Android has taken the world of mobile phones by storm, climbing up to the number one spot amongst mobile OSes; the OS is far from perfect though. This Techspirited article looks at some of the most common problems faced by Android users, and their simple fixes.
I’m sorry Android – you are adopted!
Android was developed by Android, Inc. in October 2003. It was only on August 17, 2005 that Google acquired the company, and along with it, the operating system.
Ever since its inception in 2007, Android has slowly but steadily made a march towards the top. Today, more than half a decade later, it seems to have completely obliterated the competition, and taken over the title of the ultimate mobile OS. While it might arguably be the best mobile operating system out there, it does come with its share of problems. Although these problems may not be big enough to dissuade users from opting for an Android phone, they can be quite a pain for them. Keeping up with the demands of this massive fan-following may be quite a daunting task, but having such a huge user base is not without its upside―speedy fixes to most bugs and OS issues. These problems might be trivial, but can be a major inconvenience for users. Here’s a look at some of the most common problems that Android users (Android 2.3, and above) face, and quick fixes for them.
My phone battery drains out too fast.
- Switch on the data connection/Wi-Fi only when required.
- Switch off the GPS receiver on your phone.
- Do not use live wallpaper as your phone’s background.
- Keep the brightness setting as low as possible, without hampering the legibility of the screen.
- Do not install live widgets on your phone.
- Avoid using applications which run in the background.
My phone doesn’t detect the memory card.
- Restarting the phone may solve the issue.
- If that doesn’t help, connect the card to the computer, and take a backup of all the data.
- Format the card, and insert it back into the phone.
My phone has frozen.
- Restarting your phone should solve the problem.
- Alternately, you could install Fast Reboot, which simulates a restart, and shuts down all applications on the phone. You can download the app here.
My phone constantly runs out of memory.
- Set your memory card to be the default install location of the phone.
Menu > Settings > Storage > Preferred install location > SD card.
Menu > Settings > Storage > Default Write Disk > SD card - Close all applications running in the background by long pressing the Menu button, and closing all the applications running.
- Alternately, you could also install AppMgrIII (App 2 SD) to help manage your apps better. You can download the app here.
Fonts appear too small on my phone.
- Increase the system font size by following this path.
Menu > Settings > Display > Font size > Large
My phone doesn’t recognize my face (*Face Unlock).
- Hold the phone at eye level.
- Move to a well-lit location, and try again.
- Try and have the same facial expressions as you did when you set up the Face Unlock feature.
- Save your image in different light conditions, and facial expressions; you can set this up by following this path.
Menu > Settings > Security > Improve face matching
* Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and above
My phone’s clock constantly shows the wrong time.
- Manually set the clock’s time by following this path.
Menu > Settings > Date & Time > Set time - Disable automatic date & time
Menu > Settings > Date & time > Automatic date & time > Off
Menu > Settings > Date & Time > Automatic time zone (uncheck)
My phone constantly disconnects from the Wi-Fi connection.
- Follow this path.
Menu > Settings > Wi-Fi > Click on Menu button > Advanced > Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep > Never
My phone’s screen is not legible in bright sunlight.
- Increase the brightness of your screen by following this path.
Menu > Settings > Display > Brightness > Set to maximum level (alternately, select Automatic brightness, if your phone supports it)
My location does not show up accurately on the map.
- Turn on the A-GPS option by following this path.
Menu > Settings > Location services > Select GPS EPO assistance and A-GPS
My screen rotates each time I tilt the phone.
- Switch off screen auto rotation by following the given path.
Menu > Settings > Display > uncheck Auto-rotate screen
The phone auto corrects everything that I type.
- You can choose to switch off the auto correct feature of your phone by following this path.
Menu > Settings > Language & input > uncheck Spell checker
Menu > Settings > Language & input > Keyboard & Input Methods > Android keyboard > click on settings icon by its side > Auto correction > Off
Most Android problems are related to the cache memory, and restarting the app usually solves the problem; if that doesn’t help, often restarting the phone takes care of the issue. However, if the problem is in fact with the operating system, your last resort would be to flash your phone, and install the firmware all over again. Always make it a point to create a backup of your personal data on a computer, so you can restore from it, in case you need to flash your phone. Make sure to constantly check for updates for your apps, as the developers are constantly working on bug fixes, and the updates normally take care of any glitches that come up in an app.
The main reason for the popularity of this OS is the fact that it is constantly evolving, thanks to a dedicated team of developers, both working with Google, and independently. Once you find your way around these little obstacles, Android promises to transform your mobile from a mere plaything, to something that you wouldn’t want to ever part ways with. Enjoy the ride.