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 you reset a phone that is not responding? ›

If your phone is unresponsive, you can perform a “soft reset” by pressing the volume up key and the power button simultaneously for about 15 seconds (or until phone vibrates). Your phone should then restart momentarily. This is a safe and quick way to reboot your device without losing or erasing any data.

How do I restart my Android freeze? ›

  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.
Feb 12, 2024

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

Restart your phone

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

How do I unfreeze without restarting? ›

On a Windows device, press the Control, Alt, and Delete buttons simultaneously, or Control, Shift, and Escape to open the Task Manager. Select the unresponsive app in question and select End Task. Alternatively, press Alt and F4 for a quicker way to close the currently active window or application.

Why is my phone not allowing me to make calls on Android? ›

Reasons Why Android Stops Making (or Receiving) Calls

You might be in a dead zone, airplane mode could be turned on, your bill might not be paid up, malware could be wreaking havoc on your phone, or a software issue could be at play.

What causes a phone to freeze? ›

Insufficient Memory: Running too many apps or having too many open browser tabs can use up your phone's RAM, causing it to freeze or become sluggish. ✧ Low Storage Space: When your phone's storage is nearly full, it can lead to performance issues and freezing.

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

Calibration Issues

If the calibration is off, the touch screen may become unresponsive or not respond properly. An unresponsive touchscreen can happen due to software errors or accidental misalignment. Most Android devices have a calibration option in the settings to recalibrate the touch screen.

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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