Zebra TC8300 troubleshooting guide: errors, faults and fixes

Short answer: Zebra treats this as a charging error: it is too cold or too hot, or charging has not completed after about eight hours. Place the cradle in a room between 0 and 40 °C and restart charging.

Likely cause

The “Charging Indicators” table in the Zebra guide gives two causes for fast flashing red: a temperature that is too low or too high, and charging that goes on without completing (usually eight hours). The troubleshooting table also cites a cradle that is too hot or too cold.

Caution: Zebra asks you to charge only when the battery and charger are within the specified temperature range, to keep the charging area free of debris, flammable materials and chemicals, and to use only Zebra-compatible batteries and chargers.

What to do

1. Check the ambient temperature around the cradle: it must stay between 0 °C and 40 °C.
2. Move the cradle away from heat sources and cold areas (loading dock, cold room).
3. Be aware that at around +37 °C, charging may stop briefly and then resume to protect the battery: this is not a fault.
4. Put the mobile computer back in the cradle and watch the light: solid orange, then solid green.
5. If the light turns solid red, see unhealthy battery.

Sources: Charging Indicators; Device Charging (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) · Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Battery Safety Guidelines (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: According to Zebra, this brief flash at power-on means the battery does not have enough charge to start up. Recharge it or replace it with a charged battery.

Likely cause

The Zebra guide associates a fast flash of the Charging/Scan light at power-on with insufficient charge to start the mobile computer.

What to do

1. Place the mobile computer in a powered cradle: it starts automatically as soon as it receives power.
2. Or replace the battery with a charged one, then press Power.
3. If the light stays off in the cradle, see the mobile computer will not charge.

Source: Charging Indicators; Powering on the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: Zebra cites four causes: damaged barcode, unsuitable scanning distance, symbology not configured, or good-read beep disabled. Check the barcode and the distance, then the scanning settings.

Likely cause

For a mobile computer that does not respond to scanning, the “Troubleshooting the Device” table lists: unreadable barcode, scanner outside the scanning range, mobile computer not programmed for this barcode type, good-read beep not enabled.

What to do

1. Check that the barcode is neither damaged nor worn off.
2. Move the mobile computer closer to or further from the barcode.
3. Check that the TC8300 supports this barcode type (Specifications chapter of the guide) and that the symbology is enabled in the scanning settings.
4. Enable the good-read beep if it has been turned off (see no beep).
5. If the scan button has been remapped, restore its function: Zebra advises against remapping the scan button.
6. A successful scan turns the Charging/Scan light green.

Depending on the configuration, the TC8300 scans with an SE965 laser or an SE4770, SE4750 (MR, DP, DPW) or SE4850 imager; it can also drive RS5100, RS6000, RS507, DS2278, DS3678, LI3678 and DS8178 external scanners.

Sources: Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Data Capture (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Status LED; Remapping a Button (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: By default, the good-read beep follows the system notification volume. If this volume is muted, so is the beep; turn up the notification volume or have the beep adjusted in DataWedge.

Likely cause

Zebra states that the good-read beep is set to the “Notifications” volume. DataWedge lets you assign it to another volume (ringer, music and media, alarms), which can be adjusted separately. The troubleshooting table also cites a disabled good-read beep.

What to do

1. Turn up the notification volume with the volume buttons or in the sound settings.
2. If the beep has been assigned to another volume in DataWedge (Ringer, Music and Media, Alarms), adjust that volume.
3. Check in DataWedge that the good-read beep is enabled.

Sources: Data Capture (opens in a new window) · Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: In Decode mode, the imager decodes the first permitted barcode it sees. Picklist mode, enabled in DataWedge or by an API command, decodes only the barcode under the crosshair or aiming dot.

Likely cause

Zebra describes two imager modes: Decode, active as long as the scan button is held or until a barcode is decoded, and Picklist, intended for when several barcodes are in the field of view.

What to do

1. Have Picklist mode enabled in the app's DataWedge profile.
2. Aim at the barcode you want with the crosshair or aiming dot.
3. Press the trigger and wait for the green light.

Source: Operational Modes (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: According to Zebra, the mobile computer was disconnected during the transfer, or the communication software is incorrectly installed or configured. Reconnect the cable, resend and, if necessary, contact your administrator.

Likely cause

For an empty or incomplete transfer, the troubleshooting table cites: disconnection during the transfer, a cable that is not properly connected, or communication software that is missing or incorrectly configured.

What to do

1. Reconnect the programming cable and resend the data.
2. Over USB, check the cable connection according to the Accessories chapter of the guide.
3. If the communication software is the cause, call on your system administrator.

When to call a technician: if the communication software is incorrectly installed or configured: the guide refers you to the system administrator.

Source: Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: On Android 13, the network list is under Settings > Network & internet > Internet, and no longer under Wi-Fi as on Android 11. Choose the network, enter the credentials and check that the status shows “Connected”.

Likely cause

The TC8300 guide covers Android 11 and Android 13, whose menus differ. The mobile computer obtains its address via DHCP; a static IP address is configured separately.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

1. Open Settings > Network & internet.
2. Tap Wi-Fi (Android 11) or Internet (Android 13): the mobile computer displays the networks in range.
3. For an open network, tap it once, or touch and hold it and choose Connect.
4. For a secured network, enter the password or credentials, then Connect; if in doubt, ask your administrator for them.
5. Check that the Wi-Fi field shows “Connected”.
6. For a static address, follow the “Configuring the Device to Use a Static IP Address” section.

Source: Connecting to a Wi-Fi Network (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: The two green lights indicate the Ethernet link speed. The 1000 light comes on or flashes at 1 Gbit/s; the 100/10 light at 100 or 10 Mbit/s.

Likely cause

On the 5-slot Ethernet cradle, each port and the side of the cradle have two green lights that come on and flash according to the data transfer rate.

Reading the lights

1. 1000 light on or flashing, 100/10 light off: link at 1 Gbit/s.
2. 100/10 light on or flashing, 1000 light off: link at 100 Mbit/s or 10 Mbit/s.
3. If no light comes on, check the cradle's power supply (Power light) and the network cable.

The Zebra guide describes what the lights mean, without a network troubleshooting procedure.

Source: Accessories: 5-Slot Ethernet Cradle (LED Indicators) (opens in a new window) – Touch Computer TC8300 Integrator Guide for Android 8.1 Oreo (MN-003403-04EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: A solid red light indicates an unhealthy battery. Open Battery Manager: a red Wear bar (wear above 80%) or the “Decommission” status indicates that the battery must be replaced.

Likely cause

Zebra distinguishes a healthy battery, which charges in orange and then turns green, from an unhealthy battery, indicated by solid red. The Battery Manager app displays wear and health status (Health): Good, Decommission (battery at the end of its useful life, to be replaced), Dead, Charge error, Over Current, Over Voltage, Below Temperature, Failure Detected or Unknown.

Caution: According to Zebra, never disassemble, crush, bend or puncture a battery; a hard drop onto a hard surface can cause it to overheat. If it leaks, avoid any contact with skin and eyes; in case of contact, rinse with water for 15 minutes and seek medical advice.

Check and then replace the battery

1. Open Battery Manager and look at the Wear bar and the Health field; tap any critical error icon to read its description.
2. For the charge level, first disconnect the mobile computer from any power source, then go to About phone > Battery Information.
3. To replace the battery, do not press the trigger, then pull the battery out of the handle: the Charging/Scan light turns red.
4. Align the new battery with the notch towards the back of the mobile computer, slide it into the handle and push until it clicks.

When to call a technician: if you suspect damage to the mobile computer or the battery: Zebra asks you to contact support for an inspection.

Sources: Charging Indicators; Battery Manager; Checking Battery Status; Replacing the Battery (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) · Battery Safety Guidelines (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: A light that is off means the mobile computer is not charging: it is not seated correctly or the cradle is not powered. If the battery stays low, Zebra also cites removing it from the cradle too soon, a cradle that is too hot or too cold, or a faulty battery.

Likely cause

The Zebra troubleshooting table gives three causes for a battery that does not charge: faulty battery, mobile computer removed from the cradle before charging finished, cradle outside the 0 to 40 °C range.

Caution: When charging over USB, Zebra asks you to connect the mobile computer only to products bearing the USB-IF logo or that have passed USB-IF compliance testing.

What to do

1. Seat the mobile computer fully in the cradle and check the cradle's power supply.
2. Let charging run to completion: from empty to 90%, allow less than four hours for the 6,700 mAh battery and less than five hours for the 7,000 mAh battery, at room temperature.
3. Keep the cradle between 0 °C and 40 °C.
4. If the battery is faulty, replace it; if the mobile computer still does not work, perform a soft reset and then a hard reset (see reset).

Sources: Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Charging Indicators; Device Charging (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) · Battery Safety Guidelines (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: Hot Swap mode only preserves data if the supercapacitor is fully charged, and RAM is only retained for about five minutes. Leave the mobile computer switched on for at least ten minutes on a charged battery before the swap, and insert the new battery quickly.

Likely cause

When the battery is removed, the TC8300 turns off the display and enters low-power mode. According to Zebra, RAM is retained for about five minutes; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth stay connected for 30 seconds. After that, Wi-Fi is disabled and then re-enabled, and Bluetooth resets on exiting Hot Swap mode. The supercapacitor recharges in about ten minutes from the main battery.

Caution: Zebra prohibits hot swapping while the mobile computer is starting up (booting).

How to hot swap successfully

1. Before the swap, let the mobile computer run for about ten minutes on a charged battery to charge the supercapacitor.
2. Remove the battery without pressing the trigger; the light turns red.
3. Insert a charged battery, notch towards the back, until it clicks: within 30 seconds to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, within five minutes to keep RAM.
4. Never swap the battery while the mobile computer is starting up.

The TC8300 Integrator Guide for Android 8.1 stated that RAM was retained for 20 minutes; the values above are those of the current reference guide.

Source: Hot Swap Mode; Device Charging; Replacing the Battery (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: The TC8300 switches off at 6% battery, sometimes earlier if scanning and the radios are used heavily. It also goes into sleep mode after a period of inactivity: check the charge, how the battery is seated and the sleep timeout.

Likely cause

The Zebra troubleshooting table gives four causes: inactivity, empty battery, incorrectly installed battery, and protective shutdown when the battery is low. Notifications appear at 15% (recharge soon) and at 10% (recharge required).

What to do

1. Recharge the mobile computer as soon as the 15% notification appears.
2. Remove and then reinstall the battery if it is not properly in place.
3. Increase the sleep timeout if necessary: on battery, it can be set to 15 s, 30 s, 1, 2, 5, 10 or 30 minutes.
4. Turn off unused radios to save battery.

Sources: Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Low Battery Notification; Battery Management (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: As on the mobile computer, fast flashing red indicates a charging error (excessive temperature or duration) and solid red an unhealthy battery. A light that is off indicates a battery that is not seated correctly or a charger that is not powered.

Likely cause

According to Zebra, the spare battery lights follow the same code on the 2-slot cradle, the 5-slot cradles with battery charger and the 4-battery charger: solid orange while charging, solid green when charging is complete.

Caution: Use only Zebra-compatible chargers and batteries; keep metal objects away from the terminals to avoid a short circuit.

What to do

1. Light off: reinsert the battery and check the charger's power supply.
2. Fast flashing red: bring the charger back to between 0 °C and 40 °C and let charging resume.
3. Solid red: the spare battery is unhealthy; replace it.
4. Solid green: the battery is charged and ready for a swap.

Sources: Accessories: Spare Battery Charging LED (opens in a new window) – Touch Computer TC8300 Integrator Guide for Android 8.1 Oreo (MN-003403-04EN) · Accessories (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Battery Safety Guidelines (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: If apps stop responding, perform a soft reset: hold Power until the menu appears, then tap Restart. If the mobile computer does not respond at all, the hard reset consists of holding Power, the trigger and the PTT button together for five seconds.

Likely cause

Zebra provides two restarts: the soft reset when an app freezes, the hard reset when the mobile computer stops responding. Neither erases data.

Caution: Zebra reserves the hard reset for a mobile computer that no longer responds.

Soft reset, then hard reset

1. Soft reset: keep your finger on Power until the menu opens.
2. Tap Restart: the mobile computer restarts.
3. Hard reset, only if the mobile computer no longer responds: hold Power, the trigger and the PTT button (programmable button on the back) at the same time for five seconds.
4. Release the buttons as soon as the mobile computer restarts.

The hard reset combination comes from the TC8300 Integrator Guide for Android 8.1. Resets that erase data are described in the Enterprise Reset entry.

Sources: Performing a Soft Reset (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Resetting the TC8300: Performing a Hard Reset (opens in a new window) – Touch Computer TC8300 Integrator Guide for Android 8.1 Oreo (MN-003403-04EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: According to Zebra, the Enterprise Reset erases user data in the /data partition and primary storage (/sdcard and emulated storage). Only the /enterprise folder and its subfolders are kept.

Likely cause

The guide distinguishes the Enterprise Reset, which keeps the /enterprise folder, from the Factory Reset. The Enterprise Reset is started from the mobile computer's settings, from a microSD card or via ADB; the Factory Reset via microSD card or ADB.

Caution: The Enterprise Reset erases the user data and primary storage of the mobile computer; the Factory Reset is even more thorough.

Before resetting

1. Back up everything that is not in the /enterprise folder.
2. Prepare the configuration files you need: Zebra asks you to provision them before the reset and restore them afterwards.
3. For the microSD or ADB methods, download the Enterprise Reset package from the Zebra Support & Downloads site.
4. Choose the method: from the mobile computer's settings, with a microSD card containing the package, or via ADB from a computer.
5. After the reset, restore the provisioned configuration files.

The step-by-step procedure for the Enterprise Reset from the settings could not be read for the TC8300.

Sources: Android Enterprise Reset (opens in a new window) · Accessories (guide's table of contents: Android Enterprise Reset, Android Factory Reset) (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: Zebra cites three causes: discharged battery, incorrectly installed battery, or system freeze. Recharge or reinstall the battery, then perform a soft reset and, if necessary, a hard reset.

Likely cause

The “Troubleshooting the Device” table links failure to start to an uncharged battery, a battery that is not properly in place or a system crash.

Caution: Zebra advises against hot swapping the battery during start-up.

What to do

1. Recharge the battery or replace it with a charged battery.
2. Remove and then reinstall the battery until it clicks, notch towards the back.
3. Press Power; when placed in a powered cradle, the mobile computer starts on its own.
4. If the system is frozen, perform a soft reset, then a hard reset if the mobile computer still does not turn on (see reset).

Sources: Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide · Powering on the Device; Hot Swap Mode (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: According to Zebra, too many files are stored or too many apps are installed. Delete unnecessary files or back them up to a computer, and uninstall the added apps you no longer need.

Likely cause

The Zebra troubleshooting table attributes this message to too many files or apps installed on the mobile computer.

What to do

1. Delete unnecessary memos and records, or back them up to the host computer.
2. Uninstall the apps you added that are no longer used (“Uninstalling an Application” section of the guide).

Source: Troubleshooting the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).

Short answer: After five incorrect entries of the PIN, password or pattern, the TC8300 imposes a 30-second wait. If you have forgotten the code, contact your system administrator.

Likely cause

On waking (Power button), the lock screen appears; depending on the setting, an upward swipe is enough or a PIN, password or pattern is requested.

What to do

1. Press Power to wake the mobile computer, then swipe up on the screen.
2. After five errors, wait 30 seconds before trying again.
3. If you have forgotten the code, contact your system administrator.

Source: Waking the Device (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (MN-004218-02EN) (official documentation).

Short answer: On “Condensation Resistant” TC8300 units, the back cover contains a desiccant pack that absorbs moisture. Zebra asks you to replace it every five months by changing the complete back cover, which is supplied vacuum-packed.

Likely cause

The desiccant is part of the back cover: replacing the cover amounts to replacing the desiccant. Once the packaging is opened, the desiccant is exposed to the air.

Caution: Do not open the packaging before the step indicated, and fit the cover immediately after opening, as the desiccant is exposed to the air.

Replacing the back cover

1. Remove the six screws that hold the back cover.
2. Lift off the back cover.
3. Only now open the vacuum packaging of the new cover, using scissors.
4. Take out the new cover and align it with the mobile computer.
5. Secure it with the six screws, tightened to 4.5 ± 0.2 kgf·cm.

Applies only to the Condensation Resistant configurations of the TC8300.

Source: Condensation Resistant Rear Bezel Replacement (opens in a new window) – TC8300 Touch Computer Product Reference Guide (official documentation).