Helix 12 Screen lock issue RESOLVE

If your Helix screen is lock when you first turn on and it stay on with the humingbird logo, try UNPLUGGING the unit from the back and plug it back in.
Turning the power off at the main battery switch (batteries kill switch) does not work. I hope this help if you have issue similar to mine.

Mine will randomly freeze up and need reboot always at the worst time , wish it would quit that

Are you saying there is still power in the wires. LOL

No. He’s saying there is an intermittent contact issue in the plug that causes a low voltage issue upon startup. He doesn’t know that is what he’s having, he only knows that by removing the plug, and plugging it back in…it works.

He might try cleaning the plug and putting some dielectric grease in the plug for a more lasting fix to the issue.

Good to know. I have 2 new (March) Helix 12’s. One has done that a couple of times. I will try the dielectric grease.
The most frustrating thing about my Console unit is it won’t stay on one screen. It automatically flips back to the Map after a couple of minutes. Hummingbird says it may be a damaged transducer? but I don’t think so. Anybody had similar Issue with their unit?

Most of those issues are caused by bad connections with the plugs. Carefully tweaking the pins can help sometimes but you have to be careful or you can break one and then you have to get a new cable or transducer.

I’ve had that problem before and did same, but friend has one that’s stuck on chart no DI or sonar it’s on the bow what’s up with that anybody?

Turn it on. After it starts all the way up press and release the power switch. That will bring up the menu for light and background and you'll see an option for "sonar off/on" Make sure it's set to on.

Thanks that did it!! You get extra credit

It's pretty handy if your console graph interferes with the bow graph when your fishing. You can just shut the sonar off without having to turn the unit off and on constantly.

Okay - I cleaned the connection with electronic cleaner and apply dielectric grease to the connection. The unit is still freezing up at mid day. I contact Humminbird and was told to re-set to unit to factory default and remove sd card and clean to contact on the SD card. I will try to run the unit without the backup SD card ( leaving my map card in). Hopeful this will fix the issue.

Is your unit fine at the start of the day? Is your issue starting later in the day? If it is fine until midday or so, it sounds like a low voltage issue. Humminbird units are notorious for being very sensitive to low voltage. Be sure to check your voltage when you start having problems. Rebooting will usually work temporarily when the voltage is too low but the issue will return. I've had the same issues with my Solix units until I added a battery dedicated to just my electronics. If your unit is wired directly to the battery, cutting off the main switch will not work since there is still power to the unit.
If it is not a low voltage issue, it could be the pins on the power cable are not making good contact. You can bend one of the pins SLIGHTLY so it makes better contact. Do NOT bend it too much.