What Does It Mean When Android Is Optimizing Apps? And How To Fix It

This article was made to help you solve issues related to optimizing apps on Android phones. It’s here to give you solutions if you’re having problems with the process.

What Does It Mean To Optimize Apps For Android?

When your Android phone gets a big software update, it wants to make sure all your apps work really well with the new software. It does something which is called “optimizing apps.” This used to take up your whole screen, but now it just gives you a little notification.

But sometimes, if your phone gets stuck in this process, it keeps using up resources in the background, which makes your phone slow down.

When you see the message “Android is optimizing apps,” it means your phone is making your apps run faster and smoother which is no doubt a good thing.

However, if it gets stuck and you see this message every time you start your phone, it can be annoying.

Well, there’s no need to be worried seriously, because the next part of this article will explain how to stop the issue with optimizing apps on your Android phone. Be sure to read it carefully!

Why Is My Android Phone Optimizing Apps?

When Android is optimizing apps, it’s for a few reasons:

1. Android Update: Your Android gets a new version that makes it work better and helps apps run faster. However, this only happens after the update is done right and your apps adjust. If not, you might see the message.
2. Apps That Don’t Match: Every app on your Android needs to match the Android version. If you didn’t notice this when you downloaded the app, you’ll realize it when you see the “Optimizing App” message for a long time. This means only apps that match your Android version can be installed.
3. Apps That Got Stuck: Sometimes an app can get stuck during installation, like if your battery dies suddenly. This can leave the app unfinished and make the optimizing message appear.
4. You Just Installed A New App: When you install a new app, your phone needs to optimize it so that it runs smoothly on your device. This process is usually very quick, but it can take longer for more complex apps.
5. You Restarted Your Phone: When you restart your phone, it sometimes performs a routine optimization of all of your apps. This helps to ensure that all of your apps are running at peak performance.
6. Your Phone Is Low On Storage Space: If your phone is low on storage space, it may start optimizing your apps to free up space. This process can involve deleting temporary files or moving less frequently used apps to external storage.

How To Fix Android Is Optimizing Apps Issue

The “Android is starting, optimizing app” issue usually occurs during the booting process and can be caused by various factors. Here are some steps you can try to fix it:

Fix 1: Restart Your Android Phone

Rebooting your Android phone can often resolve common issues like being stuck on the ‘Android is optimizing apps’ screen.

Once your phone has restarted, it should no longer be stuck on the ‘Android is optimizing apps’ screen. If the issue persists, consider checking out other fixes.

Here’s How You Can Do It:

1. Press And Hold The Power Button: Locate the power button on your Android device. It is usually located at the right-hand-side of your phone. Press and hold it until a menu appears on the screen.
2. Select Restart: From the menu options, look for “Restart” or “Reboot”. Tap on it.
3. Confirm The Restart: If prompted, confirm that you want to restart your phone.
4. Wait For The Restart: Your phone will shut down and then start up again. This may take a few moments.

Fix 2: Turn On Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a setting on your device that turns off all the third-party apps you’ve added and only keeps the basic system apps working. This helps you figure out if a new app is causing a problem.

To Turn On Safe Mode On Android:

1. Hold down the Power button until you see a menu to turn off your phone.
2. Let go of the Power button and quickly hold down the “Power Off” or “Switch Off” option for sometime.
3. The “Safe Mode” option will then appear on your screen. Tap on it.
4. This will restart your phone in safe mode.

Fix 3: Wipe Out Google Play Services Cache

Sometimes, if the Google Play Services cache is messed up, it can cause your phone to get stuck on the ‘Android is optimizing apps’ message.

Follow These Steps To Fix It:

1. Open the app menu by swiping up from your home screen.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Choose Apps.
4. Tap ‘See all apps’.
5. Find and open ‘Google Play Services’. Then select ‘Storage & cache’.
6. Tap ‘Clear cache’ and restart your Android phone.

Fix 4: Make Sure Your Apps Are Up-to-date

Having old versions of apps on your Android can cause the ‘Android is optimizing apps’ message to keep showing up. App programmers often release updates to add new stuff and fix problems. Make sure your apps are up to date from the Play Store.

Here’s How You Can Update Your Apps:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android.
2. Tap your picture in the top right corner.
3. Go to ‘Manage apps & devices’.
4. Then update your apps from the menu that appears.

Fix 5: Reset Your Android Phone To Factory Settings

To reset your device to its factory settings, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your Android device, then go to System, and select Reset.
2. Click on Factory Reset, then choose Reset Phone. You might need to enter your PIN or Password.
3. If you want to delete all your data from the phone’s memory, select Erase Data.
4. After erasing, restart your device.

Remember:

Performing a factory reset will remove all your data and settings. Be sure to back up your phone to prevent data loss.

Fix 6: Reset The Network Settings On Your Android Phone

This action will clear all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data settings. Remember to save any important information beforehand.

Here’s How To Reset Network Settings On Android:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Locate and tap on the Backup & reset option.
3. Choose Network settings reset.
4. Tap Reset settings and confirm.

Fix 7: Uninstall Recently Installed Apps

Some new apps might not work well with the latest Android version. Here’s how to find and remove them:

For Individual Apps:

1. Press and hold on a recently installed app, then tap the (i) App info button located at the upper top right of the menu that appears mostly for Samsung Phones.
2. Select Uninstall and confirm.

For Multiple Apps:

1. Go to Manage apps & device in Google Play Store.
2. Swipe to the Manage menu.
3. Check the apps you want to delete and tap the Trash icon in the top right corner.

Fix 8: Avoid Installing Apps From Unofficial Sources

Installing unverified apps from the internet can cause issues like the ‘Android is optimizing apps’ notification. These apps might not perform well and can get stuck in this process.

It’s best to avoid sideloading apps from unknown sources on the web inorder  to prevent anything that will optimize apps for android phones.

Fix 9: Be Patient And Wait

If you have a lot of apps on your Android phone, it might take a while for the ‘Android is optimizing apps’ process to finish.

The time it takes depends on your phone’s CPU power. It’s a good idea to be patient and wait before trying any troubleshooting steps.

In Conclusion

The “Android is optimizing apps” issue is a common one, but there are a few things you can do to fix it. In most cases, the best solution is to simply wait for the optimization process to finish.

However, if the process takes a long time or if you are seeing other problems, you can try the other solutions listed above.

FAQs

How Long Does Optimizing Your Device Take?

To optimize apps for android devices can take different amounts of time, ranging from a few minutes to several hours.

This depends on how much work it has to do. Just remember not to optimize your device too often, as it can wear out parts unnecessarily.

Why Does My Phone Say Optimizing Apps?

When you update your phone, the apps might need to get ready for the new system. That’s why it says “optimizing apps” during the update.

Further Reading:

• How To Fix Android Hotspot Not Working On iPhone Or iPad

• What Happens When You Update Your Android Phone?

• If I Update My Android Phone Will I Lose Everything?

• How Do I Find My Android Model Name And Number On My Phone?