Why Is Android So Buggy? And 9 Ways to Fix It

Android is, without a doubt, a superb mobile operating system (OS). No wonder it dominates 70% of the smartphone market share.

But the devices running on it tend to be so buggy. Most users complain of screen freezing, apps crashing, and even sudden shutdowns.

This can scare you if you switch from iPhone to Android. And if you’re a user, you might be wondering what your options are. 

But:

Why does this happen? What can you do to turbocharge your device?

Let’s find out.

Why Is Android So Buggy?

There are many reasons why Android phones tend to be buggy. But the below stand out on that list:

Android Complexity

Android was originally an operating system designed for digital cameras. Over time, its developers expanded it to include smartphones.

The move saw the addition of more features, functions, and improvements to the user interface. However, this bloated the OS, resulting in bugs and glitches.

Moreover, mobile manufacturers continue to push the boundaries by developing complex hardware. The undertaking further bloats Android, while aiming to enhance compatibility. 

Fragmented Ecosystem

Android’s open-source nature allows manufacturers to customize the operating system. While this creates endless possibilities, it results in different variations of the OS.

The modifications may conflict with the mobile hardware and third-party apps. Furthermore, they cause endless bugs to arise, slowing down user devices.

Different Android Variations

Since Android OS is open-source, anyone can modify it as they wish. Those doing it include manufacturers, mobile carriers, and private developers.

Popular mods include Huawei’s HarmonyOS, LineageOS, Pixel Experience, Evolution X, etc. Each standout with unique features, user interface, and functionalities. 

But there’s a problem:

The majority are half-baked and lack proper optimizations to work on every device. However, Google controls the development of core Android versions.

Variable Hardware

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continuously innovate hardware for mobile devices. With every breakthrough, the Android OS undergoes modification to embrace newer components.

While that’s good to end users, it’s a headache for developers. Creating software to embrace the changes results in endless bugs and issues.

Poor Optimization

Manufacturers are always in a rush to push devices on the market. They take shortcuts to beat deadlines and cut budgets to boost profits.

In the end, customers find themselves with buggy and unpolished gadgets. Even worse, product makers delay releasing updates for software glitches.  

It doesn’t end there.

Inconsistent Updates 

Android’s bloated ecosystem makes it challenging to issue timely updates. It first has to start with Google producing core upgrades. 

From there, manufacturers have to apply customizations before pushing to user devices. This causes lengthy delays resulting in more glitches accumulating over time.

Moreover, Android phone makers hardly commit to software upgrades. This is unlike Apple, which guarantees five years of regular updates.

Bloatware/Third-Party Apps

Manufacturers are not the only ones to blame. Even developers and mobile carriers bear the burden of making Android buggy.

Here’s why: 

Mobile service providers often include tons of apps on Android phones. But a majority eat up resources, causing devices to be unstable.

Poorly-coded applications from third-party developers can also be a nuisance. They conflict with the system software, making your smartphone lag.

Third-Party Open Source Software

About 97% of developers rely on open-source libraries. Such platforms host software code with bugs and glitches. 

As such, apps with unreliable scripts may corrupt the Android system. This will cause lagging, screen freezing, and forced shutdowns.

Memory/Cache Build up

Android applications are well-known for storing cache to improve usability. These comprise files that help speed up apps when in use.

Sadly, the data can fill up storage fast if it becomes too large. The outcome is a phone that’s slow and clunky to use.

And one more thing.

Malware Infections

Around 12,000 malicious Android apps show up every day. These contain harmful scripts like cryptojackers, data miners, spyware, etc.

When installed, they trigger background processes that clog device resources. Eventually, you’ll encounter performance issues, battery drain, shutdowns, etc. 

But we have a solution.

How to Speed Up Your Android Phone

You’re not out of luck if your Android phone is buggy. All you need are simple yet effective tricks for turbocharging your device.

Let’s break them down:

Uninstall Unnecessary Apps

Android phones come bundled with tons of worthless pre-installed apps. These consume unnecessary resources and slow down your phone.

You can start by removing the unwanted applications. Do the following:

• Go to Settings.
• Open Apps.
• Locate the app to remove.
• Select Uninstall. 

However, manufacturers and carriers may include non-removable apps. Also known as bloatware, they can choke your Android for no good reason.

The good news is, you can use Disable/Force Stop to deactivate them. It prevents the applications from running in the background and using up resources.

Clear Memory/App Cache

As earlier said, Android apps store cache to improve user experience. But this can fill up device storage, causing your device to lag.

Clearing the application data helps boost your phone’s performance. The only downside is you need to do it manually. 

However, the process is super easy. Just follow these steps: 

• Go to Settings
• Locate Apps.
• Select the app to clear data.
• Choose Storage.
• Tap on Clear data and Clear cache.

Clearing cache files may also fix problems with apps not working correctly. It forces them to start from scratch, resulting in a bug-free experience.

Minimize Animations/Transitions

Animations and transitions make Android phones look more appealing and user-friendly. On the downside, they can slow down your device’s performance. 

Allow us to explain: 

Rendering graphics for animations/transitions requires aggressive CPU and GPU usage. This can cause noticeable lag when using your Android smartphone.

However, reducing or disabling them helps free up processing resources. It will make the phone feel snappier, responsive, and easy to use.

Accessing animations/transition configurations varies from device to device. But here’s how to locate the settings fast: 

• Open Settings.
• Locate the Search box.
• Type Animations or Transitions.
• Select the ideal option from the results.
• Choose Disable or Reduce Animation Speed.

You also get to benefit from extended battery life. You’ll appreciate using your phone for longer than usual.

Reduce Screen Refresh Rate

Refresh rate is the number of times your device’s screen updates per second. A higher number means it changes more often for smoother animations.

However, it requires massive processing power, which can slow down the phone. Your battery also takes a tumble when pushing faster graphics.

But you can reduce the screen refresh rate to improve performance. Here’s what to do on your Android: 

• Open Settings.
• Type Screen refresh rate.
• Choose the option that applies. 

Not all devices have the option to adjust the screen refresh rate. Instead, they offer a performance-friendly default ranging between 30Hz to 60Hz.

Disable Auto Sync

Auto sync enables your phone to save data to cloud storage. Or you can use it to synchronize files across multiple devices. 

The feature may slow your device when transferring bulk information. Likewise, its simultaneous usage by other apps causes Androids to act up.

Do the following to disable auto sync:

• Go to Phone Settings.
• Tap on User & Accounts.
• Toggle off Automatically sync app data.
• Alternatively, choose an app or account and cancel/disable sync.

You have to repeat the above steps in all the user accounts. Doing so frees much-needed resources for Android to work flawlessly.

But there’s more.

Disable Auto-Updates

The same also applies when you allow apps to auto-update. During download and installation, they overstretch device resources, which triggers lagging.

Here are the steps to disable it:

• Open Google Play Store.
• Tap on your Profile image.
• Select Settings.
• Tap on Network preferences.
• Disable Auto-update apps. 

You’ll now have to update all your apps manually. It’s inconvenient but necessary to speed up your phone.

Update Your Device

As earlier noted, most Android smartphones ship with software bugs. Over time, the phone makers release and push fixes to the users.
Therefore, make a habit of updating your device regularly. You will benefit from enhancements that improve performance.

The process is pretty straightforward:

• Go to phone Settings.
• Scroll down to About device.
• Tap on your Android version.
• Alternatively, select Update.

Software updates additionally improve your phone’s security. They seal open loopholes that cybercriminals can use to compromise you.

Remote Duplicate Files

Duplicate files occupy unnecessary space on your phone. Gradually, they may choke your Android and bog it down.

You can remove the items by going through your device storage. Check images, videos, documents, and download folders to delete identical ones. 

The process can be cumbersome. But don’t panic – we have a solution.

Use Speed Booster Apps

Speed booster apps can help fix a buggy Android phone on autopilot. Below are the ones that deserve your attention: 

• CCleaner – Use this app to remove junk files and compress media files quickly. It offers scheduling to ensure you don’t miss optimizing your device. Moreover, it has a clean, easy-to-use bloat-free interface.  
• SuperXCleaner – It’s a fully-featured application for supercharging your Android device. It can detect and remove unwanted files, cache, and invalid data automatically. Other tools include a speed booster, CPU cooler, anti-virus, battery saver, etc.
• Avast Cleanup – The app can analyze your phone’s storage and remove unwanted data. Additionally, it detects and uninstalls apps you no longer need. Avast is equally good at removing duplicate files on your device.  
• AVG AntiVirus & Security – AVG looks almost identical to CCleaner. But it’s robust, fast, and reliable, making your Android feel lightweight. It also has a lite version that works just as well. 

It’s worth mentioning that the above list isn’t exhaustive. You can find hundreds of such apps on Google Play Store.

Wrapping Up

There’s no doubt that Android is the king of smartphones. However, it has underlying problems that cause it to have usability issues.

These largely originate from the complexity of the operating system. Others include fragmented ecosystems, bloatware, poor optimization, untimely updates, malware, etc.

The good news?  

You’re now aware why Android gets so buggy. Moreover, we’ve given you simple solutions to speed up your device.