Fix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (2024)

Try the following steps if your phone:

  • Freezes
  • Stops responding
  • Is stuck with the screen on

After each step, restart your phone to see if it fixed the issue.

Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 8.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Restart your phone

If your phoneis frozen with the screen on, hold down the power button for about 30 seconds to restart.

Troubleshoot your phone

Check for Android updates

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Near the bottom, tap SystemFix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (1)Softwareupdate.
    • If needed,first tapAbout phone orAbout tablet.
  3. Whenthe update status appears on your screen, follow the steps.

Check storage & clear space

On most phones, you can check how much storage you have available in the Settings app. Settings can vary by phone. For more info,contact your device manufacturer.

Your phone can start having issues when less than 10% of storage is free.If you're running low on storage, learn how to free up space.

Troubleshoot apps on your phone

Check for app updates

  1. Open the Google Play Store app Fix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (2).
  2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.
  3. Tap Manage apps & devices.
  4. Under "Updates available," choose to update all apps or a specific app.

Close apps you're not using

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps Fix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (3) See all apps.
  3. Tap the appFix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (4)Force stop Fix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (5) OK.

Tip: To help identify which apps are causing problems, make a list of the apps you force stop.

Find out whether an app causes your problem

Restart in safe mode

Important:Safe mode temporarily turns off all downloaded apps.

Restarting in safe mode varies by phone. To learn how to restart a phone in safe mode,visit your manufacturer's support site.

Check if the problem goes away

Check if the problem goes away.If it does, an app is likely causing your problem. Go to the next step. If the problem doesn't go away, skip to Advanced troubleshooting.

Restart your phone normally & check apps

  1. Restart your phone.
  2. One by one, remove recently downloaded apps. Learn how to delete apps.
  3. After each removal, restart your phone normally. See whether removing that app solvedthe problem.
  4. After you remove the app thatcausedthe problem, you can add back the other apps that you removed. Learn how to reinstall apps.

Advanced troubleshooting

Consider resetting your phone to factory settings

Important: Afactory data reset will remove all data from your phone.You can restore any data stored in your Google Account, but all apps and their associated data are uninstalled. Before you perform a factory data reset, back up your phone.

Tips:

  • If your phone doesn't respond or stays blank, you can use the your phone's buttonsto trigger a factory data reset.
  • If an app that you downloaded caused the issue and you reinstall that app, the problem could come back.

Related resources

Get to know your Android phone

Learn how to use your Android device and get the most out of Google. Get step-by-step guides and instructional videos on how to set up your phone, customize your settings, and use apps.

Fix an Android device that freezes or won't respond (2024)

FAQs

Fix an Android device that freezes or won't respond? ›

You need to clear the cache: If your phone is holding too much short-term memory, you may need to clear it to improve your phone's performance. Your phone experienced physical damage: Drops, submersions, and even power surges can harm your phone's ability to operate.

Why does my phone freeze and not respond to touch? ›

You need to clear the cache: If your phone is holding too much short-term memory, you may need to clear it to improve your phone's performance. Your phone experienced physical damage: Drops, submersions, and even power surges can harm your phone's ability to operate.

What to do if my phone froze and won't turn off? ›

Restart your Android.

Press and hold the power button, and then select the option to Restart. Or, just select Power off, wait about 30 seconds, and then try turning it back on again.

How do I fix my unresponsive phone? ›

Restart your phone normally & check apps
  1. Restart your phone.
  2. One by one, remove recently downloaded apps. Learn how to delete apps.
  3. After each removal, restart your phone normally. ...
  4. After you remove the app that caused the problem, you can add back the other apps that you removed.

What to do when your phone won t let you press and frozen? ›

  1. Step 1: Press and Hold Down the Power Button.
  2. Step 2: Immediately after holding down the power button, Press and Hold Down the Volume Down button.
  3. Step 3: While still holding down the Power and Volume Down buttons wait until you see the screen light up. ...
  4. Step 4: Select the option at the top that Reboots your Phone.
May 8, 2021

How to remove device freeze? ›

10 Ways to Fix a Frozen Computer Screen
  1. Force Close Frozen Apps. The first and easiest option is to close your frozen computer programs. ...
  2. Restart File Explorer on Windows. ...
  3. Restart the Frozen Computer. ...
  4. Check Hardware. ...
  5. Check for Updates. ...
  6. Uninstall Unused Programs. ...
  7. Scan for Malware and Viruses. ...
  8. Restart PRAM or NVRAM on Macs.
Mar 7, 2024

Why is my phone in SOS mode? ›

If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn't connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks. This feature is available in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Learn about using Emergency SOS on your iPhone.

How to force restart a phone? ›

In the unlikely event that your phone becomes unresponsive, try a force reboot. To reboot the device, press and hold the Power key for 10 - 20 seconds.

How do I force restart a dead phone? ›

Press and hold the power button for a few seconds. On your screen, tap Restart , or press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds, until your phone restarts.

How do you fix a stuck Android phone? ›

1> Restart the Device: Sometimes a simple restart can fix the issue. Press and hold the power button until the device powers off, then turn it back on. 2> Boot into Safe Mode: Booting into Safe Mode can help identify if a third-party app is causing the problem.

Why is my phone not responding when I tap it? ›

Software Issues

Glitches in your phone's software can cause your touchscreen to be unresponsive. It can result from outdated system software or a recent system update. A software issue can easily be fixed by updating your phone's software and booting your device again.

Why is my phone hanging and not responding? ›

Clearing cache and data for individual apps or using the system's built-in storage cleaner can free up space, improve performance and stop hanging or lagging on your Android device. Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Storage > Clear cache or Clear data. Please be careful when clearing cache and data.

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