Everyday Issues with Android and How to Solve Them on Your Own

Android has made significant improvements to its operating system, introducing a host of exciting features such as a redesigned notification drawer, enhanced privacy controls, and a fresh new design, among others.

Nevertheless, Android is not immune to issues. These can range from excessive battery draining to system crashes and freezes.

Don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I’ve put together a handy list of common Android issues and their solutions so you can fix them yourself without having to go to a repair shop.

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Apps Acting Up? Here’s the Solution

Have you noticed that some of your apps are misbehaving after updating to Android 12? It can be frustrating when they start closing unexpectedly or freezing. Luckily, there’s a simple fix: just clear the app’s cache.

Hey there! I’m here to help you with a quick fix for your app-related troubles. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be good to go!

First, let’s make sure you have the latest version of the app. Open up the Play Store and update it if needed.

Next, head over to your device’s settings. Look for the app you’re having trouble with, like Gmail for example. You can use the search bar to find it easily.

Once you’ve found the app, click on its settings. From there, go to “Storage and cache,” and hit “Clear cache.” This should clear out any temporary files that might be causing issues.

If that doesn’t do the trick, don’t worry. You can try clearing the app’s storage instead. In the app’s settings, go back to “Storage and cache,” but this time, choose “Clear storage.” Just keep in mind that this will delete any data stored on your device that hasn’t been backed up or synced to the cloud.

If the problem persists, no need to panic. Just repeat the steps we mentioned earlier, restart your device, and give the app another shot. This should hopefully fix the issue once and for all.

And there you have it! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be able to tackle those pesky app problems in no time.

Now, let’s address another common concern: battery drainage.

Have you noticed your phone’s battery draining faster after updating to Android 12? You’re not alone. Many people have experienced this issue, and while it might be a software problem, there are steps you can take to improve, if not completely fix, your smartphone’s battery life. I’m here to help you with that!

In order to optimize your phone’s battery life and ensure it lasts longer, follow these simple steps:

1. First, open the Settings menu and navigate to Battery and then Adaptive preferences.
2. Next, enable both the Adaptive Battery and Adaptive charging options. This will allow your phone to intelligently manage its battery usage.

In addition to these settings, it’s important to keep an eye on the apps that are draining your battery in the background. By limiting their background battery usage, you can further extend your phone’s battery life. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go back to the Settings menu and select Battery and then Battery usage. This will display a list of apps and their battery consumption.

To optimize your battery usage on Android, follow these steps:

1. Click on the apps that are using an unusual amount of battery. Select “Optimized” if you use those apps frequently, or choose “Restricted” if you rarely use them. This will improve your battery life.
2. If you want to further improve your battery life, you can disable the always-on display feature. This feature shows the time and notifications on your locked screen, but it can drain your battery. To disable it, follow these steps:
3. Go to your device’s settings.
4. Find the Display settings and open it.
5. Look for the “Always-on display” option and tap on it.
6. Toggle the switch to turn off the always-on display.

1. First, open your phone’s Settings and navigate to Display and then Lock screen.
2. Next, turn off the option that says Always show time and info. You can also disable features like Tap to check phone, Lift to check phone, and Wake screen for notifications.

If you can’t find the Always show time and info setting on your device, simply search for “always on” in the Settings and disable the Always On Display option.

Can’t answer calls?

Some people have experienced issues with the Phone app on Android 12. It may not work properly when you receive a call, making it difficult to answer. The phone won’t respond to your taps or touches, preventing you from picking up the call. Wondering how to fix it?

Can’t Get Do Not Disturb to Work

I’ve been hearing from some folks who are having trouble with Do Not Disturb (DND) on their phones. They’re finding that even though they should be in DND mode, they’re still getting certain alerts and notifications. If you’re experiencing this issue, don’t worry—I’ve got a few suggestions that might help you out:

1. First things first, let’s take a look at your DND settings in the Settings app. Double-check to make sure you’ve disabled all the alerts and notifications that you don’t want to see.
2. If that doesn’t do the trick, try this: turn off DND, give your phone a quick restart, and then turn DND back on. Sometimes a little reboot is all it takes to straighten things out. Take a look at this handy screenshot for reference:

1. Open the Discord app on your phone.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Go to “Settings”.
4. Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility”.
5. Disable the “Accessibility Service” toggle switch.
6. Restart your phone.
7. Open the Discord app again and check if the freezing issue is resolved.

If you are still experiencing the problem, you can try clearing the app cache or reinstalling Discord. You can also report the issue to Discord support for further assistance.

I know it can be frustrating when your phone keeps crashing, especially when you’re trying to use Discord. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Here’s what you can do to fix the issue:

1. Hey, open up Discord and head over to User Settings > Accessibility.
2. Now, turn off the switch for Play animated emoji. Alternatively, you can disable all motion in Discord by toggling on Enable Reduced Motion on this screen.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, take a look at the Apps closing or hanging up section above.

Can’t get Google Assistant Routines to work?

A few folks mentioned that their Google Assistant Routines aren’t working properly after updating to Android 12.

It looks like the new Android version is causing some hiccups with Google Assistant’s alarm routine, or maybe it’s an issue with how Google Assistant works with Android 12’s APIs.

So, how can you fix it?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a solution for this problem. At first, it was believed that an update in November would fix it. Then, in January 2022, some users reported that the issue was briefly resolved after the monthly update, but it came back again.

So, you’ll just have to wait for an update to take care of this problem.

Media stopping unexpectedly

A few users have experienced media, like audio and video, unexpectedly stopping while playing. While there isn’t a guaranteed solution, you can try these steps:

1. First, go to the Play Store and make sure you update the app.
2. Now, navigate to Settings and search for the app you’re having trouble with, like Gmail.
3. Once you’ve found the app, tap on its settings and select either Optimised or Unrestricted under Battery.

If you’ve followed these steps and the issue still persists, take a look at the section above about apps closing or hanging up.

I hope this guide has been helpful in resolving the problems on your device.

If these steps didn’t fix the issue, you can contact Android Help at Google Support. Alternatively, you can visit your device manufacturer’s support portal and report the problem. Here’s a list of help pages for different manufacturers.