This post was last updated on December 16th, 2020 at 11:34 am
In my previous article, I talked about how to prevent or repair your phone if it is having any hardware problem. As we all know that no computer hardware can’t function effectively without corresponding software. The software is the Lifeblood of any computer hardware. In today’s post, we shall be acquainting ourselves with what constitutes major phone software problems and how to fix them. Against this backdrop, I will give concise details of what software problems your device may have, suggested fixes, and prevention.
Quick Tips About Phones Software Problems
- Once a phone is dead through a software glitch/problem and you take it to a software engineer, have it in mind that you have a 50% chance of reviving it. Don’t be scared, modern phones hardly ever died permanently as a result of software problems.
- Before you run into any software issues, your phone must have been given you signs and symptoms. Such signs include; random restarting, abnormal battery drain, slow response of apps, freezing, and so on.
- You can fix 99% of individual Android application bugs or crashes by either uninstalling the culprit app or by wiping the app’s cache
- It is advisable to always be on the latest firmware upgrade for your phone
- Basic software glitches(like 45% of common software problems) can be solved by simply restarting your phone
- Another 30% of software issues can be solved by doing a within-the-phone factory reset(also known as a soft reset)
- 10% of advanced software problems can only be fixed when you perform a hard reset of your phone from the boot/recovery menu
- Another tip to fix phone software problem is by performing a complete firmware restore of the phone
- Unfortunately, in 5% of the cases where you can’t solve your software problem, you may need to call for a warranty replacement or buy another phone altogether.
- In addition, 95% of the software problem on phones occur as a result of abusive use of the phone by users.
- Shockingly, your own software issue may be the manufacturer’s fault. I once had a galaxy phone that is having a defective microphone due to software bugs. 5% of phone problems are due to factory defects.
- To avoid software bugs, don’t always buy the first batch of any new flagship phone. let others test it first.
Relevant articles worth reading
Major Phones Software Problems
In the subsequent sections, I shall be highlighting the most common software problems any smartphone can have. However, my case in point shall be software problems with the “Android OS” and “iOS”. I won’t cover that of windows os but my recommendations here would be applicable to any phone regardless of the operating system.
Various Phones Software Bugs, Symptoms & Fixes
I have personally solved many phone software problems for different people. As you would expect, I hardly ever take any software problem to any engineer. If I can’t solve it, then only the manufacturer can. In most cases, the local engineer won’t be able to solve it (unless he is replacing the PCB)
1. What to do When Your Phone Won’t Turn on at all
This is the most dreaded thing that can happen to your phone. Before we proceed, please make sure yours is not due to a drained or damaged battery or faulty power switch/button. If your phone simply dies on you for no known reason(although it must have been giving you some signs which you ignored). Now do the following to force your phone to wake up.
- For older generation phones like Nokia java, Symbian, Tecno java and so on, please take the phone to a phone engineer once it is dead.
- For all iPhones(mind you, iPhones hardly die except you jailbreak and install incompatible tweaks on it). If an iPhone enters a boot loop or gets stuck, try a soft reset on the iPhone by pressing your home button and the power button simultaneously. The iPhone should come up. If this fails, please restore your iPhone firmware via iTunes on PC or Mac.
- Still, on iPhone, any other problems that you notice apart from your phone refusing to turn on or your phone getting stuck at the apple logo can be solved either by a restart, uninstalling the buggy app or by resetting the device under settings>>general>>reset>>reset all settings.
- For Android phones; If your Android device appears to power on and boot up normally, but a problem occurs. Let’s say maybe the boot process fails, the device freezes, or it immediately reboots or shuts off, there may be a problem with your device’s software.
There’s a hidden way to perform a factory reset of your Android device when it isn’t booting properly. Note that this will erase the contents of your Android device, resetting it back to its default state. This method should only be used in the worst-case scenario when your device is unusable due to crashing or freezing software. Note that you’ll lose everything that isn’t synced to online services or that is not backed up.
First off, you’ll need to access your device’s recovery mode. Turn the device off completely, then boot it up with one of the following button combinations:
- Hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Power.
- Now, Hold Volume Up + Home + Power.
- Hold Home + Power.
- Hold Volume Up + Camera.
This will vary from device to device. If none of these combinations works, try performing a Google search with the name of your device and “recovery mode” to find the correct key combination for your device. The device will boot to a screen with an Android and an open chest panel if you’re successful. Press the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons until the Recovery mode option appears on the screen. Press the Power button and your device will reboot into recovery mode. The steps are self-explanatory once you enter recovery mode.
2. Fix Unresponsive Screen on your Phone Caused by a Software Glitch
You may want to throw your phone against the wall when it begins to malfunction, but there isn’t a need to panic. Most problems are fixed with a simple restart.
Press the power button and let the phone turn off, but wait a minute or two before powering it back on. In the extreme cases, do a factory reset as explained above
3. Solve Phone’s Battery drain Related to Software Problem
This is more of an Android device’s problem than an iOS. Numerous users have reported problems with the battery life of their devices. One of the easiest ways to prolong your smartphone’s battery is to change your locations and brightness settings.
Enter the settings menu, click on Location, and select battery-saving mode. As for brightness, you should avoid using auto-brightness and instead turn your screen down somewhere below halfway, or to a level that is acceptable for your eyes. Additionally, you can kill apps running in the background. Also, you should consider using Wi-Fi instead of your mobile data for your internet needs.
4. When Android App crashes
On an Android phone, you might get a message like “unfortunately **** has stopped working”.Apps can crash for all sorts of reasons. Is there an update available for either the app or your phone? If so, install it. otherwise, force closes the app by swiping it away in the multitask menu and then reopen it. If not please wipe that cache of that particular app.
5. Frozen and slow user interface
One of the major causes of slow response in phones is memory. It may even be a corrupt MicroSD card or your internal memory getting filled up.. Try deleting unused apps and photos, or moving them to the cloud or a microSD card. In addition, you should close open apps that you are no longer using, delete app cache, and limit the use of live wallpapers.
6. Phones Synchronization/Syncing Error
We are still on Android. There are numerous steps you can take to address problems with syncing. First, ensure that you are connected to the internet and that the service you are trying to sync with, such as Google, emails, or Dropbox, isn’t down. Double-check that your password is correct and try syncing again.
Still, having problems? Remove the account from your device and add it again.
7. Overheating of Android Phones
Most Android can get really warm. Try not to use your phone while you’re charging it and don’t use high CPU-sucking apps, like Pokemon Go or Facebook, for long periods of time. If it starts getting warm, give your phone a break.
If you don’t do these things, and your phone still gets hot to the touch, then you may want to get it looked at by a professional. This could be a sign of a manufacturer defect. Also, read more tweaks on my hardware solution page here
8. Apps won’t download on Android Via Default Download Mgr
To start with, I do not use the stock android browser or chrome to download on my android phone. I use the Ucweb browser because it supports download resume and it is extremely fast for downloading. There may be two causes for your apps not downloading. First, try clearing the Google Play store’s cache. If that doesn’t work, try wiping Google Play’s history. The problem is probably a corrupt cache and all you need to do is clear it. Open the Google Play store and tap on the three lines in the upper left of the screen to open the app’s menu. Choose Settings and tap on Clear local search history.
9. Android Homescreen is Congested
Every time you get a new app, a new icon is added to your home screen. A fix to that: Open the Google Play app, then tap Menu > Settings and clear the checkbox next to the Add icon on the Home screen.
10. Fix for Any Google services crashing Including Google Play Store
The problem is probably a corrupt cache and all you need to do is clear it. Go to Settings> Applications> All Apps> Google Play Store(or any other Google services like> Storage and select Clear Cache. Restart your phone and the problem should be fixed.
How to Prevent Your Phone From Developing a Software Problem
You need to stick to the following habits if you don’t want your phone to run into a software problem.
For s40/JAVA Phones and Other Low-end Phones
- Upgrade your software as soon as it is released
- Don’t ever allow power to be interrupted while upgrading your software.
- Do not multitouch any application. Let your application respond or crash on its own. do not try and open it multiple times because it did not respond the first time
- Also, avoid using a corrupt memory card. it can freeze or kill your phone
- Avoid using a memory card bigger than the one recommended by the manufacturer. If the phone’s manufacturer says a maximum of 4GB. Use a max of 4g, not 8GB
- Delete immediately any app that is crashing or freezing
How Users of Apple iOS Devices Such as iPhones, IPads & iPod Touch can prevent Software Problems
- Buy a phone from a reputable seller that will give you a warranty
- Install the latest software upgrade immediately it is pushed to you. The manufacturer knows best
- If you are a normal user and you do not want to encounter any serious software problems, “Avoid Jailbreaking” your apple device. Jailbreak should be left to geeks and developers or anyone who knows the risks
- Avoid using your iPhone as a wifi hotspot for extended periods of time. If possible do not use it at all
- Read reviews of an app before downloading it to your iPhone
- Do not always allow your iPhone to die completely before recharging
- Do not use a fake iPhone charger
- Note down your iPhone’s software version and build in case of emergency you can find this under>>settings>>General>>About. Take note of the most important things here like the model, serial number, IMEI…
- Finally, avoid using any CPU-hogging app extensively
- Do not use your iPhone while charging it
How to prevent Software Problems on Android Phones
Virtually almost everything that is applicable to the care of an iPhone is also applicable to the care of an Android with few exceptions as follows:
- Buy your Android from a trusted source with a warranty
- If you want to be a clean android user, do not Root your android device. Just like iPhone JB, this is for the geeks
- Restart /reboot your Android every once in a while even when it is not hanging
- If you do not also want any software problems for your android. Avoid downloading application outside of the google play store
- Immediately you buy your Android phone, please go to settings>>about then write everything you see there is a safe place. this may help you in the future when your phone needs a complete firmware restore.
- Avoid custom ROMs for your android if you are not a geek.
- When you are upgrading your phone’s firmware, do not allow your battery to die in the process.
- Always quit unused apps running in the background with the multitask button
- Do not allow your available storage to get filled up for whatever reason. Always keep a tab on this.
- Make sure your Bluetooth is not left opened unnecessarily and watch the phones from which you receive files
- Do not use a corrupt memory card if your android has a memory card slot.
- Avoid fake charger and accessories
- do not operate your phone while charging it.
CONCLUSION
I may take some risk with my phones because I know a lot about phones and I know what to do to get out of problems. I won’t advise you to do the same if you are not like me. Do not also allow untrusted people to operate your phone.
I have been using my Kaios MTN SMART mobile phone for almost 1 year, at a point, it would just go off on its own this problem repeated itself for almost two weeks then it finally died, it won’t turn on anymore but it still charges battery. Pls what is the solution?
@Monbelbbari: have you tried taking it to your local GSM engineer? it could be its power IC that is gone and it could also be as a result of OS failure.
I am using a android phone, i faced a battery issue few months back, which i got resolved. but from last few days noticed, that the animated stickers i sent were glitching, at first i though it was an application issue, but from yesterday i noticed that my phone screen is glitching too, its not happening very often, but yes i want to know what could be the probem and how should i prevent it.
@Shrutika: it could be a Software problem or a display IC problem which is hardware. I will start by factory resetting the phone and operate it without any application. IF the freezing stops, then you know your problem was caused by an incompatible app that you might have installed.
Please can I get your what app number
Hi..
I’m using LeMax2 (leX821).
I’m using the phone from quite a time.
When I bought it, it was all good.
I used to use BSNL 3G but all of a sudden it doesn’t work on 3G network. It only works on 2G.
Then I tried using Airtel 4G but the same problem came again, no 4G internet only 2G.
I tried everything, restarting, changing the APN, factory reset, and everything.
But nothing worked.
Now the phone only gets 2G no 3G no 4G.
It works as a 2G phone.
Is this a software problem or hardware?
And how can I fix this?
@RUPANKAR: It certainly looks like a software issue. The problem is that a software upgrade pushed to the phone by the manufacturer would usually fix this. Meanwhile, have you done a hard reset of the phone via the recovery menu? you may need to do so. wipe cache and factory reset it via the phone’s boot/recovery menu.
Thank you Lemmy Morgan all your posts did work.
Lemmy my techno w2 tells me com.android.phone cannot be used allow permission and it will bring out Phone Services No Permissions whenever I want to send message and when I check the settings app it is disabled. So permissions I granted is not effected on the application I grant the permission. What do you think is the problem and what do I do
My alcatel onetouch just says no command I have tried holding vol+ vol- and power button and have tried reboot and factory reset and it just keeps going back to no command can you help
@James: do you have access to the menu? Can you restore the software to factory default via your manufacturer’s pc tool?
If your answers to the above is No then you will need to go to the nearest engr
How do I do that?
@jame do what exactly?
my phone camera only displays a black screen wen u launch camera,but the front camera works.after launching the rear camera scratches start appearing on the display then the phone reboots i dnt think its a hardware issue as i replaced the whole rear camera,and it worked for a day thn the problem reoccured.i have restored factory and done a hard reset but no results plz help
@Victoriouslord: you may need to flash your phone with its stock firmware. Alternatively, the fault may be due to a fault on the camera IC/chip.
Oga pls, how does android version upgraded? For example using android version 4.4.2 and want to upgrade to maybe 5.1, is it upgradable and if yes how do u go about it
@Alexander vegas: gotosettings>>about>>software version>>check for software. If you get a you are already running the latest software message, it means you cannot go beyond your current firmware officially. Unless you root your phone and install a custom rom
I have a problem with my ZTE Z667T U.S. used phone. Initially it was locked to T-Mobile until it was opened.
While using it with my Glo network i was told to update android and that is when the problem started. After the update the phone does not connect to any network. As i type the phone has gone through many technicians but no result.
Please help with me on this particular phone if you can.
@Bemu: so painful. Had it been you have noted down the original firmware that came with the phone when the phone was unlocked succefully, you would have google it and get back on track. what dey did for your phone was only soft unlock and not permanent unlock. At this point, only the person who first used the phone can help