There's no doubt that Android is the most popular mobile operating system today, but that doesn't immune it from various problems that plague mobile phones. One of such problems is "Unfortunately, Contacts Has Stopped" error message.
Now you may have probably encountered that error message when you open your phone or try to open your contacts app which makes it impossible for you to view your contacts. It could also occur when you are about to make a call or you receive one. The error may even appear when you are working with the phone. All of these can be very annoying if it is not fixed.
Why "Unfortunately, contacts has stopped" error occurs
It has not fully explained why the "Unfortunately, contacts has stopped" error occurs, but various reasons have been considered.
One of the reasons being put forth is related to the cache and data stored in the phone. Google stores cache in the local storage to increase speed of re-downloading apps from Google servers and to reduce the load. The error can also occur when you install an app that is not compatible with your device. Most times the servers and the device are out of sync.
Whatever the reason for the contacts crashing, it needs to be resolved quickly. So below are some possible methods of fixing your crashed contacts.
It will be advisable to try out the solutions one method at a time starting with the first. If the first one method doesn't work, move on to the next one. The final method which will require you to reset your phone should be tried only after you've tried all the other methods preceding it.
Methods in fixing 'unfortunately, contacts has stopped'
Method 1: Restart your device
The first thing to do when you encounter an issue like this is to simply restart your device. This method may potentially fix the problem and many users have claimed that it has worked for them. To do this you have to follow the steps below:
• Go to your phone's Settings.
• Open Application manager or Application or App depending on the model of the device you have.
• Tap on the “All” tab.
• Look for Contacts and tap on it.
• Next tap on Force stop button to stop the app.
Method 2: Clear contacts cache and data of contacts app
Clearing contacts cache and data is very essential since the problem is understandably related to cache. Clearing the cache will get rid of old and corrupted files, enough to solve the problem. So do not hesitate to try it by following the steps below.
• Open your device Settings.
• Go to Applications.
• Now tap on Application manager.
• Swipe left side to or select All tab option
• Now look for and tap on Contacts.
• Next tap on Clear cache button.
• Tap on Clear data button (this will clear your call logs).
Method 3: Erase phone cache partition
We've already agreed that the error may be due to the cache. If the previous method to clear contacts cache and data didn't work, it will be better to clean the phone’s cache. Don't worry, you won't be losing any data. Just follow the steps below.
Step 1: Switch off your device.
Step 2: Hold and press down the Volume + Power button with Home button all together.
Step 3: After some time, release the Power button but keep holding the Volume and Home buttons
Step 4: When you see Android System Recovery screen, release the Volume and Home buttons.
Step 5: Select ‘wipe cache partition’ using Volume down button.
Step 6: Finally, press the Power key to confirm the selection.
After the process is over, you will get an option to ‘Reboot System Now’. Click on it and restart your device.
Method 4: Disable Google+ app
Many people, especially users of Samsung Galaxy series such as S9, j1, j2, and galaxy note 4 reported that the error stopped after they disabled Google+ app. If your device came pre-installed with Google+, then you have to uninstall the updates and disable auto update for the Play Store app. You can also disable the Google+ app using the method below.
• Open your device Settings.
• Go to Application Manager.
• Look for and tap on Google + app.
• Tap on the Disable button. Or you choose to uninstall the app by tapping the Uninstall button afterall there's not much use for app anymore.
Method 5: Update your device software
Most at times, the error is as a result of your device software not being up to date. Updating your device is essential because phone makers constantly send system updates to help fix several bug and related issues that affect the device performance. To see if your device have any update available:
• Go to Settings.
• Search for About Device.
• Tap on Software Update.
Your device will now check if any updates are available. If available, then follow the process to update.
Method 6: Reset App Preferences
One user claims that the error disappeared after resetting app preferences. Since we intend to try all available methods, it's essential that you try this as well.
• Go to Settings.
• Open Apps.
• Tap on the three dots on top right and then click on “Reset app preferences”.
• You can also select “Reset default apps”
Method 7: Delete voicemail
At times when there are too many voicemail stored on your device, it could overflow your buffer and cause your contacts to crash. Even after deleting the voicemails, some will still be left in the voicemail folder which are not deleted completely. To empty the folder completely:
• Open Google Voice app.
• Select Voicemail.
• Next press the menu option and then tap on Delete.
Method 8: Run your device in Safe mode
Running your device on safe mode can help you figure out if the contacts error is due to third-party apps. But running this process will disable all the downloaded apps. If the error doesn't show up in this mode, then the issue must be due to the third-party apps installed on your device. To run your device in safe mode:
• Press and hold down the Power and Volume down buttons.
• When you see the power menu screen, release the power button but continue to press and hold Volume button in order to receive the Safe Mode option.
• Tap on OK to confirm and your device will begin on safe mode.
Method 9: Uninstall recently downloaded apps
As already noted previously, the contacts problem may be caused by other applications installed on your device. So look for the app that could actually be responsible by uninstalling each apps you recently downloaded. Once you finished removing the apps, reboot your device to see if the method works or not. To uninstall the apps, follow the below steps.
• Go to Settings.
• Select Applications.
• Search for and tap on any. recently downloaded app.
• Tap Uninstall to remove the app.
Method 10: Change Date/Time format
At times, the contacts are affected by the date and time on a device. Many Android users claimed that they were able to fix the problem by changing Date/Time format. To try it:
• Go to Settings.
• Select Date & Time.
• Change the format by picking a different date and time. For example, checkmark on the “use 24 hour format” if it is not checked. If it is already checked, uncheck it.
Method 11: Enable Log Provider
On some devices, the contacts error may be because the Log Provider have been disabled. To enable it:
• Go to Settings.
• Open Application Manager.
• Scroll down until you find it and then tap on it.
• Now enable it.
Method 12: Try third-party Phone Dialer app
One of the most effective methods for fixing a crashed contacts app is simply to download a different phone dialer app. You can find many on Google Play Store. Two of the best ones to try are Simpler Contacts app and Simple Dialer.
• Open Google Play Store.
• Type Simpler Contacts app or Simple Dialer at the search bar.
• The name of the app you typed along with a list of other similar apps will then be displayed. Select the one you want and the download process will begin.
Method 13: Reset to Factory Settings
If after trying all the above methods and the contacts error still popups, then the only option left to do is to factory reset your device. This is the best solution available that works without failure. Doing this though will completely wipe out every data stored on your device, including all the third-party apps installed. So, it is highly recommended that you backup all your important data to a safe place before you factory reset your device. To factory reset your device:
• Go to Settings.
• Tap Backup & Reset.
• Choose where you want to backup your Google account.
• Next tap Reset Factory settings.
• Finally, tap Reset phone and the factory reset process will begin.
If you do accidentally erased vital data while doing factory reset, don't be depressed. Simply make use of a third-party recovery software like Android Data Recovery to help you to get back all erased data from your Android device.
So these are all the 13 best methods that could help you in solving the “Unfortunately, Contacts has stopped” error. Which of the methods have you found helpful? If you know of any other solutions that is not listed here, please do mention them in the comment section as it may be useful to the other readers who are facing this issue.
Comments
Post a Comment