What’s worse than a dead phone? One that takes too long to charge! This has certainly happened to most of us before: you’re rushing out of the door and you happen to see there’s just 5% left of battery! Here are some tips on how you can get your Android phone to charge faster!
The right plug and charger
First off, you want to ensure that you plug your phone into the wall socket, and in the best case scenario, using the charger that came with your phone, though nowadays, Android device chargers are universal. If you are in a hurry, avoid plugging your phone into your computer or laptop, because this will definitely slow down the charging speed, as will Qi wireless charging.
Get into airplane mode
Now enable airplane mode on your device to speed up charging. Depending on your device, there could be various ways to get to this. For example, on my Nexus 5, I simply long press on the power button, and select airplane mode when it appears. You can also go into the Quick Settings, by swiping down with two fingers. Every device is different, but you most likely know how to turn it on. Airplane mode blocks any wireless radios on your device, which means you won’t receive any calls, messages, internet access etc, but it’s all worth it when you think you’ll have a device that will still be on for the next few hours.
Turn on airplane mode to make your phone charge faster.
Turn that bad boy off
If you don’t actually need your phone at the moment, go ahead and turn it off completely. Obviously, any alarms or notifications won’t come through when it is off, but this is something you might just need to live without if you are racing the clock.
Switch off unnecessary features
Check to see if you have any unnecessary features on, like Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, NFC etc. Close out of all your apps and stop your phone from doing any automatic backups or updating apps from the Google Play Store. These are just small, but golden tips when you are in a rush. Plus, everything can be easily switched back to normal when you’re out of the door and sitting in the train or bus. That being said, we highly discourage doing this if you are driving.
Switch off some system features if you aren't using them.
Don't touch!
If you need to have your phone on though, and even want to leave it off airplane mode, because you have an important call, message or something of the sort, try to suppress the urge to check your phone every thirty seconds. Why? Because the screen is the biggest battery drainer of them all.
Your Android phone is many things: one of your most precious possessions, a statement of who you are, and maybe even the place where you keep your secrets. And yet many of us don’t protect our phones properly, or we do daft things that could do serious damage to our data or our reputations. What shouldn’t you do with your smartphone?
Wrapping your phone in confectionery is probably a bad idea.
According to Paul Simon there are fifty ways to leave your lover, including “hop on the bus, Gus” and “make a new plan, Stan”. What would the list be like if he were singing about phones rather than partners? Would his Android anthem include such advice as “don’t forget to lock the screen, Gene”? Er, probably not, and it’d probably be rubbish - but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a sensible list of things you really shouldn’t do with your smartphone. Here are some of our favourites.
Don’t forget to lock the screen, Gene
A lockable phone is a happy phone - and there are stacks of great lockscreen apps.
The more we do on our phones, the more damage someone can do if they can get access to it - and one of the simplest ways to secure your phone is to lock it. There’s no shortage of great lockscreen apps on Android, and many of them add useful features as well as security.
Remember to update, Kate
It can be hard keeping tabs on which devices get Android updates, but it’s worth paying attention: each new version of Android is mightier than the last. Google Play Services keep the guts of your device current, but the big updates can make your phone feel brand new all over again.
Don’t charge it over USB, Dee
Remember: chargers good. Laptops bad.
Chargers are not created equal: plugging your phone into your computer’s USB port doesn’t deliver as much juice as when you use a dedicated charger.
Don’t forget to back it up, Chuck
Your life is on your phone. Imagine how you’d feel if you lost the device and it took all your precious photos and top secret world domination plans with it. Backing up isn’t hard, and it’s a very necessary thing to do. As our Kris puts it, “getting good backup habits is like having good dental habits. It may not be the sexiest activity, but the alternative is far worse.”
Don’t store it all online, Caroline
Kris again: “If something happens to your cloud provider, what happens to your data? When MegaUpload shut down a while back there was a whole lot of uploaded data that simply vanished into thin air.” Cloud storage is a great thing, but whether data is in your device or on a faraway server if it matters to you, you should ensure that there’s more than one copy of it in circulation.
Don’t let it overheat, Pete
Don't try this one at home.
We’ve seen stacks of stories about exploding Android phones, and while the culprit is usually a badly made no-name knock-off battery or charger there are still charging issues you should consider. It’s a very bad idea to leave your phone somewhere warm when it’s charging, regularly letting your battery run to nearly zero is bad for its longevity and you should disconnect it when it’s fully charged. More tips here.
Don’t leave the screen exposed, Jose
Gorilla Glass is great, but it can only do so much: while it takes a lot to break or seriously damage a smartphone screen, it also takes a lot of money to replace one if it does get damaged. Screen protectors and cases are a kind of gadget insurance: they’re worth buying because the potential costs of not using them are enormous.
Don’t leave it in the rain, Jane
Sony Xperia Z3 users can skip this one, because their phones are dishwasher-proof, but if your phone isn’t waterproof then dampness and extreme humidity are to your phone what sunlight and stakes are to Dracula. Water damage is one of the most common kinds of smartphone damage [http://www.androidpit.com/smartphones-dropped-in-toilet-buy-xperia-z3-or-galaxy-active], and even water resistant devices can only stay submerged for so long.
Don’t keep photos of your bits, Fritz
If your pics are less family-friendly, don't leave them in your photo gallery.
Everybody loves taking selfies, but if your shots are of the, ahem, intimate variety then it’s a very good idea to ensure they’re not in your photo gallery when you pass the phone to a friend, employer or church minister.
Don’t buy it on a plan, Jan
The worst way to buy a cutting-edge smartphone is on a monthly contract: as we discovered with the Moto X 2014, there’s a good chance of massive discounts within a few months of launch. The combination of SIM-only contracts and a little patience pays dividends.
Don’t let them see your tracks, Jack
If you’ve been using your phone to look at things you shouldn’t, such as, er, top-secret Christmas shopping you’ve been doing, you really don’t want anybody else to see the endless pages of red hot wrapping paper and saucy kindling that you’ve been looking at. The good news is that clearing your browsing history couldn’t be easier. Here’s how to do it.
Don’t install dodgy apps, chaps
Stay safe out there.
Almost all mobile malware targets Android - and in particular, it targets Android users who don’t pay attention to what they’re downloading and who frequent less reputable sources of apps. If you’re sideloading apps from Pirate Pete’s World of Warez, you’re asking for trouble.
What do you think? Are there any smartphone no-nos we've missed?
Who’s ever run into this situation? You find an interesting application and download it only to receive a cryptic error message with seemingly random numbers that appears in Google Play Store. Here are the solutions to motor over the top of some of those pesky errors.
The solutions for the errors described below are based on the experiences of AndroidPIT editors as well as readers and moderators from the forum. If you encounter any other problems from Google Play, feel free to share your experiences in the comments and forum.
Google Play - Error 491
Problem
Downloads and updates impossible.
Solution
Remove your Google account by going to the settings for your device, then accounts and Google. Hit remove account. Reboot your Android and add the account once again. Next, in the settings, go to Apps (Applications) and swipe to find ‘All’ of your apps. Scroll down to Google Services, then click clear data and finally force stop.
Google Play - Error 498
Problem
Interruption of downloads from the Google Play Store
Solution
The problem is that the cache of your device is full. Delete unneeded applications and files. Restart your smartphone in recovery mode by pressing the volume down, power and home buttons (for Samsung devices) or volume down and power (for most other devices). This mode provides a few more options. Select wipe cache partition by navigating between options with the volume rocker. Confirm using the power button.
Wiping your cache partition is a solution to many problems on Android.
Google Play - Error 919
Problem
Downloading the app works but it does not open once downloaded.
Solution
There is simply no more space on your Android. Eliminate all unnecessary data: music, videos or large applications.
Google Play - Error 413
Problem
Downloading applications or updates is impossible. If you use a proxy, remember that it may cause problems with the operation of the Google Play Store.
Solution
In Settings, find Apps (or application manager), then swipe to All. Scroll down to Google Services and tap on clear data and then force stop. Do the same with the Google Play Store app and clear the cache from your internet browser.
When fixing some of these problems, just clear the cache and the data from the Google Play Store app in your phone's settings.
Google Play - Error 921
Problem
You can’t download an app.
Solution
Try deleting the cache of the Google Play Store application. If this doesn’t work, delete all the Play Store application data, but please be advised that this will consequently delete all the settings that you’ve already made. As a last resort, remove your Google account, restart the device and enter it again.
For some of the problems, you need to remove and reinstated your Google Account.
Google Play - Error 403
Problem
The download is impossible and the request is ''forbidden''. This usually happens when two Google accounts are used to buy applications on one device.
Solution
Go the Google Play Store with the correct Google account. Uninstall the application in question. Next try to get the app from Google Play again and click the purchase button.
2nd Solution
Clear the proxy you have possibly set up by going into the settings, then choose Wireless and Networks (or More networks) and then Mobile Network. Select APN, which stands for Access Point Name and hit Clear Proxy Option. Afterward you can always reinstate the proxy.
Go to your settings, More networks, Mobile networks, then APN. In here you should hit the Clear proxy option
3rd solution
Another solution would be get erase your entire search history which you can do in the Play Store itself by choosing the settings button. Next, select Clear search history.
4th solution
Try creating a new Google account and using it instead for the Play Store. Go to the Google Play, and select the menu button again. Then select accounts and choose the new Gmail account. Then re-install the app.
Google Play - Error 923
Problem
The download is impossible: error while syncing your Google account or insufficient cache memory.
Solution
Remove your Google account and delete any useless applications that are just taking up space. Next, reboot your device in recovery mode. Select wipe cache partition and start your device as usual. Don’t worry, your personal data won’t be deleted. Set up your Google account once again.
Using your volume keys, highlight "wipe cache partition". Select it using the power button. Confirm the action on the next page using the volume and power keys once again.
Google Play - Error 492
Problem
It’s impossible to install an application due to the Dalvik cache.
Solution
Under settings, find Apps, then swipe to All and scroll down to Google Services. Here, select clear data and then force stop. Do the same on the Google Play Store app.
Note: If the problem is not solved, try deleting the Dalvik cache. To do this, enter the custom recovery mode (only if you have root). Another solution is to complete a data wipe/ factory reset. This option applies to all users and can be done in recovery mode. Beware, it will wipe your data so make sure you have backed up everything you wish to keep.
Google Play - Error 927
Problem
The download is impossible because an update of the Play Store is in progress.
Solution
Wait a few minutes until the Google Play Store is completely upgraded. If the problem persists, go to settings, then Apps, swipe to All and locate the Google Services. Tap on clear data and then force stop. Do the same with the Google Play Store application.
You have probably guessed by now that there is a standard way of alleviating some of these errors and if there is a problem other than those mentioned above, you could try following the same steps. Always be careful when wiping your data or doing a factory/data reset, this will get rid of your saved pics, files, contacts etc, so make sure you backup all your data beforehand.
Before resorting to a factory reset, make sure you try all other solutions first. You also need to back up your data beforehand.
Google Play install error 961
Problem
Problems when installing Android apps from the Play Store.
Solution
First, get a refund from the Play Store, which you can do within 15 minutes of purchasing. To do this, select the repayment option in the Play Store. Next, go into the settings of your device and choose Applications and swipe left until you see ''All'' apps. Now scroll down to Google Play and choose it. Here, you want to empty the cache. And if the problem persists, choose to delete the data.
Have you ever come across any other Play Store problems, other than those listed above?
