OnePlus 5 911 Rebooting Issue: Company Explains What Caused The Bug

OnePlus has already sent out a software update to fix the 911 rebooting bug of the OnePlus 5. The company also took time to explain what caused the issue in the first place, stating that it was due to a "cellular modem memory usage problem."

“The source of this issue was related to a modem memory usage issue that triggered a reboot,” OnePlus explained on its official forums page. “This reboot was a random occurrence for some users on VoLTE network where OTDOA protocol was triggered when placing an emergency call.”

OTDOA, or Observed Time Difference of Arrival, is a protocol that uses cell towers to measure the time it takes for an LTE signal to reach a tower to determine a phone’s location, as explained by Android Authority. This helps respondents determine the user’s location as they make an emergency call. The OTDOA protocol is only triggered if it’s supported by an emergency number.

READ: OnePlus 5 Users Report Bug That Automatically Reboots The Phone When Calling 911​

The OnePlus 5 911 rebooting problem is caused by a memory bug that’s triggered when OTDOA information is being obtained and sent out. The problem wasn’t just the software that’s running on the OnePlus 5, but it’s also how the device’s cellular modem makes contact with the firmware.

This 911 rebooting bug on the OnePlus 5 is not affecting all users. This is because not all emergency numbers support the OTDOA protocol. Also, the 911 bug will only occur when users are calling an emergency number while connected to a VoLTE network.

“To clarify, this occurred only on some OnePlus 5 devices, in random instances under the circumstances described above,” OnePlus said. “Starting last Friday, we rolled out a software update that resolved this issue.”

OnePlus started rolling out the OxygenOS 4.5.6 over-the-air update last Friday that included the hot fix for the OnePlus 5’s rebooting bug. For OnePlus 5 users who haven’t received the update yet, they should simply wait for it to arrive since OnePlus is in the process of rolling out.

Users should receive a notification if the OxygenOS 4.5.6 update is available for their OnePlus 5 units. Since this 911 bug is a serious issue, which could also end up being life threatening, users are advised to immediately update their phones once the OTA update reaches them.

OnePlus says that it worked alongside Qualcomm to resolve the issue globally. Qualcomm is the provider of the OnePlus 5’s modem and is mostly known for its Snapdragon processors, which the OP5 is also using.

READ: OnePlus 5 Specs Beat iPhone 7 Camera But Not Galaxy S8 In DxOMark Review​

The XDA Developers site also pointed out that people have also begun complaining about a similar issue with their phones from multiple OEMs on Reddit. It’s possible that Qualcomm’s modems are the issue, but it’s too early to tell.

In OnePlus-related news, users of older OnePlus devices are complaining that the company keeps pushing notifications to advertise the OnePlus 5. Users on Reddit suggest that these ads can easily be blocked from the Push app that’s included with Oxygen OS. However, there’s still no proof yet that this solution will work for everyone.