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Almost every Android phone user will experience this error at one point in time or the other. Out of the blues, an error box up pops up on your device with a message that says, “ Unfortunately, google app has stopped working “.

It doesn’t matter whether you are using the latest Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi, Redmi, or OnePlus Android smartphone, it is an error that pops up across all manufacturers because it has little to do with them. It happens because something is wrong with the Google app.

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The first thing to remember is that this isn’t a grievous situation. Your Android smartphone has not been hacked and will not stop working or die off on you. It can be fixed through one of a handful of possible options, as laid out below.

  • Things you can do to fix the “Unfortunately, Google App has Stopped” error Restart the Google app Restart your smartphone or tablet Update Your Android Smartphone or tablet Update the Google app Uninstall Any Google App Update(s) Clear your Google app cache Clear your Google app data
  • Wrapping up

Things you can do to fix the “Unfortunately, Google App has Stopped” error

Restart the Google app

We can’t emphasize it enough: a simple restart is an easy reset mechanism that has the potentials to clear simple problems. And it is so easy that anyone can do it. The first step you should take to attempt to fix the “Google app has stopped working” error is to restart the app.

  1. Open Settings ​.
  2. Under “Device,” tap Apps or Application manager .
  3. Select Google App Force stop OK .

To check if you get results, try your search again.

Restart your smartphone or tablet

If restarting the Google app doesn’t work, the next easiest thing to try out is to restart your phone or tablet. Power it off, and wait a 2 to 5 minutes, before powering it back up. Again, this is a good first or second step to take whenever your phone throws up an error.

Update Your Android Smartphone or tablet

Running an available software update on your Android device is a possible way to resolve the “unfortunately Google app has stopped working” error. Why is this?

Google regularly releases bug fixes and performance improvements via software updates. As such, if the cause of this error is a big that they are aware of, chances are that a fix is coming via an update. So, keep your device updated.

To check if a software update is available for your Android device, follow these steps:

  1. On your Android device, find and tap on the “Settings” icon. That’s the one that looks like a gear wheel.
  2. Tap on “About Phone”.
  3. Tap on the “About Device”
  4. Tap on “System Update”.

Your phone will connect to Google servers to check if an update is available. If it is, go ahead to download and install it. You will need to restart your device after it is done.

If the update contains a fix for the “Google app has stopped working” issue, the error won’t pop up any more. If it continues to pop up, there are other fixes you can explore.

Don’t get tired and allow yourself to be frustrated. Like all computerised gadgets, a smartphone or tablet has issues – and they can all be fixed. See the next option below.

Update the Google app

Let’s try updating just the Google app instead. Open Play Store and search for “Google app”, then see if there is an update available for it. If there is, run the update.

Uninstall Any Google App Update(s)

In a paradoxical twist, while an update can fix the error, the error also could have been caused by an update to the app. Sometimes, a new app update introduces bugs. Until the bugs are ironed out by Google, one way you can temporarily resolve the problem is by uninstalling that update. Makes sense; right?

If you think back, did the “Unfortunately, Google app has stopped working” error start showing up after you updated the apps on your phone or tablet? If so, chances are that the update to the Google app was buggy and you need to uninstall it. Follow the steps below.

  1. Open “Settings” on your Android device.
  2. Tap on “Applications”.
  3. Tap on “Application Manager” to see a list of all the apps installed on your Android device.
  4. Scroll down the list to locate the Google App. If it isn’t listed there, then it is hidden away in the Systems Apps menu. Look at the top right corner of the screen and tap on the icon that looks like 3 vertical dots. This opens the list of System Apps. Find and tap on the Google App.
  5. Tap on the “Uninstall Update” button.

Any updates installed for the Google app get deleted at this point. You should restart your device and use it to see if the error has gone away.

Clear your Google app cache

When you clear an app’s cache, you delete data stored in a temporary area of the device’s memory. Sometimes, the “Google app has stopped working” error shows up because the app’s temporary cache has accumulated some junk.

Clearing the app cache does not delete permanent files, so you have nothing to fear. Here is what to do to clear your Google app cache:

  1. Open Settings ​.
  2. Under “Device,” tap Apps or Application manager .
  3. Select Google App .
  4. Under “Storage” or “Cache,” tap Clear cache .

To check if the error is gone, use the Google app again.

Clear your Google app data

The last option we recommend is to clear the Google app data. This is a more drastic action, similar to a factory reset on a device. It clears and deletes all of the app’s data, including files and settings.

Follow these steps to clear your Google app data:

  1. Open Settings ​.
  2. Under “Device,” tap Apps or Application manager .
  3. Select Google App .
  4. Under “Storage,” tap Manage space Clear Google search data .

Use Google on your phone again to see if the “Google app has stopped working” error pops up again. Hopefully, it doesn’t.

Wrapping up

Keep in mind that many problems resolve on their own or future app or software updates will be released to fix them. If you followed the above steps and the “Google app has stopped working” error keeps showing up, do keep your eyes open for any future app and software updates, and apply them when they show up.

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Author:InfoDesk

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News flash! Yes; your phone can be hacked while you are charging it at a public point. If you plug your phone to charge using a USB port at a public place, or plug it to someone’s PC or laptop, it can be hijacked or infected with malware. It is called juice jacking.

No; I didn’t make that up to alarm you. I mean it for real. Your smartphone’s USB port is a doorway to your phone and you should be careful where you plug it in. Let me explain it in clear terms to you with something you can relate to.

You see, if you are able to plug your phone to your laptop or PC to copy files, then someone with access to whatever you plug your phone into can copy files – including malware – to your phone and hijack it. You do get the picture now; don’t you? That is why a smartphone can be hacked while you are charging it.

USB charging chords are no longer just charging cables. They are also transmission channels for data. In effect doorways to your phone. So, your phone can be hacked or infected if you plug it into someone’s PC. If a malicious person sets up a public charging kiosk and you plug your phone there…..your guess is as good as mine. Gone girl.

Even where the charging station is run by trusted operators, a malicious person acting independently can plug in a laptop and load malware into the network. The result is that anyone who plugs in their smartphone there to charge is vulnerable and can be compromised. The attacker has enough access to take full control of your device through an implanted malware.

Simply put, when you plug your precious smartphone into a USB outlet or device, you open it up to data transfer, and in the case of malicious actors, you could lose financial information, or get it infected with a virus, ransomware or some other malware. Nasty business.

Your smartphone from being hacked while you are charging it - 2

What can you do to prevent your phone from being hacked while you are charging it?

  1. Abstinence . No; I’m not talking about sex. Avoid charging your smartphone via public spots. As I have repeated to people a million times in the last two decades, physical access is the easiest way gadgets get infected or hacked. Stay away. Get a power bank for when you are out and about.
  2. Buy a charging-only cable . If you must use a public point, one thing you can do to prevent your smartphone or tablet from being compromised or hacked while you are charging it is to use a charging-only cable. In addition to the standard, full capacity USB cable that comes with your phone, you can also buy a charging-only cable for use in public places. That kind of cable does not have the ability to transmit data. It charges only, and so cannot be used to hack or infect your device.
  3. Avoid USB outlets : If you must charge your phone while away from home, do it using the standard power outlets and not computers or any USB outlet. Generally, avoid plugging your smartphone into random USB ports. Even a USB flash drive plugged in can spell disaster.
  4. Lock your phone . “But I don’t have anything to hide” Don’t be an idiot: you have a lot to lose, including bank account details and other critical information. Put a password on your smartphone.
  5. What of mobile antivirus? The jury is still out on how effective these are, but you should consider installing one from a trusted name e.g. Avast, AVG, ESET, Kaspersky, Norton, and others.

Hopefully, you won’t forget the lessons shared here. You really do not want to be a victim of malware and have your data stolen or device in the control of a stranger. Take steps to prevent your phone from being hacked when you are charging it.

Don’t give physical access to your phone. That includes leaving it in someone’s hands while you dash to the loo, or plugging it into someone’s laptop to charge. The owner of the laptop might mean no malice, but it won’t matter if the laptop is infected already. It gets passed to you. Stay safe.

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Author:Mister Mobility

Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004