Despite the significant progress in the development of mobile operating systems, both Android and iOS, users may still encounter problems with their operation from time to time. Therefore, you need to learn how to recognize and solve these problems on your own, because many important aspects of our lives depend on the stability of your smartphone. In this article, we’ll look at the most common errors on Android and iOS platforms and share the secrets of fixing them.
Common Android errors
The variety of Android devices, as well as the many modifications and firmware updates from manufacturers, often lead to unpredictable crashes. One of the most common problems is the sudden unloading of applications from memory: it seems that the program simply “closes” without warning. Most often, this happens on budget models with a small amount of RAM or poorly optimized firmware. Conflicts between installed programs are also a common occurrence – when two utilities with similar functionality interfere with each other, causing system crashes or slowdowns.
Quite often, an unexpected problem happens when you upgrade to a new version of Android, especially if the smartphone manufacturer hasn’t had time to optimize its own shell. In this case, the phone may reboot on its own, freeze on the boot screen, or behave incorrectly with the camera. Another noticeable source of errors is flash memory: when it is full, the operating system starts to “slow down”, applications open slowly, and messages about insufficient memory simply prevent you from using the device.
iOS crashes and errors
Despite its legendary optimization, iOS is not immune to errors. Among the most common are problems with Wi-Fi connectivity, when the system stubbornly refuses to connect to a known network or periodically “falls off”. Other frequently mentioned cases include apps that crash immediately after launch or situations where standard apps (such as Mail or Messages) suddenly stop working. Sometimes iPhone users notice increased battery consumption after a new update. This may be due to the fact that during the installation of system updates, certain services freeze or do not complete the configuration. As a result, background processes continue to run excessively, draining the battery. There are also errors with storage overflow messages, when the device is sure that the memory is full, although there is still plenty of space.
Consider the causes of failures
Not always, the failure lies in the operating system – very often, its source is related to the phone’s settings or the incorrect operation of a particular application. For example, on Android, any modification or installation of custom firmware without following official instructions can sometimes even cause the device to freeze when it is turned on. On iOS, even more complicated circumstances arise after attempts to jailbreak (i.e., remove restrictions).
An unstable Internet connection/problems with the mobile network often result in situations where the user believes that the phone is broken. In fact, the reason may be an incorrect router configuration or a malfunction on the part of the mobile operator. In addition, the accumulation of large amounts of cache can cause programs to malfunction: namely, social media applications sometimes do not update the feed or freeze when launched due to conflicts in temporary files.
Here’s an example: after installing an Android update, a smartphone starts displaying the message “Error in Google Play services”. The user thinks that he or she will have to immediately contact a service center. However, most often, it is enough to go to Settings – Applications – Google Play Services and clear the cache and data. After that, the device will restart and the conflict will most likely disappear.
Back to iOS, and if there are situations when official applications start crashing for no apparent reason, a simple reboot of the gadget saves the day, but in more complicated cases, reinstalling the program helps. To do this, uninstall the application, then find it in the App Store in a way that is already clear to everyone and reinstall it – most of the data is safely restored from the cloud (provided that backup has been enabled).
How to avoid these mistakes?
Proper prevention helps to avoid serious malfunctions of the mobile platform. One of the basic rules is to make sure that your device always has enough free memory – try to regularly delete unnecessary photos, videos, and apps that you haven’t opened in a while. On Android, you should also install official firmware and updates, and, if necessary, use a reliable antivirus to scan for malware.
In iOS, the main focus is on timely installation of updates: developers often release small bug fixes that improve compatibility with third-party applications. And if problems do arise, it’s a good idea to write down the error message under what conditions the failure occurred, which will help you quickly find the right solution on the official forums.
+Another point: people sometimes neglect data backup, and this becomes a fatal mistake in case of a serious failure or the need to reset the smartphone to factory settings. To protect yourself from unpredictable losses of important contacts, photos, documents, etc., you should periodically make backups to Google Drive and iCloud. Such a simple thing really saves a lot of time and nerves.
As a result, operating systems on mobile devices are becoming more and more stable, but even the most reliable environment can crash and cause errors. And in most cases, the user can successfully solve the problem on their own without spending extra money on repairs or purchasing a new gadget. Just remember to keep a sober approach and calm analysis in mind, as it helps to understand exactly where the root of the problem is hidden. The same rule applies to both Android and iOS: regular device maintenance and conscious choice of apps are perhaps the best protection against unpleasant surprises.