Why is my android phone not working

Q: How do I fix an unresponsive Android phone?

On most phones, press your phones power button for about 30 seconds, or until your phone restarts. On the screen, you might need to tap Restart .

Q: What causes phone to stop working?

There are several possible reasons why your phone wont turn on, from battery failure to software issues. But most times you can narrow it down to a few common problems, including: A drained battery. Your phone may be unresponsive because the battery is dead.

Q: Why is my Android phone not loading anything?

Restart your device. If restarting doesnt work, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data: Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections. Depending on your device, these options may be different. Turn Wi-Fi off and mobile data on, and check if theres a difference.

So your Android device has chosen to take a vacation and won’t boot properly? This situation isn’t fun. Troubleshooting it is even less fun. The problem could be related to an errant app, corrupted Android OS, or bad hardware. Here are the steps you can take if your Android won’t start.

Índice Show

1. Soft Reset
2. Pull the Battery (if possible)
3. Check for Stuck Buttons
4. Remove Connected Hardware
5. Ensure Device Has Enough Power
6. Start in Safe Mode
7. Factory Hard Reset
Android problem #1 — Extremely rapid battery drain
Android problem #2 — The device doesn’t wake up when the power button is pressed
Android problem #3 — SIM card isn’t detected
Android problem #4 — Google app causing a lot of battery drain
Android problem #5 — Charging issues
Android problem #6 — Performance issues
Android problem #7 — Connectivity issues
Android problem #8 — Android Auto problems
Android problem #9 — Gesture navigation not working
Android problem #10 — Google Play Store not working
Android problem #11 — Where’s my update?
Guide — Rebooting to Safe Mode, Factory Reset
How do I fix an unresponsive Android phone?
What causes phone to stop working?
What is the reason for Android phone not starting?
Why is my Android phone not loading anything?

1. Soft Reset

Your device might need a soft reset. On most devices, you can press and hold the “Volume Down” and “Power” buttons simultaneously for about 15 seconds to soft reset.

2. Pull the Battery (if possible)

For almost any issue where an Android device won’t start, I always suggest to pull the battery (if it’s removable) first and leave it out for about 20 seconds. Reinstall the battery and see if the issue persists. This step may not seem like it would work, but I know first-hand that it has helped numerous Android users.

3. Check for Stuck Buttons

Make sure that none of the buttons are stuck pressed down. Certain cases can cause the Volume, Power, or Home buttons to stick, preventing start up. Try removing the phone from the case to ensure the case is not putting pressure on the buttons.

4. Remove Connected Hardware

If you have an SD card, SIM card, or any other items plugged into the device, unplug them. A bad SD card or headset can cause problems starting up on rare occasions.

5. Ensure Device Has Enough Power

If your device won’t turn on at all, or is stuck in a startup loop, it may not have enough power. Attach the power adapter to the device and plug it into a wall outlet. Don’t use a connection to a computer or other device as the power you’d get is not sufficient to power most Android devices on right away.

Another issue could be the actual battery. See if you can borrow a battery from a friend with a similar device and give that a try (if it’s removable). If not, you may want to purchase a new or used battery and try it out. Return the battery to the store if it doesn’t help.

6. Start in Safe Mode

If you installed software that isn’t compatible with your device or malfunctions, it can cause the system to hang at a blank screen or continually force close items. In either case, you’ll want to find out how to start your device in Safe Mode. Safe Mode will start the device with only the base software required to start the device. This will usually allow you to access the Android OS so that you can remove whatever app may be causing the issue.

Most devices start in Safe Mode by pressing and holding the “Menu” or “Volume Down” button while you power the device on. If you’re not sure how to start your particular device in Safe Mode, search the Interwebs or check the documentation provided with your Android device.

7. Factory Hard Reset

If you’ve tried all of the above steps and nothing seems to work, you may want to perform a factory hard reset on the device. Doing so will wipe all data from the memory of the device (usually not SD card data like music or photos).

There are usually ways to perform a factory hard reset using a hardware button combination before the Android OS loads. Look in your manual or search for what the button combination is for your device. They are different for nearly every device. If you’re not sure how to factory reset your device, check the documentation provided with your hardware.

8. Repair

If a none of the above steps work, there may be a hardware issue that you are unable to solve yourself. At that point, I would seek help from the manufacturer or the retail store that sold you the device. It is likely that the device has a hardware issue that cannot be repaired without extensive troubleshooting from the manufacturer.

If the name Android Authority isn’t enough of a giveaway, we are huge fans of the Android operating system here. Fanboying aside, we have to admit that Android smartphones are far from perfect, and various issues pop up from time to time. While some are device-specific, some problems are caused by the OS itself. Here are some general problems that Android users face and potential solutions on how to fix them!

Editor’s note – We will be looking at some specific problems users face with Android 12. The steps below may also differ depending on your phone’s UI. However, all general troubleshooting tips will work for other versions as well.

Android problem #1 — Extremely rapid battery drain

You’ll find users complaining about rapid battery drain with almost every smartphone. This can range from battery drain when the phone is on standby to when certain apps are proving to be a battery hog. Keep in mind that you can expect a faster than normal battery drain in some situations. These include when using the phone for navigation, taking many pictures or shooting videos, while playing games, or when setting up a phone for the first time.

Potential solutions:

For quite a few users, a third-party app ended up being the cause. To see if that’s the case for you, boot the device in Safe Mode (you can find the instructions on how to do so below). Charge the phone to a point above the discharge percentage. Wait for the battery to drain until it gets below that number again. If the phone works as expected with no early shutdown, an app is behind the issue. Remove recently installed or updated apps until the problem goes away. If you can’t figure it out manually, you may need to perform a complete factory reset.
It could also be a hardware issue for some due to the degradation of Li-ion batteries. This is more common if the phone is more than a year old or refurbished. The only option here is to contact the device manufacturer and try and get the phone repaired or the battery replaced.

Android problem #2 — The device doesn’t wake up when the power button is pressed

The “forced sleep” bug is quite common and has been a problem for numerous devices. When the screen is off, it doesn’t wake up when the power button is pressed. Instead, users have to press and hold the power button for ten seconds and force a restart.

Potential solutions:

The forced restart will fix the problem, at least temporarily. However, this isn’t a long-term solution, and only an upcoming software update will permanently fix this issue. There are some workarounds, though.
Some users have found that a screen protector, particularly of the tempered glass variety, causes the problem. Removing the screen protector helps but isn’t an ideal option.
Enabling ” Always On Display ” on some phones with this feature helps fix it.
De-activating the Active Edge feature on Pixel phones with the feature is a helpful workaround.
Some phones let you change what the power button is used for and add extra functionality, like launching the Google Assistant. This could also be an issue with the settings. Go into the device settings and ensure that everything is how it should be.

Android problem #3 — SIM card isn’t detected

The SIM card isn’t being detected by the phone. Getting a replacement SIM card doesn’t help fix the problem.

Potential solutions:

Simply rebooting the phone has worked for some users. In most cases, though, the issue seems to go away only for a few minutes.
Some users have found that activating mobile data even when on a Wi-Fi connection helps fix the problem. Of course, this solution is great only for those with a good data plan, and you will have to stay on top of data usage if the Wi-Fi connection drops. You get charged for using data, so using this workaround without a data package isn’t recommended.
There’s another workaround if you have a phone with an eSIM. Dial *#*#4636#*#* to open network settings. It might take a couple of attempts. Tap on Phone Information. In the network settings section, change the setting to one that works. Instead of trial and error, you can also find out the correct option by contacting your network carrier. If your phone supports dual SIMs, ensure that DSDS enabled is active.

Android problem #4 — Google app causing a lot of battery drain

Some users have found that the Google app is responsible for the bulk of battery usage on their devices. This is an issue that shows up quite frequently and across various phones. It seems to be an increasingly common problem with Android in recent years.

Potential solutions:

Go to Settings–>Apps & notifications and open the list of apps. Scroll down to the Google app and tap on it. Tap on “Storage & cache” and clear both.
In the previous menu, tap on “Mobile data & Wi-Fi.” You can disable “background data usage” and “unrestricted data usage” and enable “Disabled Wi-Fi” and “Disabled data usage.” This will affect app behavior, though, and the Google app and its features (like the Assistant) will not work as expected. Do these steps only if the battery drain makes the phone unusable.
This problem seems to come and go with software updates. So if you are facing this issue, an upcoming app update will likely fix it.

Android problem #5 — Charging issues

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

People face a lot of problems when it comes to the cables and chargers that come with a phone. This can range from slow charging speeds to not being able to transfer files from a PC and more.

Potential solutions:

This might just be a problem with the charging cable itself. Make sure it works by charging other phones or devices. If the cable doesn’t work with anything, you will have to get a new cable.
These issues are particularly prevalent with USB-C to USB-C cables. Some have found that using a USB-C to USB-A cable instead solves the problem. Of course, if you’re charger uses the former, you’ll need to get an alternate to use the latter type of cable with.
For quite a few users, cleaning the USB-C port seems to do the trick. Fold a business card and gently clean out the port with a sharp edge. You can also use compressed air as long as the pressure intensity isn’t too high.
An app could also be causing these issues. Boot the device in Safe Mode and see if the problem persists. If not, an app is creating the problem.
If nothing seems to work, the USB port of the phone might be damaged. The only option then is to get the device repaired or replaced.
If your phone isn’t charging as fast as it’s supposed to, it could be a compatibility issue with the charger. Many manufacturers aren’t including chargers in the box anymore. It’s still best to buy a first-party charger to get the fastest charging speeds possible. Some OEMs like OnePlus and Oppo use proprietary fast charging.

See also: The best wall chargers – A buyer’s guide

Android problem #6 — Performance issues

Adam Molina / Android Authority

If you find your phone running slowly, is laggy, or takes a long time to respond, there are a few general troubleshooting steps you can go through. A lot of the steps mentioned below can often help with battery drain issues as well. Performance and battery problems are seemingly always going to be a part of Android OS.

Simply restarting your phone often does the trick.
Make sure that the software is up to date. Go to Settings > System > Advanced > System update. Also, update all the apps you’ve downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Check your phone’s storage. You might start seeing some slowdown when the amount of free storage is less than 10%.
Check and ensure that third-party apps aren’t causing a problem by booting in Safe Mode and seeing if the problem persists.
If you find a lot of apps running in the background and causing problems with battery life and performance, you might need to force stop them. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications and open the list of apps. Find the app and then tap on “Force Stop.”
If nothing else works, performing a complete factory reset might be the only way to go.

Android problem #7 — Connectivity issues

You may occasionally come across connectivity problems with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. While some devices have specific Android problems when it comes to connectivity, below are a few general steps you can try out first.

Potential solutions:

Wi-Fi issues

Turn the device and the router off for at least ten seconds, then turn them back on and retry the connection.
Go to Settings > Power saving and ensure that this option is turned off.
Redo the Wi-Fi connection. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, long press on the connection name, and tap on “Forget.” Now re-enter the details and try again.
Make sure the Wi-Fi router firmware is up to date.
Make sure the applications and software on the device are up to date.
Go into Wi-Fi > Settings > Advanced and make a note of your device’s MAC address, then make sure that it is allowed access in the router’s MAC filter.

Bluetooth issues

With issues when connecting to the car, check the manufacturer’s manual for the device and the car and reset your connections.
Ensure that you are not missing a vital part of the connection process. Some Bluetooth devices have unique instructions.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure nothing needs changing.
Go into Settings > Bluetooth and delete all prior pairings and try setting them up again from scratch. Don’t forget to also delete any devices on this list that you no longer connect to.
When it comes to issues with multiple device connections, only a future update will be able to address this problem.

Android problem #8 — Android Auto problems

Adam Birney / Android Authority

Complaints about connectivity issues with Android Auto are extremely common, particularly with new phones.

Potential solutions:

Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and others make it very easy to set up a new phone while retaining the settings, apps, and files from the older device. However, if you use apps like OnePlus Switch or similar, it usually causes problems with Android Auto. Go to the Google Play Store, find Android Auto, uninstall it and install it again. Start the connection process from the beginning.
The Android Auto app won’t be in your app drawer anymore. Instead, it is tucked away in your Settings menu. It’s located in different places depending on your phone, so the best option is to open Settings and search for Android Auto. Make sure that the settings are the way you want.
A bad cable might be causing frequent disconnections. Use another cable to see if the problem goes away.
If you use Android Auto Wireless, you might have trouble with the car recognizing your phone the first time. Users say that setting the initial connection with a cable and then using Android Auto Wireless after seems to do the trick.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Most phones running Android come with gesture navigation. However, users complain about gesture navigation freezing, being slow, or being unresponsive.

Potential solutions:

Some users have found a simple workaround to fix this problem. Find the gesture navigation setting on your phone. On a Google phone, you can find it by going to Settings–>System–>Gesture. Change it to the three-button navigation option. Restart the phone and then switch the setting back to gesture navigation.
It might be a launcher issue, particularly if you use third-party launchers. Go to Settings–>Apps and notifications–>See all apps (the steps might be different). Find the launcher app, tap on Clear cache, and restart the phone.
A rogue app might be causing problems with gesture navigation. Boot the phone into Safe Mode (the instructions are below) and check if the issue persists. If it doesn’t, then an app is the issue. Uninstall any recently installed or updated apps. If you can’t find the culprit, you might have to perform a factory reset.

Android problem #10 — Google Play Store not working

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Android problem #11 — Where’s my update?

Android 13 is expected to arrive later this year, and while many of you have phones running Android 12, quite a few users are running Android 11 or older. Unfortunately, when you receive the next major software update is entirely up to the device maker. Check out our Android 12 update tracker to find out when your phone might get the latest software.

Apart from major software updates, it’s important to keep your phone updated with the latest security and bug-fix updates that OEMs roll out. Plenty of Android problems is often fixed with these updates.

Guide — Rebooting to Safe Mode, Factory Reset

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

We will be using the Pixel 6 as an example for the guides below. The steps might be slightly different, depending on the phone you have.

Safe Mode

If the phone is on, press and hold the power button. In the menu that opens, touch and hold the power off icon. Tap OK when a pop-up message asks for confirmation to boot into Safe Mode.
If the phone is off, press and hold the phone’s power button until the loading animation starts. When it does, press and hold the volume down button. Keep holding the volume key until the animation ends, and the phone should start in Safe Mode. Look for the Safe Mode icon at the bottom left corner to confirm.
Restart the phone when you want to exit Safe Mode.

Factory Reset

If the phone is on, Go to Settings–>System–>Advanced–>Reset options. Tap on Erase all data and then Reset phone. Tap on Erase everything to confirm.
If the phone is unresponsive or off:
- Press and hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously for ten to fifteen seconds. If the phone restarts, you might need to start over.
- Use the volume keys to navigate to Recovery mode and press the power button to confirm.
- If you see No command on the screen, press and hold the power button, then press the volume up button and release both.
- Use the volume keys to go to Wipe data/factory reset and press the power button to confirm.

That’s it for some of the most common problems Android users come across. While these solutions are somewhat generic, we have device-specific issues listed here on Android Authority as well.

How do I fix an unresponsive Android phone?

On most phones, press your phone's power button for about 30 seconds, or until your phone restarts. On the screen, you might need to tap Restart .

What causes phone to stop working?

There are several possible reasons why your phone won't turn on, from battery failure to software issues. But most times you can narrow it down to a few common problems, including: A drained battery. Your phone may be unresponsive because the battery is dead.

What is the reason for Android phone not starting?

If you see a red light, your battery is fully discharged. If the red light is flashing, there isn't enough power to turn on. Charge your phone for at least 30 minutes before restarting. If you don't see a battery icon or red light after you plug in your phone, the issue could be with your screen.

Why is my Android phone not loading anything?

Restart your device. If restarting doesn't work, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data: Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections. Depending on your device, these options may be different. Turn Wi-Fi off and mobile data on, and check if there's a difference.