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Why Does My Phone Hang Up By Itself? (Causes, Fixes)

By Saira Tabassum August 8, 2022

confused man with phone

 

Smartphones help you complete your daily tasks and communicate with people easily.

A device can also hang up while on standby.

An application may also freeze during a task, resulting in data loss.

If your phone frequently hangs up by itself, you’re in the right place.

Here are the top causes of freezing and their fixes.

 

Why Does My Phone Hang Up By Itself? (11 Causes)

hand holding texting using mobile

 

A phone may hang because of poor network signals that slow down the system.

Your device may also freeze when its storage space or RAM is low.

Some smartphones also hang up if the software edition is outdated.

Another prevalent cause of phone hanging is outdated apps or downloading applications with malware.

Overheating may also slow down your device and cause it to freeze in the middle of tasks.

Here are the complete details of different reasons that lead to the hanging of a phone:

 

1. Poor Phone Signals

No network phone

 

You may not believe that phone signals can cause your phone to hang up, but it is a legitimate cause.

Most people usually face trouble when they receive a call, but the device hangs up.

This may happen before or after picking up the call.

The main reason behind such hanging is a poor network signal.

You can check the strength by noticing the bars on the top-right side of your mobile screen.

If you have fewer than three bars, your phone signal is poor.

Having no bars is also of concern because it may affect the device when you receive an online call and cause the app to hang.

Your phone can also hang if the bars fluctuate constantly.

This is because the networks interfere with other signals the device uses.

 

2. Low Storage Space

Low angle view of upset african american woman in white shirt with phone

 

All mobile phones come with a specific storage space that may be in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB).

Low-cost devices mainly have a maximum storage space of 8 GB.

Some phones also come with 16 GB of storage space.

Other prevalent figures in Android phones are 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB.

Apple devices are more advanced, with high storage space that may reach terabytes.

Your Android phone is more prone to hang due to insufficient storage space than your Apple device.

Many reasons contribute to insufficient storage space, such as the installation of various apps.

You may also download movies on your phone using Google or other platforms.

Such installations can take from a few MBs to a few GBs on your device.

Pre-installed apps that you may not use also take up space on the phone.

Whenever your phone is low on storage, it will start to hang due to apps competing with each other for background use.

 

3. Low RAM

looking at phone with confused expression

 

Many people confuse RAM with storage space, but these two things are completely different.

Random Access Memory (RAM) is part of all devices and is used for managing the operating system.

It is relatively lower than the total storage space of your phone.

The main purpose of RAM is to keep your apps on the phone and hold data that you are currently using.

Anything saved in the background or downloaded on your phone mainly contributes to the storage space.

This is why mobiles with low RAM capacity can also be advanced.

A low capacity may work for you if your phone needs aren’t high or you don’t download many apps, photos, or videos.

If your requirements are high, the RAM will be low on space, and your phone will hang.

People who have been using the same device for years are likely to suffer from low RAM.

The phone will start to hang because only a specific number of apps can run simultaneously.

 

4. Outdated Software

Girl looking at smartphone

 

All Androids and Apple devices come with pre-installed software that the company regularly updates.

If you don’t install the new software for a long time, your device will start to hang.

This is because the apps on your phone will become less compatible with the installed software.

Your apps may update automatically from the Play Store or App Store to offer you a seamless experience.

Developers mainly release new updates to be more compatible with the new Android and iOS software editions.

If your apps crash frequently, your phone software requires an update.

Frequent crashing and freezing of apps may also cause the device to hang for more than a few minutes.

 

5. Outdated Apps

Person hand holds smartphone after system update.

 

As a phone user, you may require various apps to enjoy your free time and complete your daily tasks.

Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and WhatsApp are a few apps that are present on every teenager’s phone.

Working adults also use Google Workspace, multiple calendar apps, and project management platforms.

These apps are frequently updated by their respective developers to offer a seamless user experience.

However, the update may not download automatically on your phone.

This is especially true if you have turned off the auto-update feature on your Google Play Store or App Store.

Apps also do not update if your mobile is connected to a 4G or 5G network instead of WiFi.

This is because the default phone setting is to download updates and apps only on secure WiFi networks.

If an app has had a pending update for a long time, it will crash whenever you open it.

Some apps also hang for a few minutes before shutting down automatically by your phone system.

These applications come under the outdated category and will also slow down other updated apps on your phone.

 

6. Apps With Malware

Male hand holding smartphone with virus

 

Android users have higher flexibility than Apple users because of the ability to download third-party apps from different websites.

You can install applications that may not be available at the Play Store.

This may be helpful at times and allow you to work better, but it may not be the case every time.

Not all external apps on the internet are secure or created by reliable developers.

Some third-party apps are created by cyber criminals with hidden malware designed to steal your data.

Downloading such an app will not only leak your information but will also slow your phone.

Some apps also contain random malware that can cause your device to hang.

This also applies to apps that have not been thoroughly tested for bugs.

Applications in beta mode are also famous for causing many devices to hang because the developer’s code is not error-free.

You must also remember that some apps downloaded authentically from Google Play Store may also have bugs.

Some developers do not publish new versions of their old apps or develop malware-free versions.

These applications may also cause your phone to shut down automatically.

 

7. Overheating

smart phone put in the sun on the wood table making it hot or over heat

 

All technological devices heat up after they are in use for a few hours or longer.

This is true for all electronic items such as laptops, Bluetooth speakers, smartphones, and tablets.

Phones also overheat when you use them while charging.

Some apps also use more data and battery power than other applications.

This may also lead to overheating while using the phone.

The normal operating temperature for a mobile device is 35°C to 38°C.

Any value above the earlier range causes a phone to overheat and start hanging.

The internal battery may also suffer damage and burst if the temperature exceeds the average maximum temperature.

Overheating causes your phone processes to slow by decreasing the overall efficiency.

Kids’ phones suffer from overheating more frequently because children run many games on their phones.

The battery may also be faulty if your device’s temperature rises easily during a low-usage time.

High background usage of apps also causes overheating and hanging of the phone.

 

8. Live Wallpapers

woman thinking with phone

 

Every user loves to personalize their phone to enjoy the device better.

Some people keep passcodes for privacy and to keep the mobile away from kids.

Applying themes to the home and lock screens is also a prevalent way to personalize a phone.

You may choose a live wallpaper or theme instead of a standard option.

Such themes affect your device’s RAM and may cause the capacity to run low.

This means that the overall performance of your phone will decrease.

Live wallpapers also slow down a device significantly and may cause it to hang before unlocking the phone.

Your face lock mechanism can also freeze if the device hangs on the lock screen.

Holding the wallpaper on unlocked iPhones allows the live wallpaper to play.

This can also cause the phone to hang while being unlocked.

The video may get stuck or play on a loop preventing you from opening apps or performing other tasks.

 

9. Changing Apps Constantly

Attractive young businesswoman using smartphone

 

Multitasking is prevalent in today’s busy world because people love to get the most work done in less time.

This can work for you and help you get away from the office early.

You may also multitask on your phone while working a remote job.

Shifting from one app to another using your phone’s recent app history is a prevalent way to multitask.

Doing this is harmful because changing applications constantly can cause your phone to hang.

This is especially true if you use more than three apps within a few seconds or minutes.

An electronic device can also withstand being burdened to a certain extent.

Overusing your phone will result in poor performance and freezing of apps.

Sometimes the device may work if you use the home button to return to the home page.

This mainly happens when only the app has frozen.

However, some apps cause your device to get stuck completely for several minutes to a few hours.

 

10. Low Battery

Man holds mobile device low battery

 

Another prevalent cause of the phone hanging itself is low battery.

The charging percentage may be below 20%, and the phone may be in low power mode.

Continuing to use the device with a low battery will cause some apps to slow, and the screen may hang for a few minutes.

This issue mainly applies to Android devices instead of Apple phones.

Your device may also hang if you’re running a process that uses a lot of power and RAM.

Playing a movie in the background on a low battery is a leading reason behind the freezing of the screen.

Using mobile data instead of WiFi on a low battery also causes the phone to slow.

This is especially true if the device is also in low power mode.

Opening some apps using the data may cause the application to crash or your phone to freeze.

Devices that get stuck due to low battery mainly return to normal within a few minutes.

This may not always happen, especially if the charging is less than 5%.

 

11. Using VPN For Prolonged Time

Man holding phone app vpn

 

A VPN helps you perform many office tasks and enjoy recreational activities.

You may use the app to view websites unavailable in your region

The VPN may also allow you to unblock different TV series and movies on streaming services such as Netflix.

The app may be useful, but a VPN slows your network when the connection is up for a long time.

Your phone’s performance will decrease due to the app.

A VPN also has high background usage than most other apps.

This is why it is more likely to cause your phone to hang even when you’re doing nothing.

 

Why Does My Phone Hang Up By Itself? (8 Fixes)

Close up of a man using smartphone

 

A general fix for phone hanging is getting better signals to avoid network issues.

You may also get an SD card to eliminate the insufficient storage space problem.

Updating your phone’s software and apps will also ensure the best compatibility and low risk of hanging.

Buying a device with a high RAM capacity is also suitable for avoiding phone hanging.

You should also avoid using VPNs for prolonged periods for optimal device performance.

Here are the details of the various fixes for a phone hanging up:

 

1. Get Better Signal

Getting better signals will help you prevent your phone from hanging due to poor signal strength.

You can get better networks by using the device in an area with more mobile towers.

If your house is in a remote location, you may not be able to resolve this issue easily.

Another way to get better signals is by getting an antenna or complaining to your network provider.

You should also check which parts of your home cause you to have higher bars.

Going to that place when taking calls reduces the risk of freezing or the call hanging up.

 

2. Use SD Card

Low storage is a prevalent cause of a phone hanging up.

The best way to fix this issue is by using an SD card.

This fix is mainly for Android devices because the external card will offer more storage space.

The best part is you can choose the storage value of your SD card.

You can also avoid low space by getting a device with high memory than your needs.

For iPhone users, the recommended storage space is 256 GB or above for people with high needs.

 

3. Get A High RAM Capacity

One version of a phone may come with different RAM capacities.

You can get a device with high capacity to ensure you don’t run low on space.

This is because there is no easy fix, such as getting an external card for low RAM.

Therefore, you must ensure the RAM of your phone is relatively high.

You can also avoid low RAM capacity by avoiding downloading games on your phone.

It is also best to only install relevant social media apps.

Deleting unused apps is useful for saving storage and RAM space.

 

4. Update Your Device

Updating your device is also necessary to prevent your phone from hanging.

The new software will eliminate all the earlier bugs on your phone.

It will also upgrade the security system to ensure a seamless experience.

Another benefit of updating software is that the apps on your phone will be more compatible.

The chances of your device hanging will decrease significantly.

The phone may also become faster after a software update, preventing apps from crashing often.

 

5. Update Apps

Your phone’s software may be updated, but the benefits will be minimal unless you also update the installed apps.

If an application’s new version is released, be sure to download it promptly.

This will prevent the app from crashing and remove bugs from your device.

Updated apps also mean the best compatibility between your device and the application.

You should also avoid signing up for beta versions because a bug in the beta app may cause your phone to hang

It is best to use only tested and official versions of the application.

 

6. Avoid Downloading Third-Party Apps

Downloading apps from Google or other browsers means the source and developer of the app are unknown.

Such apps require specific permissions for installation.

If you permit the download, your phone may suffer from malware released by the app.

You should avoid downloading apps that require you to turn on the download from unknown sources option on your device.

Sticking to Play Store for apps is best because the developers are reliable.

 

7. Avoid Using The Phone For Long Periods

Another fix for phone hanging is to avoid using the device for prolonged periods.

This will prevent your mobile from overheating due to overuse.

You should also not use your phone while it is charging.

Avoiding live wallpapers is also helpful for preventing overheating because such themes run in the background.

They may heat your phone on standby and cause hanging.

This is why standard wallpapers are preferable.

 

8. Do Not Multitask

Avoiding multitasking is another great way to prevent your phone from hanging.

You should also not perform high data-consuming tasks on mobiles and use laptops instead.

This is better for viewing websites mainly compatible with desktops.

If you want to do specific tasks on the phone, be sure to avoid using more than two apps at once.

It will allow your device to perform optimally instead of freezing.

 

Conclusion

This is everything you need to know about why your phone hangs up.

Your phone can hang because of lack of space, overheating, or RAM issues

Freeing up space and rebooting your phone occasionally can help prevent hanging.

Filed Under: Phones

About Saira Tabassum

Saira is a professional technical writer, copy writer, and a proposal writer. She has 5 years of experience in the writing field. Saira also enjoys creative writing (poetry, fiction, non-fiction) and aspires to enroll in an MFA program in the future.
Saira currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. She enjoys hiking, cooking, and streaming Netflix.

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