How to Fix Freezing on an Android Phone or Tablet

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

If you're experiencing freezing on your Android device, this guide will help you resolve the issue.

2. Restart

1. Hold down the power button on your Android device.
   Depending on the manufacturer and model of Android device you have, the location of the power button will vary.
2. A prompt will appear on-screen. Select Restart.
   

If the menu does not pop up, continue to hold the power button, and your Android device will shut off.

• If you had to shut down your Android device, wait 30 seconds before turning your device back on.

3. Test For Freezing

Try performing some basic tasks with your phone, such as opening the browser, making a call, creating a text, or watching a video. Use the apps you use on a daily basis.

4. Apps with Background Processes

Your phone has much less memory, or working space, than your desktop or laptop computer. Because of this, there's a lot less room to move, and this forces your phone to move running programs around from working memory to storage, and back again, when you have a lot of programs open.

Background Processes

Background processes, or programs that don't show on your screen but keep doing things in the background, use some of that limited working memory. While your Android phone does an amazing job at keeping track of all of this for you, the programs themselves can behave poorly when swapped around a lot.

One major source of apps with background processes are those dedicated to various social media services, such as Twitter, Facebook, etc. These apps are running, at least in part, at all times in the background while you use your phone. They do this to alert you to new notifications.

Many people don't use the notification features of many of these apps, and instead simply open the app, use it, then switch to another app. Yet, the background processes are still running.

If you find yourself not using or not wanting the alerts, it is often a better idea to simply use the built-in web browser on your phone to access the various social media services, rather than the dedicated app.

The Google Chrome browser is always available on your phone.

This allows you to continue using the social media service you enjoy, but without the various background processes causing problems. You can uninstall the app itself (getting rid of its background processes), and just use a single app, your browser, to access all those social media services directly.

5. Uninstall an App

There are multiple ways to uninstall an application on your Android device. Select the one you are most comfortable with.

Uninstall an App From the Home Screen or App Menu

1. Locate the app icon, then touch and hold it.
   

1. A special menu will open at the top of your screen. Drag the icon to Uninstall and release.
   

1. You'll be asked if you want to uninstall the app. Select OK.
   

Uninstall an App From Settings

1. Open Settings, and select Apps & notifications.
   

1. Select the app you wish to uninstall.
   

1. Select Uninstall.
   

1. You'll be asked if you want to uninstall the app. Select OK.
   

Uninstall an App From the Play Store

1. Open the Play Store and select the Menu on the top right.
   

1. Select My apps & games.
   

1. Select Installed at the top, then select the app you wish to uninstall.
   

1. Select Uninstall.
   

1. You'll be asked if you want to uninstall the app, select OK.
   

You can reinstall the app at any time in the future. Apps purchased from the Play Store are tracked, and should not bill you a second time if you re-install them.

6. Clear App Cache

Clearing cache will not affect your logins for the apps you use. Your apps may simply take an extra moment or two to load as they rebuild that cached data.

1. Open Settings on your phone or tablet.
   

1. Select Storage.
   

1. Select Internal shared storage.
   

1. 
   
2. Allow a few moments for your Android device to calculate storage used in each category. This can take a while if you have a lot of pictures, apps, and other data on your phone.
3. Select Cached data.
   

1. When prompted, select OK to clear the cache.
   

7. Test For Freezing

Try performing some basic tasks with your phone, such as opening the browser, making a call, creating a text, or watching a video. Use the apps you use on a daily basis.

8. Remove Widgets

Widgets are 'active' desktop icons and decorations that show information. Such as a pretty clock, a news or stock ticker, or a social media feed. They run directly on the Android Home Screen, rather than when you launch an app.

Widgets are normally harmless, and can be quite helpful. However, some can cause a lot of problems as they are constantly updating data, and constantly updating the screen.

Removing a Widget

1. Tap and hold the widget you wish to remove.
   

1. Drag the widget up to the Remove icon at the top, then let go.
   

9. Test For Freezing

Try performing some basic tasks with your phone, such as opening the browser, making a call, creating a text, or watching a video. Use the apps you use on a daily basis.

10. How to Factory Reset Your Android Smartphone

Show Me HowClicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.