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220-1201 Practice Question: A user's Android phone is running slowly and…
A user's Android phone is running slowly and frequently shows 'App not responding' messages. The user has not installed any new apps recently. What should a technician do first?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check for available OS and app updates.
This scenario requires systematic troubleshooting. Checking for OS and app updates is a safe, non-destructive first step, as updates often fix performance bugs. Clearing cache is also valid but less likely to address underlying issues.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Perform a factory reset.
Why it's wrong here
Performing a factory reset is a drastic measure that should only be considered as a last resort. This action completely erases all user data, settings, and installed applications from the device, reverting it to its original out-of-the-box state. While it can resolve deep-seated software issues, it requires significant time and effort to back up data, reconfigure settings, and reinstall necessary applications, making it an inappropriate initial troubleshooting step for general slowdowns and frequent app crashes.
- ✓
Check for available OS and app updates.
Why this is correct
Checking for available operating system (OS) and application updates is the most appropriate first step. Software updates frequently include critical bug fixes, performance optimizations, and security patches that can directly address issues causing slowdowns, memory leaks, and application instability. These updates improve system efficiency, enhance compatibility, and resolve known issues that lead to apps crashing or becoming unresponsive, often without requiring data loss or extensive reconfiguration.
- ✗
Uninstall all recently used apps.
Why it's wrong here
Uninstalling all recently used apps is an ineffective and potentially counterproductive troubleshooting step. The problem description indicates general slowdowns and frequent app crashes, not necessarily issues introduced by *newly installed* applications. While a specific problematic app could be a culprit, indiscriminately removing all recently *used* apps without identifying a specific cause is an overreaction and does not target the root of the performance degradation or system instability.
- ✗
Replace the phone's battery.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the phone's battery is unlikely to resolve general slowdowns and frequent app crashes. A failing battery typically manifests as rapid discharge, unexpected shutdowns, an inability to hold a charge, or the device becoming hot. While severe battery degradation can sometimes lead to performance throttling to conserve power, it does not directly cause 'app not responding' errors or widespread system sluggishness in the way software bugs or resource contention do. The symptoms described point to software or resource management issues, not primarily a hardware power problem.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.