USB stopped communicating

Help Fairphone 5
1

I have a FP5 since sept 2023, which worked very well. Since a couple of months the USB functions less and less.

Android Auto is not functioning for some months now.

Today I discovered no file-transfer is possible.

Communication to a USB Flir device (heat IR pictures) functioned shortly a month ago, but not later.

From Settings searching for USB preferences I get a fully grayed-out screen with no option to select any option.

USB controlled by shows open selects for both options,

USB use for shows ‘No datatransfer’.

How do I change these settings, so I can use USB again?

2

Welcome to the community forum.

Since you listed different use cases, I suspect different cables gave the same result already?

And just to rule it out as an issue, I would advise to carefully clean lint or dirt out of the port, if there is any.

3

Hello and welcome to the forum

It might be a faulty port as well.

As I have had some - similar issues with my USB port, I did some troubleshooting (internal testing tools) and submitted the ticket via self-repair portal - I couldn’t find anything specific to the usb c port since charging worked fine, so I chose the path with headphones not working via adapter which was also correct in my case.

I got an almost automatic offer to send my phone for repair. I decided to purchase a spare one and see if that helps. Will report the outcome.

4

For Android Auto I use a USB-C/C cable, for connection to the PC I use a USB-A/C cable, for the Flir device there is a direct connection. Charging functions still good all the time.

I am wondering why the USB preferences can not be altered.

5

USB contacts are designed so that when disconnecting, the data connection gets severed first, the power connection last, and vice versa when connecting.
It is entirely possible for lint or dirt to hamper a connection just enough so that a power connection is there but a data connection is not, in which case charging would work, but data connection options wouldn’t be available.

6

hi
reporting as promised that I solved my issues by swapping the USB C port

7

Great forum that gives unexpected answers!

This week I ordered a new USB port. The replacement was simple and well described (take care to look for the video description for the FP5 - the description for the FP6 is really different!). All tested functions work again now.

That still leaves the question: Why can I not change the USB preferences/use/etc?

8

I noticed similar symptoms last week on my Fairphone 5 (with /e/OS), while trying to use a brand new Yubikey. While it worked perfectly with NFC, or on a USB-C port of my computer, it never worked properly on my Fairphone’s USB port. Either the LED flash one time for less that a second, or the LED blinks for 4 series of 4 flashes, which looks a lot like an error code to me.

While trying to understand what was wrong, I ended up concluding that the Yubikey is fine, but the Fairphone is not. I noticed that USB tethering is not working anymore (despite it working a few months ago). And it seem to be working weird when connected to computers : sometime it works fine, sometime it goes like charging-unplugged-charging-unplugged-charging-unplugged in a very fast succession for like 3 seconds, then stops detecting the computer and does not charge.

The USB port itself seemed OK to me, but I performed a thorough cleanup, which did not solve anything. Reading some topics here, I purchased a new USB port and swapped the old one with a new one. Nothing changed.

At this point, I don’t have any idea on how to fix the issue. I’m reluctant to call for Fairphone’s support because I have had a bad experience with it, but if this a hardware problem, I might not have a choice. Any idea ?

9

This most likely indicates a USB system error or hardware issue on the FP5. Since the USB settings are inactive, a full reboot, then a safe mode check or system refresh is required to restore proper USB data transfer mode.