So this past Friday I picked up a 32GB Wii U from the local Gamestop. Plugged it in, updated it, created my Mii thing, and that all went fine. But trying to do anything is damn near impossible. I've had it freeze doing the following things (that I remember):

Frozen browsing the Miiverse
Frozen during ZombiU (sometimes just freezes, but it once made a really high pitch screeching sound that didn't go away until I unplugged the system)
Frozen while going back to the main menu from Hulu (sits at loading screen and does nothing)
Frozen while going back to the main menu from Netflix (sits at loading screen and does nothing)

Those have all happened multiple times as well. I'm also pretty sure that it froze in the e-shop once, and once while closing Amazon Prime (but it's happened so many times that I can't remember). Is it likely that my system is defective, or are many others experiencing these problems as well? I'm not sure whether to just get a refund or wait for a possible patch to fix these issues.

Is anyone else here having these issues?

Thanks,
Z

There's already tons of posts regarding this issue. Make sure your internet connection is good, you're not unplugging it everytime it looks frozen, and it's updated to the newest firmware. ONLY unplug it if it's 'buzzing' or 'screeching'. Run every app at least once so it can get used to running them, even if you don't use it. Just run it.

Internet connection is fine and more than adequate (20mb/s). Even if it wasn't, I don't see why that would cause applications and games to freeze every other time I use them.

Sometimes (like when closing out of Hulu for example), it will just sit at the loading screen. The loading screen noise is being made, but it does nothing. I've waited over 5 minutes during that before, and it just kept "loading". No buttons will work during this, so my only option IS to unplug the system.

Really? Sounds like a serious flaw in the system then. I think I'll just take it back tomorrow and get my money back. Perhaps if and when this issue gets fixed I'll purchase one again then.

Yeah take it back to the store and try another WiiU mate mine has been working fine since launch and I use everything that the system has to offer with nil freezing and no long load times with brilliant internet speeds. I have already told alot of users on this site to just return the system and get a replacement instead of waiting for a nonexistent magic patch that might not even happen... I mean c'mon would you keep a car that constantly keeps crashing

Yeah sounds like your having a bad time with it Mine has crashed about 10 times since release date, hopefully Nintendo will sort it out, as they are gonna lose sales if they don't

Try turning up your furnace. Maybe put a space heater near your Wii U

Blankets. Lots of blankets.

Was it a new one or was it used? If it was new you can probably send it into Nintendo since you have a warrenty. If it was used I would take it back to Gamestop and exchange it for another one. I think since I got mine which was on Christmas Day I have had it freeze twice once playing FIFA 13 and another time on the Netflix loading screen.

Mine freezes but it doesn't happen regularly enough 2 cause concern ... I've learned 2 live with it. (modern technology and all that!!!)

There's like 10 or so posts about this issue, usually all from internet mishaps, or being naive. You didn't even report back that you ran all apps at least once to 'break in' the console. It's most likely it's either defective, or you didn't set it up correctly somehow. The Wii U is pretty much connected to the internet all the time, so your internet connection efficiency matters.

I can only imagine how much people hated Xbox 360 when those all 'died', while PS3 lost other OS and PSN crashed for months. Sounds like a system problem. The sad thing is, is that everyone was able to deal with these problems on those consoles, but can't when it comes to Nintendo.

Also, mb/s doesn't always mean good internet. I've had faster downloads and connection at 7mb/s than others with 18mb/s.

@scar392: i have never heard of having to 'break in' a console.

i don't remember people reacting differently to the RRoD than they do the WiiU freezing. when people spend large amounts of money for things they like them to work.

I agree to a certain extent, but to be fair, the RRoD and the WiiU freezing problems are NOT in the same arena at all. The RRoD was such a vast and crippling disaster that Microsoft extended ALL warranties on ALL 360 systems. I remember because I was there and I was affected. It was an acknowledgement on the company's part that they did something very, very wrong on their end that lead to such wide-spread bricking.

The bricking on the WiiU has mostly been confined to people not reading instructions, becoming impatient, and unplugging the system in the midst of updating sequences. The freezing issues on some consoles are annoying, yes, but the vast majority of us have seen nearly 100% of these issues cleared up by updating all firmware, changing the Miiverse settings, and not becoming impatient when the system seems to hang for a moment or two (mine does this when I hit the home button to exit from some games... give it 10 seconds and the menu pops up just fine for me). If worse comes to worst, it has also been confirmed that playing your console offline can eliminate these problems. If you are currently playing a game that doesn't really utilize the internet (I just finished Batman, for example), you may want to consider just taking your console offline for the time being, at least until we get closer to the spring patch Nintendo has promised.

In short, if your console has bricked, that sucks, and I feel for you as a past owner of a bricked 360. It's not fun. But the freezing issues can ben dealt with if you are willing to take the time to do some research. By buying the system now, you are still technically an early adopter, and problems like this happen to ALL early adopters, whether you are playing the first day of an MMO, a new console launch, a new OS, or any piece of technology. Be patient and be mature about the situation you knowingly bought yourself into. I would say the same thing about any new console/game/etc.

What are you talking about? The RRoD was a huge deal!

@rallydefault

i do not yet own a WiiU. my comments were regarding the idea of having to 'break in' a system by running the aps. also the idea that nintendo has been singled out for anger due to problems with a console.

Of course I've ran everything at least once. Miiverse, Mii Creator, E-Shop, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, the browser, etc etc etc. In terms of updating, everything has been fine. From the initial firmware update, to installing things like Netflix, that's all gone smoothly.

There's nothing really to 'set up' is there? Plug in the cords, turn it on, go through the setup, wait for the update to download and install, and you're good to go. Not complicated in the slightest.

As for the other consoles, I'm not aware of the problems specific to them. The only console I've owned since ~'94 (had an SNES back then) is a Wii (aside from Gameboys/DS, if those count, I've had all of them), and I never had any issues with that. I'm a PC gamer, so when I have issues, I can generally look at error reports, check drivers, check mod compatibility, etc. and usually determine the problem pretty easily. So it's a bit frustrating that I'm stuck sitting there with no idea what's going on.

I've been messing around with it for a few hours today, and the only issue I've had was Hulu still doesn't seem to like to go back to the dashboard after hitting 'close software'. I could try uninstalling and re-installing it (and perhaps the others as well) to see if that helps.

As was stated before, it is still pretty early on, so I'm sure Nintendo will get it patched up and try to fix these issues eventually. It's not like I don't like it, and hell, I've already preordered Monster hunter 3 Ultimate, Lego City Undercover, Walking Dead Survival Instinct, and Pikmin 3.

Is there a way to completely wipe the Wii U? As in restore it to factory settings then patch it back up? If uninstalling/re-installing apps doesn't help, if I'm able to do that I guess it couldn't hurt.

Is there a way to completely wipe the Wii U? As in restore it to factory settings then patch it back up? If uninstalling/re-installing apps doesn't help, if I'm able to do that I guess it couldn't hurt.

In options/system settings look for "format console" or something like that. It will reset it completely like brand new.

I guess I expected people to not be so surprised if some mishaps happen, even after PS3/Xbox 360. They STILL happen occasionally on those consoles. This is how technology is. It's no doubt getting better, but things take time if they are new like Wii U regardless. I'm prett sure there's at least 2 problems that iPhone in general has each year.
I think why alot of people get pissed off, is because they ask a question, and get an answer they thought already but wanted a different answer.

Wait, hang on. You don't own a WiiU but you are commenting in a thread about freezing issues on the WiiU?

...

I'm not trying to be mean, but can you see that maybe that's a bit puzzling and slightly annoying for those of us who actually do own the console and are trying to help the OP?

In 3 months i've had 3 system freezes. All of them in-game. Once with Nintendo Land and twice with Assassin's Creed. I've seemingly been quite lucky.