Which is why we’ve rounded up some of the common problems faced by Priv owners, and offer potential solutions on how to fix them!
Problem #1 – Security update results in error screen on reboot
BlackBerry has been sending out OTA security updates monthly, but users have found that following the December update, the device lands on an error page after reboot, and continuous attempts at restarting the phone leads to the same error. Even more users have faced this problem following the January security updates.
Potential solutions:
Problem #2 – Top left of the display stops responding to touch
Many users have found that the top left of the screen stops responding to touch, making certain icons or the back arrow in apps unusable.
Problem #3 – SIM card errors
Many users have found the “No SIM card” error to pop up intermittently multiple times during the day. Some users have also found a “New SIM detected” message to come up instead, with this requiring a reboot before the device recognizes the SIM again. There seems to be multiple hardware and software related issues that are causing this problem.
Problem #4 – Camera cannot focus
Some users have found that their device camera now seems to be out of focus all of a sudden.
Problem #5 – SMS/MMS issues with Priv on AT&T
A known issue for BlackBerry Priv owners using the AT&T network is troubles with sending/receiving group messages or photos.
Problem #6 – Battery Edge not working
Battery Edge is a light bar that shows up on the right side of the display when the device is charging to show you the charging status at a glance, changing status from red, to yellow, and to green. Some users have found this feature not to be working.
Problem #7 – Connectivity issues
As is the case with any new device, you may find yourself facing some connectivity issues with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi issues
Bluetooth issues
Guides – Soft reset, boot into Safe Mode
Soft reset
Booting into Safe Mode
So there you have it for this roundup of some of the common problems faced by BlackBerry Priv owners. If you have come across any other issues, don’t forget to mention them in the comments section below, and we will continue to update this article as and when any solutions are available.
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If you are interested in the BlackBerry Priv, don’t let these issues turn you away. Most of these can be solved with future software updates, and if you love what BlackBerry has to offer on the software side of things, the Priv is definitely a great choice.
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