Hey everyone! I have a Moto G71 that I've been using for about 5 years, and I'm really starting to question if it's just old or if it could have been hacked. Recently, it's been having some serious issues. For starters, it constantly turns off. I think this might relate to a hardware problem since the power button is overly sensitive – it flickers instead of just turning off properly, and sometimes it gets stuck in a loop of turning off and on. Although I can manage that for now, it's frustrating!
The other issue is with apps. I noticed some games I buy on Google Play won't install correctly – they just sit there forever, and even when I force-stop the Play Store, they appear installed without any icons on my home screen. I tried reinstalling them, but end up with duplicate "Installing" icons!
On top of that, I'm having major problems with messaging apps like WhatsApp and Outlook – I can't send or receive messages, and they endlessly check for new ones or load forever. Strangely, YouTube and Netflix still work fine. I've even run three antivirus programs, and none found anything suspicious.
A family member mentioned a similar situation happened to someone they know, suggesting something shady might have been going on. So, are these issues just typical for an aging phone, or should I consider the possibility that it's been compromised?
3 Answers
It could definitely be age-related! Sometimes older Android versions stop getting support for new apps, causing them not to work correctly. You mentioned that your Android version is 12, which isn't too old, but make sure you have enough storage. It's also possible that the flickering and power issues are due to hardware problems with your device. Honestly, if you've had your phone for 5 years, it might be time for an upgrade!
You might just need to reset your phone. Older phones can get clogged up with junk data. But before that, have you cleared the cache for your Play Store and Play Services? Sometimes that can help with app issues. If you're not getting app support but your Android version is still supported, then a factory reset could be the way to go!
The power button issue sounds like it could be a hardware malfunction, which many old phones face. If it’s repeatedly rebooting, you should definitely address that first. The problems with the apps could be linked to the launcher or maybe even a network issue. You might want to forget your Wi-Fi network and reconnect plus disable Private DNS to see if that resolves the email and messaging issues.
I might try fiddling with those network settings. Thanks for the tip!
I checked, and I've got 86 GB free on the phone. Guess it's time to start looking for a new one!