1. Apps playing up
If your apps aren’t working the way they should, there are a few things you can check.
Firstly, see if there’s an update available for the problematic app. If there is, update it. But if that doesn’t do the trick, force the app to close by pressing the square button on your home screen to bring up your multi-tasking menu. Then, locate the app and swipe it away. This way when you re-open the app any corrupted data will hopefully have been wiped away.
Still hasn’t worked? It’s time to uninstall the app completely, and reinstall it.
If that doesn’t work, try getting in touch with its developer for advice. You can usually find an email address at the bottom of the app’s page in the Google Play store.
2. Slow performance
One of the main reasons a phone might slow down is because its internal storage is full. A lot of apps sneakily run in the background even when you’re no longer using them, and when storage is low, this can be a problem.
So if your phone’s speed has reduced, it might be best to start clearing storage space.
To start with, uninstall any apps you don’t need or use anymore. Once you’ve done that, look at your essential apps and potentially move them to a microSD memory card, or a cloud-based storage system.
Google Photos is perfect for your photos and videos, as it gives you free and unlimited storage. Also, try downloading CCleaner, which helps you free up space.
3. Connectivity issues
If you’re struggling to connect to your Wi-Fi or mobile network, turn on airplane mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off and try connecting again.
Sometimes this can jolt your phone into connecting, rectifying any problems it might have been experiencing.
4. Battery life problems
Is your battery feeling the drain? Again, uninstalling apps could be the solution.
Just head over to the ‘Battery’ section in your settings, and you’ll be able to see which apps are using up your power. If you don’t need any of them, uninstall.
Another trick would be to reduce your display brightness. Don’t use the auto-brightness mode as this can use up a lot of power. Instead, adjust the brightness to a suitable level (somewhere under half way is ideal).
Lastly, check whether your Android has a power saving mode. If it does, stick it on.
5. Frozen phone
Faced with a frozen device? Try holding down the power button at the same time as the volume button. This is called a hard reboot, and is sometimes enough to kick-start your device back into working.
6. Your device won’t turn on
If your device won’t even turn on – don’t panic. There are a couple of things you can try. For starters, you can try removing the battery for a few seconds and then putting it back in.
If that doesn’t solve the problem (or if your battery can’t be removed), hold down the power button for fifteen seconds.
Still no luck? Stick your phone on charge and hold the power button down for 15 seconds. And if that doesn’t work you should probably turn to a professional.
In extreme cases, you can always perform a factory reset. This wipes everything off your phone and returns it to its original state – solving almost any problem on your trusty Android. As long as you backup all of your important data before you do it, you’ll be okay.
The factory reset option can be found under ‘Backup & reset’ in your settings.
Do you have any Android problems you'd love to have fixed? Any troubleshooting pearls of wisdom of your own? Share them in the comments below.