Android General Troubleshooting

Many issues with Android apps can be remedied by a full shutdown/restart of the app.  In the mobile device world, simply tapping the Home button/key doesn’t shut down the app.  The app is actually ‘backgrounded’, which means it has been given to the Android operating system to hold on to and quickly bring it back up in the future.  If memory resources become scarce, Android may choose to shut it down fully itself.

To fully shut down an app:

•Tap the Overview button  .  This opens a list of thumbnail images of apps and Chrome tabs you’ve worked with recently.  If your device is running Android 4.4 or lower, your Overview button looks like this .   On Samsung devices, the recent apps button can be found here:

•To remove a thumbnail from the list, swipe it left or right.

•Tap your Home button/key to return to your app icons.  On Nexus devices, the home button looks like this:  If your device is running Android 4.4 or lower, your Home button looks like this  .  Samsung devices have a physical button at the bottom of the screen, near the device is plugged in to charge (see picture above).

To fully power off an Android device:

• Press and hold the Power button until the screen goes black.  Once it does, release the power button.  Your device is now off.

• Power on your device by pressing and holding the power button until you see the device welcome screen/animation.