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If your Android phone acts up after an update, start with low-risk checks: restart it, check update status and free storage, and test whether a downloaded app is involved. Don’t factory reset as a first step. Menu names and update availability vary by phone, so use the manufacturer’s instructions when Google’s general steps don’t match your device.
What should you do first?
- Restart the phone. Use the restart instructions for your model; button combinations and menus are not universal.
- Check for an update. Open Settings and look for System or Software updates. On some phones the option is under About phone, or the label differs. Follow the status shown on screen.
- Check available storage. Open your phone’s storage settings and see how much space is free. Google’s general Android troubleshooting guidance says problems can start when less than 10% of storage is free. That is a troubleshooting threshold, not a guaranteed minimum or an update-specific requirement.
- Test for an app-related problem. Try Safe Mode using your manufacturer’s instructions. Safe Mode temporarily disables downloaded apps. If the issue goes away, a downloaded app may be involved; investigate apps installed or updated recently.
Google distinguishes storage, which holds data such as photos and music, from memory, which apps and the system use while running. Freeing storage may help when the phone is nearly full; it does not establish that an update itself is defective.
Why won’t the update download or finish?
Connect to Wi-Fi and charge the phone to at least 75% before updating, as Google recommends. Check the update screen for its current status rather than repeatedly tapping the download control.
If a download starts but does not complete, Google says Android will automatically try again over the next few days and send another notification. This does not mean every failed update has the same cause or that retrying manually speeds up availability. Update timing depends on the phone, manufacturer, and carrier. Google directs owners of non-Pixel devices to their manufacturer or carrier for update information; see Google’s Android version and update help.
#1 Best Overall
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Why is my phone slow, frozen, or unresponsive?
Work through the first-step checks above: restart, review update status, check free storage, then use Safe Mode to test for a downloaded-app cause. Google’s general guidance includes these checks for freezing and unresponsiveness. If Safe Mode changes the behavior, look at recently installed or updated apps; Safe Mode is a diagnostic test, not a way to repair or roll back the Android update.
What if the phone keeps restarting or crashing?
Google’s Android troubleshooting guidance for repeated restarts and crashes includes checking for system updates, available storage, and app-related causes. If those checks do not resolve the problem, contact the manufacturer. A phone stuck in a boot loop or unable to start needs model-specific instructions: do not improvise a recovery-mode button sequence, because procedures and Android features vary by device and version.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Is battery drain after an update normal?
For Pixel phones, Google says battery use is normally higher than usual after a software update while the phone downloads, optimizes, and sets up the new software. Google does not establish a universal duration for this activity, and the Pixel guidance does not show that every battery problem on every Android phone is normal. For persistent or severe drain, use the device maker’s support guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you factory reset your phone?
Usually, not as an early troubleshooting step. A factory data reset removes data from the phone and uninstalls apps and their associated data. Information saved in your Google Account may be restorable, but that is not a substitute for verifying a backup before you proceed. If a reset becomes necessary, follow the manufacturer’s current procedure for your model rather than a generic button sequence. Google’s Pixel support guidance on resets and data backup describes the data-loss risks.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
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