Android is quite a reliable operating system, and it’s generally relatively smooth. Therefore, there are minimal chances of encountering any severe errors that hamper the user experience.
Still, we all know there can be rare occasions when our Android phone might betray us.
One such error that might create a problem for the user is an error ‘unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped’. It’s a typical error message that may arise due to a damaged Android system.
Is There a Problem Fix?
Even though the problem might seem too frustrating to the users, still, Android systems are easy to fix. Using some simple techniques, you can fix ‘unfortunately com.android.phone has stopped error’ yourself.
All you need is a little software knowledge. This article will help you understand the basics of error fixing in your Android device.
Here is what you need to know.
Why Does the Error Occur?
Before moving to the solution, it is vital to understand why this issue pops up. There can be multiple reasons for it.
Generally, the process com.android.phone has stopped the error message due to a fault in the Android OS. So, it could either be your phone manager or an issue arising in one of the device apps.
Failed Attempt to Update System Firmware
Firmware updates are critical for flawless performance in Android devices. However, if your firmware update didn’t go smoothly, the process com.android.phone has stopped error is likely to arise.
The reasons for an interrupted firmware update can be random, but there is a way to fix it.
Newly Installed Memory
Even though many modern Android devices come with sufficient built-in memory, several others feature expandable memory.
So, it’s likely that you might need additional memory space, i.e., an SD card. So, if you start receiving the error message only after installing the new memory device, it’s possibly because of the added device.
Your ROM might be faulty; however, there is an easy method to fix the error.
Third-Party App Fault
Often, third-party apps can be the reason behind ‘Unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped’ errors. Mostly, a third-party app is the leading cause of a damaged system.
However, there is an easy method to resolve such problems because a new third-party app can sometimes block some system functionalities.
Significant Changes in System Data
At times, android users may want to upgrade their system, and they may overdo it. Therefore, there can be numerous modifications in the system, which leads to the ‘unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped’ error message.
SIM Toolkit Application Problem
This may be a rarely occurring problem but the com.android.phone error can also occur due to a possible glitch in the SIM ToolKit application.
Iffy Android Update
Generally, the Android updates are pretty safe, and they enhance your device’s performance. However, at times your Android device may start experiencing such errors only after an update.
It’s mainly because the new operating system may not support your android phone. So, it can cause such errors in your phone.
What Happens when this Error Arrives?
When you encounter such a problem, there can be several ways it can affect your phone performance. Generally, this error arises when:
- You are trying to connect to the internet.
- You get a call or send a text message.
- You try to open any apps on your android device.
- Your phone is connecting to a 3G or 4G service.
Fixing ‘Unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped’ Error
Here, we will talk about easy fixes to prevent the ‘process com.android.phone has stopped’ error message from disturbing you. Now, each fixing method may operate slightly differently in different android phones.
So, we will discuss the solution methods for each phone to make it easier for our readers. We will focus on the Android devices from the following manufacturers.
- Samsung
- Huawei
- Google Nexus
- LG Phones
- HTC
- Sony Phones
So, if your phone belongs to any of the above, all you need to do is follow the steps, and you should be able to get rid of the annoying error message.
Hard Reset Your Phone
The first thing to do is to reset your Android device hard. It’s the quickest method and sometimes most effective too. So, here is how you can force restart your phone:
- In Samsung phones, press and hold the power button and the volume down button for approximately 20 seconds.
- In Sony phones, press the power and then the volume up button a few times until your device starts to reboot.
- For LG Phones, press the power key and volume down key simultaneously and hold the keys until the LG logo appears on your phone screen.
- In HTC phones, press and hold the power key and the volume down button.
- In Google Nexus, press the Power and Volume down button together, and it will reboot your phone.
- In Huawei phones, you can rest your phone by pressing the power and the volume up button simultaneously.
Now, if you reset the phone but still see the dreadful ‘unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped’ error, you can go with one of the following techniques.
Fix Date and Time On Your Phone
At times, disabling the automatic date and time updates can get rid of the problem. So, please follow the steps mentioned below:
- Go to your device settings.
- Find Date and Time settings.
- Next, find and disable both ‘Automatic Time Zone’ and ‘Automatic date & time.’
- Next, manually set your time zone and time.
Clear Your Android Device Cache
If the error still exists, the next option is to clear the cache on your Android phone.
So, if you have Android version 4.3 or higher, the following method should help clear the cache. There’s quite a chance that this technique will resolve the problem.
- Go to settings.
- Tap/click on ‘Storage’.
- Next, tap/click on ‘Cached Data.’
- Finally, tap/click OK on the following pop up and you’ll clear your cache.
Clear Phone App Data and Cache
You can also try to clear your phone app cache and data. Mostly, it can fix ‘unfortunately the process com.android.phone has stopped’ errors. Here is how to do it:
- Go to settings
- Tap/click on ‘All Apps’
- Tap/click on ‘Phone’ and then tap on ‘Clear Cache.’
- If this method doesn’t give you the results, go back and repeat the process and ‘Clear Data’.
Once you clear cache and data, you will need to restart the system for the settings to take effect.
Clear Cache and Data of the SIM Toolkit App
The procedure is similar to clearing the Phone app data to precise data and cache of the SIM Toolkit app. First, choose the SIM Toolkit after navigating to the ‘All Apps’ menu and tap on ‘Clear Cache.
Boot in Safe Mode
If clearing the cache partition doesn’t fix the problem, it is time to reboot the device in safe mode.
Sometimes, it is possible to download a faulty application that can induce the error, unfortunately. So, booting in safe mode can help fix the issue on your android device.
With Safe Mode booting, you will be able to identify the fault in any of your apps. Hence, you can uninstall the app to prevent further errors.
Here is how you can do it:
- Press and hold the power button, and then the restart menu should appear.
- By long-pressing power off, you will see an option to reboot your device.
- Now, press ‘OK’ to restart your device in Safe mode.
- You can now check if any apps are causing the problem.
Disable Automatic Updates
Often stopping the automatic updates on your Android device can help prevent the error. Some developers suggest that it is an effective method to stop the error messages. Here is how can control automatic Android updates:
- Open the Play Store app and tap on ‘Menu.’
- Go to ‘settings’ and tap/click on ‘Auto-Update Apps’
- Select ‘Do not Auto-Update Apps’
Wipe Off Cache Partition
For this method to work, you need to open your android phone in recovery mode. This method will allow you to prevent error messages without losing any valuable data from your phone.
Therefore, you won’t need to create any data backup. Here is how to do it:
- Turn off your phone.
- Press and hold power and the Home or Volume down button. It should open the recovery mode.
- Now release your phone’s power button after your phone vibrates.
- In the recovery mode, you will see a menu that you can navigate.
- Select ‘Wipe Cache Partition’ and confirm the settings through the power button. Your cache will now be deleted.
- Now, select ‘Reboot Phone,’ and it will restart your android phone.
Using the AROMA File Manager
AROMA File Manager is software used for the custom recovery of your android phone. You can download this software from the XDA website. Many developers suggested that this software has proved helpful in preventing error messages, so it’s quite an effective solution to the problem.
Once you have downloaded the AROMA software, you can use it to clear the cache and temporary files from your mobile, potentially holding the cause of errors in your phone. It’s free software, so it’s an option worth exploring.
Renew Your APN Settings
At times, it may not be the software or apps installed on your phone that might be causing the problem. For instance, if you get an error when connecting to the internet, please reset your network setting and acquire new APN settings.
- Go to settings and open the Reset option.
- Reset WiFi, Mobile Network, and Bluetooth options. Reset all the external connectivity options on your phone.
- Next, reboot your device and remove the sim card.
- After rebooting, insert the sim card again to receive new APN settings.
- Click ‘install’ to acquire the new settings, and your phone will get rid of the error.
If there is a problem due to the network, this method should work.
The Last Resort – Factory Reset
If nothing seems to be working for you, there is no option other than to take extreme measures. A Factory Reset will kill all the problems in your phone and take it back to the most basic state.
However, you must back up important data before making a move.
So, to factory reset your phone, here is what you must do.
First, turn off your phone, usually holding the Volume up or home and power button together. Then, when you feel the vibration, release the power button.
After that, the android phone will launch its logo to release the other keys. From there, you will get multiple options where you can select Factory reset through the volume keys.
Remember, once you factory reset, there is no turning back. Therefore, you must make sure to backup the essential data because you’re not getting it back any other way.
Creating Data Backup
All the steps mentioned above have been tried and tested, so they are likely to fix the problem. However, it is best to devise a recovery mechanism to prevent any data loss. Therefore, please make sure to create a data backup before clearing data.
Hence, you can shift your data to an SD card that you can later retrieve from any of your devices.
Conclusion
As an Android user, you have the rights reserved to enjoy a flawless experience on your phone or any other android device. However, sometimes errors like com.android.phone have stopped can become quite annoying. Often they pop up recursively, which means you cannot enjoy your favorite apps or games.
However, there are easy fixes that are tried and tested, as we’ve discussed here. Mostly, at least one of these will work, and that’s good enough to solve the problem. So now that you know these methods, it shouldn’t be much of a problem to fix the issue.
