Question 67 of 750

Mobile OS Features and Tools →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Android Hardware Test Mode: Diagnosing Touchscreen Issues

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of mobile os features and tools. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A user reports that their Android phone's screen is flickering and the touch response is erratic after they dropped it. They have already tried a reboot. Which built-in diagnostic tool should you use to test the touchscreen and display functionality without any third-party apps?

A
Boot the device into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists.
Why wrong: Safe Mode disables third-party apps but does not provide a hardware diagnostic; it only helps determine if an app is causing the issue.
B
Open the phone dialer and enter the hardware test code (e.g., *#0*#).
Many Android manufacturers include a built-in hardware diagnostic menu accessible via secret codes, allowing you to test the touchscreen, display, and other components.
C
Enable 'Show taps' in Developer Options.
Why wrong: This setting only shows a visual indicator when you touch the screen; it does not run a diagnostic or test the display itself.
D
Perform a factory reset from Recovery Mode.
Why wrong: A factory reset is a data-destructive measure that will not fix physical hardware damage caused by a drop.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is to open the phone dialer and enter a hardware test code like *#0*#. This built-in Android diagnostic tool, often called Hardware Test Mode, bypasses the operating system to run direct, isolated tests on individual components, making it the correct choice for verifying touchscreen and display functionality after physical damage. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your knowledge of manufacturer-specific diagnostic codes versus general troubleshooting tools; a common trap is confusing this with Developer Options’ “Show taps,” which only visualizes touch input without running a systematic test. Remember that Safe Mode disables third-party apps but won’t fix hardware-level flickering, and a factory reset is unnecessarily destructive. A useful memory tip: think of the asterisk and hash as “star and pound” to unlock the hardware’s secret test menu.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

Open the phone dialer and enter the hardware test code (e.g., *#0*#).

Option B is correct because the Samsung service menu code *#0*# (or similar manufacturer-specific codes) provides a built-in hardware diagnostic suite that tests the touchscreen, display colors, and other sensors directly, without requiring any third-party apps. This is the appropriate tool for isolating a hardware issue after a physical drop, as it bypasses the OS layer to test the underlying hardware components.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Boot the device into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists.
Why it's wrong here
Safe Mode disables third-party apps but does not provide a hardware diagnostic; it only helps determine if an app is causing the issue.
✓
Open the phone dialer and enter the hardware test code (e.g., *#0*#).
Why this is correct
Many Android manufacturers include a built-in hardware diagnostic menu accessible via secret codes, allowing you to test the touchscreen, display, and other components.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable 'Show taps' in Developer Options.
Why it's wrong here
This setting only shows a visual indicator when you touch the screen; it does not run a diagnostic or test the display itself.
✗
Perform a factory reset from Recovery Mode.
Why it's wrong here
A factory reset is a data-destructive measure that will not fix physical hardware damage caused by a drop.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the distinction between software troubleshooting (Safe Mode, factory reset) and hardware diagnostics (built-in test codes), and the trap here is that candidates confuse Safe Mode's ability to disable third-party apps with a hardware test, when in fact it only rules out app conflicts.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
This setting only shows a visual indicator when you touch the screen; it does not run a diagnostic or test the display itself.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Manufacturer-specific diagnostic codes like *#0*# (Samsung) or *#*#4636#*#* (generic Android) access the device's hardware abstraction layer (HAL) directly, allowing the CPU to communicate with the touch controller and display driver IC without Android's input framework. In a real-world scenario, a drop can cause a loose flex cable or cracked digitizer—this test can reveal dead zones or color anomalies that Safe Mode or Developer Options would miss, as those operate within the normal Android input pipeline.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Mobile OS Features and Tools — This question tests Mobile OS Features and Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Open the phone dialer and enter the hardware test code (e.g., *#0*#). — Option B is correct because the Samsung service menu code *#0*# (or similar manufacturer-specific codes) provides a built-in hardware diagnostic suite that tests the touchscreen, display colors, and other sensors directly, without requiring any third-party apps. This is the appropriate tool for isolating a hardware issue after a physical drop, as it bypasses the OS layer to test the underlying hardware components.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1202

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A customer reports that their Android phone's screen is unresponsive to touch after a drop. They can still hear notifications and see the display. Which built-in tool should you use to test the touchscreen functionality without relying on third-party apps?

easy

A.Safe Mode
B.Developer Options
✓ C.Diagnostics Mode (e.g., *#0*#)
D.Factory Reset

Why C: This question tests knowledge of Android's built-in diagnostic tools. The correct answer is the 'Diagnostics' or 'Test' mode, often accessed via the dialer code or settings, which allows hardware testing without third-party apps. This is a standard feature for verifying touchscreen integrity after physical damage.

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