Fix a Pixel that freezes or won't respond
If your phone freezes, stops responding, or is stuck with the screen on, one of the steps below could fix the issue.
Restart your phone
If your phone is frozen with the screen on, hold down the power button for about 30 seconds to restart.
Troubleshoot freezing
If your phone freezes more than once, we recommend checking for a larger issue. Follow the steps for each solution below. After each step, see whether it fixed your issue.
Troubleshoot your phone for freezing
System updates can bring improvements that could fix your issue.
To check for and install system updates:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Near the bottom, tap System
Advanced
- You'll see your update status. Follow any steps on the screen.
Advanced In general, you don't need to close apps. Android manages the memory that apps use.
But to completely shut down an app, including any background services that it may be using:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Apps & notifications
the app. If needed, tap App info before the app.
- Tap Force stop.
the app. If needed, tap App info before the app.Tip: To help see which apps cause problems, make a list of which apps you force stop.
Troubleshoot apps on your phone for freezing
App updates can bring improvements that could fix your issue.
To see and get updates for your apps:
- On your phone, open the Google Play Store app
.
- Tap Menu
- Apps with available updates are labeled "Update."
- If an update is available, tap Update.
- If more updates are available, tap Update all.
.
In general, you don't need to close apps. Android manages the memory that apps use.
But to completely shut down an app, including any background services that it may be using:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Apps & notifications
- Tap Force stop.
The problem could be caused by an app that you downloaded. To see whether a downloaded app is causing the problem, you can restart your phone in safe mode.
Safe mode temporarily turns off all downloaded apps.
To restart in safe mode:
- Press and hold your device's Power button.
- On your screen, touch and hold Power off
. Tap OK.
- After you see "Safe mode" at the bottom of your screen, wait to see if the problem goes away.
. Tap OK.If your problem doesn't go away in safe mode
Restart your phone and skip to the next section.
If your problem goes away in safe mode
A downloaded app is likely causing your problem. To see which app it is:
- Restart your phone.
- One by one, remove recently downloaded apps. Learn how to delete apps. After each removal, restart your phone normally. See whether removing that app solved the problem.
- After you remove the app that caused the problem, you can add back the other apps that you removed. Learn how to reinstall apps.
Still having freezing issues?
To remove any processes on your phone that could be causing the issue, you can reset your phone to factory settings.
IMPORTANT: A factory data reset will remove all data from your phone. While any data stored in your Google Account will be restored, all apps and their associated data will be uninstalled. Before you perform a factory data reset, we recommend backing up your phone.
If an app that you downloaded caused the issue and you reinstall that app, the problem could come back.
If you're still having issues with your phone, you can post your questions to the Pixel community on our forums for other possible solutions.