Android 5.1 freezes and slows down. Disable GPS and geolocation. What to do if the phone slows down and the android is very dull

After a certain time from the moment of purchase, the device becomes less productive and “lags” appear. Because of this, users have a question about how to clean an Android phone so that it does not slow down.

Disabling unnecessary services

On Android devices, most processes occur in the background, which negatively affects performance. Even when the smartphone is idle, a huge number of actions are performed on it.

By disabling unnecessary services, you can significantly improve the performance of your device. Especially “voracious” is Google Search, which is always active.

Note! After disabling this Google service, you will not be able to use voice search and Google Now.

To disable:

Advice! This method is suitable for disabling any service. You can check its “gluttony” in “Settings” → “Applications” → “In operation”.

Uninstalling apps

The disadvantage of Android is that the system starts to slow down when installing a large number of applications. The slowdown is especially noticeable on weak devices with 1-2 GB of RAM and small storage capacity. This is due to the “clogging” of the OS.

Advice! Install only those applications that you cannot do without at the moment. Don't clutter up your device's memory with a huge number of programs.

To remove an unnecessary application:

Don't forget about updates. Software developers improve new versions of applications both in terms of operation and optimization.

To install updates:

Advice! You can update all programs at the same time. To do this, click “Update All”.

Cleaning up "garbage"

While using the device, “garbage” accumulates in it. Browsers, instant messengers and other programs save cache and various data into the system, which takes up a lot of space and negatively affects the performance of the smartphone.

A cache is a fast-access intermediate memory area containing information and data that will be used in the near future. This memory (as opposed to slow constant memory) allows instant access to an element.

After deleting applications, their data remains on the system, which are called residual files. They take up storage space and slow down the operating system.

Cleaning the OS can be done using special utility programs or manually.

Through programs

The main advantage of specialized software is ease of use. For complete cleaning, just run a scan and wait for the results. The most popular programs for removing “garbage” are CCleaner and CleanMaster.

CCleaner

The Android version of the application copes with cleaning no worse than a full-fledged program for a computer. The data deletion procedure occurs quite quickly.

Install CCleaner from Play Store.
Launch the program → “Analyze”.
Wait for the scan to complete.
Check the box next to the data you want to delete.

Note! To view detailed information about the files being deleted, click on the corresponding item.
Click "Finish Cleaning".
Return to the Home screen → Manage Applications.
Click on the program that loads the system (you can find out in “Settings” → “Applications” → “In operation”).
Click "Force Stop" to put the program to sleep in the background.

Note! The “Resources” sub-item displays energy, memory and data consumption.

In this program you can also:

set the scheduled cleaning time;
find out information about the system;
delete any application;
analyze the storage.

Clean Master

The developers claim that this application is No. 1 among its analogues. The functionality is very similar to CCleaner, the main difference is in the interface.
To clean the device:

Install the program from the Play Market.
Run it → “Start” → “Garbage”.
Wait for the scanning process to complete.
Check the box next to the items you want to remove.

Note! To view detailed information about the files being deleted, click on the corresponding item.
Click "Clear Junk".
Once the process is complete, return to the home screen.
“Speed up your phone” → “Startup Manager”.
Set the toggle to Off for apps that you don't want running in the background.
Click "Accelerate".

Additional features include:

antivirus;
energy saving;
clearing notifications;
cooler (cools the processor by optimizing operation).

Manually

Cleaning the system yourself is not as effective a method as using special programs. But in this case, you personally control the files and data that are deleted.

Removing cache and data

Each application stores additional files in the system that are necessary for quick access to any parameters. The disadvantage is that they clog up the OS, which results in slower operation. For the cleaning:

Note! This method does not guarantee speed up the phone. Only a special program can properly clean and optimize the device.

Clearing downloads

Every owner of an Android device uses a browser to search for information and download the necessary files.

Over time, the Downloads folder becomes filled with data (applications, images, documents, archives, etc.), which takes up a lot of storage space and affects the response speed of the file system. Cleaning this folder will have a positive effect on the performance of the OS.

Formatting a memory card

A full memory card slows down the file manager. This is due to the low operating speed relative to the internal storage of the smartphone. You can clean your external drive by deleting files or completely formatting it.

Note! If the memory card malfunctions or is worn out, the entire operating system slows down.

To delete a specific file:

For full formatting:

Checking for Viruses

A possible reason for the slow operation of a smartphone is infection with viruses. It is especially easy to “catch the infection” when downloading an apk application from the Internet.

Advice! Do not download files from unverified sources for your own safety.

APK is a format of archived application files that are installed on Android.

The system can be scanned using the Clean Master installed above, the built-in antivirus (in Meizu, Xiaomi smartphones, etc.) or full-fledged antivirus software from the Play Market.

Clean Master

File scanning is performed automatically.

A phone that has just been taken out of the box will work quickly and cope with complex tasks, but over time there will be no trace of its former speed.

The interface becomes glitchy and programs take a very long time to launch. It often happens that even the simplest applications begin to slow down. So let's figure out how to deal with this problem!

Applications and games

Please note that each mobile phone is sold with the most current operating system at that time, which most closely matches the current characteristics of the smartphone.

Yes, some manufacturers do make regular updates for their gadgets, but not all of them, and support usually lasts no more than two years for budget models.

Even if you received updates, it is not a fact that the phone will work as fast as when you bought it.

This issue affects games and applications. Developers release updates optimized for new devices. At the same time, on older models the game may also become unstable.

There are two options to solve this problem:

you just need to make a choice between application speed and functionality. If your smartphone is not a flagship or very powerful, we strongly advise you not to update many applications. The functionality will not be the same as after the update, but the speed will remain the same;
It would also be a good option to install upgraded, lightweight firmware. Although this is a little, it will increase the speed of operation of both the system in general and individual software.

Video: Troubleshooting all problems

Background applications

The presence of many applications running in the background is the most common reason why Android starts to slow down. If you hide many applications in the background, then you can’t count on stable operation of your Android device, since the system will spend a lot of resources on maintaining the functionality of these applications.

The solution to the problem is very simple. You just need to delete applications running in the background, or at least disable them in the phone settings.

Another interesting thing is that starting with Android 4.1, the system is able to independently distribute resources to applications, as well as close programs running in the background.

By the way, you can set a limit on background processes yourself, but only if your phone’s Android version is 4.1 and higher. How to do it? It's simple.

Follow these steps:

I would also like to note the fact that there are no viruses for the Android operating system, therefore there is no need for an antivirus. It will simply eat up RAM in the background, without bringing any benefit.

Widgets

Smartphone manufacturers do not recommend crowding your smartphone desktop with various kinds of widgets, since each of them requires resources to operate. If you use everything on your phone, its performance will slow down significantly, especially if you play demanding games.

When deleting most of the widgets, desktops are freed up; if possible, it is better to delete them.

Cluttered system

By the way, perhaps Android is slowing down due to the fact that the file system is heavily clogged with unnecessary files. This is inevitable, and the longer the system is not cleaned, the more dirty the system becomes, the more glitchy the phone becomes.

What files are clogging the system? There are many of them, namely:

Most of all, cache files clutter up memory. They are stored both on the memory card and in the internal memory of the phone. They are needed in order to save traffic and load pages that require Internet access faster.

The files seem to be useful, but they still need to be cleaned. How to do it? There are several options. The best way is to download a special application from Google Play.

Here are the best:

Lack of free space

If the phone slows down very much, then the reason may be a lack of free space. The phone's built-in storage is designed in such a way that if it is filled to capacity, the phone can start to become very glitchy.

If the internal memory of the device is full, then you need to clear it, at least 30% should be free.

transfer all data to a memory card;
transfer applications to a memory card;
Use the above apps to clean up trash.

Lack of support for TRIM technology

TRIM technology first appeared in Andrid4.3. It allows the smartphone to operate smoothly and stably even several years after purchase. It’s a shame, of course, that it wasn’t introduced earlier.

The main reason for the slowdown over time is that almost all phones have SSD drives installed, so each cell has a very limited recording resource.

Even if you delete files, the memory controller will think until the last minute that they are there. The more times the files are rewritten, the more cells are occupied, the more the controller has to work, the slower it starts to work.

TRIM technology helps by resetting the controller data every 24 hours and forgetting what has already been deleted. The memory controller will be informed that certain data is no longer needed because it has been deleted.

It is also worth noting the fact that the TRIM function will only work on good, high-quality controllers; accordingly, the most budget models and cheap copies will not support it. This should definitely be taken into account.

If your operating system version is lower than 4.3, we recommend trying the LagFix application. There are many positive reviews about it on the Internet.

Android slows down after update

If you decide to update your smartphone, and after the update it starts to slow down, we recommend resetting your phone to factory settings. Most likely this action will help solve the problem. If not, then you will have to reflash your smartphone.

The matter is complicated, it is better to trust the professionals, since one wrong move, and your favorite smartphone will turn into a useless brick, unless you can sell it for parts.

As for resetting the settings, everything is simple, you need to do the following:

If you have important data on your phone, don’t forget to either reset it to another drive or make a backup copy for recovery in advance.

The more complex a technique is, the more likely it is to behave unpredictably. Before the era of smart devices, everything was simpler: if your mobile phone freezes, you can simply turn it off and on, or, as a last resort, take out the battery and put it back in.

But with modern devices this number does not work, and they freeze much more often. Let's try to figure out the most common cases of “strikes” and decide how to deal with them.

Two main reasons why your phone freezes

The main reasons why the phone freezes include:

mechanical damage;
software failure.

Let's look at it in detail.

Mechanical damage

Surely many readers decided to skip the section with such a heading: they say, if my phone was damaged, it would be immediately obvious. And my neighbor actually has half a mesh screen, and everything works. And in vain!

The era of the good old Nokia 3310 and other indestructible “bricks” is over. Gadgets of the second decade of the 21st century are incomparably more fragile things. The case may not show any signs of impact or pressure, but the shock could be a serious test for the electronics.

One loose contact can cause operational problems.

So solid aluminum cases, molded polycarbonate, Gorilla Glass or other protective glass may not prevent, but, on the contrary, mask the problem.

Software failure

Fortunately, much more often problems now occur due to software glitches. We say “fortunately” because software “diseases” are easier to cure. There is no need to get into the electronic stuffing with a screwdriver and soldering iron.

For the most part, software problems can be resolved by removing specific applications that are causing excessive RAM or CPU power consumption. Sometimes the programs themselves do not even need to be deleted; it is enough to unload them from memory using the task manager.

What to do in these two cases

The easiest way to deal with freezing is if the case has obvious signs of damage. In this case, look for the nearest workshop that repairs gadgets and take the device in for repair. Often, after this procedure, all data from the system is erased, and you will have to restore all its contents.

We remind you of the importance of timely, or better yet, constant backup!

What to do if your phone freezes, although it looks intact? If there is no obvious damage to the case, but you do not like the behavior of the system, we will assume that the reason is in the software. And only after trying all the software tools for fixing troubles, let us remember that there are workshops in the world.

Reasons for Android phone freezing

The main reason why any computer freezes (and an Android device is actually a computer) comes down to a lack of hardware resources. To process all tasks that are currently relevant, there may not be enough memory or processing power of the processor.

Video: Stuck when turning on

Low RAM

As you know, there is no such thing as too much RAM. Although by 2015 it is common practice to equip even affordable models with two or three gigabytes of RAM, they are often not enough.

The fact is that Android is in no hurry to automatically unload already closed programs. The system reasonably believes that when you restart it, it will be easier to open an application already hanging in RAM.

But if there is a lot of such “background” software and it is power hungry, the system may experience an acute shortage of RAM.

Then the touch screen may not respond, games or programs may take a long time to launch or switch - in general, the phone is frozen. What do we recommend you do?
remove programs that you can do without;
disable background work and Push notifications for programs from which notifications are not needed;
install the task manager and configure regular memory cleaning, if necessary, set exceptions;
clear the cache (via the same task manager);

remove all widgets from the desktop except the most necessary ones

To be honest, we can’t wait until it will be possible to simply increase the memory in a smartphone by adding an extra module. Google, where is your Project ARA?

Heavy CPU load

Fans of intensive communication cache large volumes of photos, correspondence, and contact databases. Programs like graphics editors also force the processor to work at full capacity.

The most interesting thing is that even after release, such programs continue to hang in memory and load the processor.

It is easy to distinguish memory problems from problems with the processor: in the latter case, the smartphone gets very hot. Different chipsets differ in this regard, but heating is always felt.

Programs malfunction

Unfortunately, not all Android applications are successfully optimized. Some of them can cause serious malfunctions.

What should be done?
remove all dubious applications;
do not install APK files from third-party sources (this is for the future);

If failures recur and you still cannot determine the cause, do a hard reset.

What to do if your Android phone is frozen

We have roughly figured out how to deal with the causes of freezes. But all this will happen later. What if your smartphone froze right here and now? We have prepared recommendations for removing the electronic sufferer from stress.

Shutting down applications

Remember how we talked about task managers a little higher? In addition to third-party solutions like ES Task Manager, Android also has a built-in one.

You can use it like this:

Even shutting down one or two unnecessary “workers” can have a positive effect.

Unnecessary applications can also be closed “in bulk” using third-party managers.

Restarting Android

Typically, all Android devices have a soft reboot option directly from the OS.

To do this you need:

It is not at all a fact that a frozen smartphone will reboot quickly. If some process is slowing down the work, then “killing” it can be difficult. But when the reboot takes place, Android will start working better.

Use this to remove recently installed updates and new programs. Perhaps one of them is the root of the problem.

Force reboot the device

Is it always possible to turn off the phone if it freezes? Often it does not respond to gestures on the display or to pressing touch buttons. How to turn it off if there is no response to standard actions? Usually, for a soft reset (that’s what this procedure is called), you need to hold down the power and volume down buttons at the same time. These buttons were chosen because they are present on all Android smartphones. However, there are exceptions, so check the instructions for your specific device for details.

Reset

In especially severe cases, only the most radical solution helps - resetting all settings. This most effective remedy does not even require you to clarify why your mobile phone freezes.

Please note: this procedure destroys all data on the smartphone, returning it to its original factory state. Therefore, make sure that all your contacts, mail, SMS history and important files are saved in archives or on cloud services. In most cases, synchronization is enabled by default.

The reset can be done directly from the menu. For example, in Android 5 you can find the desired item like this:

Specific menu items may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the principle is the same everywhere:

go to Settings;
select the “General” section;
select “Backup and reset”;
select "Reset settings";
confirm reset.

If you understand the general principle, you can easily find the desired item on smartphones with other OS versions. By the way, you can enable backup saving in the same section of the menu.

Hard reset

The words “hard reset” sound like sandpaper. Indeed, this procedure will polish the condition of your gadget to a shine. As a rule, to hard reset an Android smartphone, you need to simultaneously hold down three keys: power and volume up. These buttons put the smartphone into recovery mode.

The touch screen does not work in this mode.

Therefore, you need to control your smartphone as follows:

After this, your phone will reboot for a long time, and after restarting Android will be as good as new. We hope you have enabled synchronization? Then your phone book and other data are saved on Google servers and will be returned to you soon.

Using code

In some cases, to completely restore a smartphone, you need to work with the engineering menu. Launch the phone application and enter the code in it (it is similar to the USSD request, but has a more complex structure). For example, for the LGGT540 model the code looks like this: 3845#*540#.

After entering it, you will see a menu in which you need to select Factory Reset. For other models and OS versions the code will be different. The information you need is easy to find on the Internet.

So, being stuck is not a reason to despair. In most cases, you can “cure” it yourself.

However, remember the following rules:

if you have exact instructions, follow them. Smart people have already developed ways of salvation, you just need to not get confused in them. If not, you can ask for advice on thematic forums;
follow the advice that applies exclusively to your model and version of Android. Even if the names are similar, important details may differ;
Some recovery processes last a long time, sometimes for hours. Do not panic;
for the future: you shouldn’t buy the cheapest Android smartphones, you’ll then have to pay extra for them with your nerves. It’s better to overpay a certain amount and take a device with a power reserve that won’t hurt.

Remember: freezes can be treated. And almost everything you need for this is in your hands.

Young businessman with broken smartphone.

Why is my phone glitching?
This article contains complete and up-to-date information for you on why your phone is glitching and how to fix it.

Each new smartphone is more powerful and technically more sophisticated than any of its predecessors. Extensive functionality is reflected in performance. It happens that the device cannot cope with the load.

1. Problems with the software

It is difficult to determine the exact cause of software problems. Yes, this is not necessary. It is important to diagnose this fact based on the signs and take measures to correct the situation.
How to determine software failure on an Android smartphone:

Freezes when turned on;
Freezes when turned off;
Applications freeze or crash;
Very slow smartphone operation;

What to do if your phone freezes

Clear memory and cache of your phone and applications;
Quit all background processes;
Reset your phone to factory settings;
Do a hard resert (full reboot) of the device. Attention! After completing the operation, no data (photos, contacts, etc.) will be saved on the phone. You will first need to copy them and save them in another location, for example on a PC.

Programs for smartphone optimization

Experts have conflicting opinions about the wisdom of these applications. Most technicians still recommend doing the work of cleaning the phone yourself manually. Because special programs also consume working resources. The presence of such assistants may even be the reason why the phone is very glitchy. It is better not to resort to them unless absolutely necessary.
There are 2 principles that ensure good operation of the gadget:

Systematic removal of unnecessary files;
clearing cache.

Sometimes the appearance of brakes can be caused by overheating, as well as damage to the device components or their obsolescence. In such cases, most often the reason for the decrease in performance is obvious.

It is worth noting that various modules (GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) have virtually no effect on the performance of the OS and are the reason why Android starts to slow down, extremely rarely.

How to solve a brake problem

The solution to the problem with the brakes that have appeared will be very simple when you manage to identify it yourself. To do this, it is enough to get rid of unnecessary programs that actively use resources, update the software, or contact a service if the slowdown of the device is due to hardware. But in cases where the exact cause is unknown, there are two options left: self-cleaning and a general reset.

Cleaning the device of everything unnecessary

Many users don't even know how to clean Android so it doesn't slow down their smartphone. It is best to start cleaning by removing unnecessary files and applications. You need to remove desktop decorations, programs and games, files left by them, photos, videos, music, texts - everything that is not used or may require a lot of resources.

After deleting files, you should clear the cache. How to do it:

Open the “Applications” item in “Settings”.
Open each application one by one and click “Clear cache”.

Clearing cache

Additionally, you can use a special program. For example, ( We have an article for more details about this application). It will allow you to delete all unnecessary files unused by the system and applications with one click of a button.

Extreme measures – Hard Reset

If cleaning did not help, and your Android phone is still slow, then you should do a Hard Reset. This name hides a general reset of the device, during which all files and settings made by the user are deleted from it. As a result, the owner will receive a “clean” smartphone or tablet running at factory settings. How to do it:

Turn off the device.
Simultaneously hold down the power button and volume down (or up) button.
Select "Wipe data/factory reset".
Confirm your choice, wait for the process to complete and the device to turn on.

You can also perform a reset from the Settings menu by selecting Factory Reset. But this method will only restore settings without affecting user files, which will reduce its effectiveness.