Question 925 of 1,020

Mobile Device Application Support →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Android Slow and Battery Drain After App Install

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of mobile device application support. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A user reports that after installing a new app on their Android phone, the device has become noticeably slower and the battery drains faster. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The app is a known malware that steals personal data.
Why wrong: While possible, performance issues are more commonly due to resource-heavy background processes rather than malware specifically.
B
The app is running background services that consume resources.
Many apps run background services for updates or notifications, which can slow the device and drain battery.
C
The phone's storage is full from the app installation.
Why wrong: The scenario states the app was just installed, and storage fullness would not typically cause immediate slowdown unless storage was critically low before.
D
The app requires a newer version of Android.
Why wrong: Incompatibility would usually cause the app to crash or not install, not gradual slowdown and battery drain.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is a newly installed app running background services that consume resources. This is the most likely cause because Android apps can request permissions to run processes even when not actively in use, and a poorly optimized or malicious app will continuously use CPU cycles and network activity, directly leading to both system slowdown and accelerated battery drain. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of mobile device troubleshooting and resource management, often appearing as a common trap where test-takers might blame the battery or OS update instead. Remember that the first step is always to uninstall the suspect app and observe if performance improves. A helpful memory tip is "App in the back, battery on the rack"—if an app stays busy in the background, your battery and speed will take a hit.

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

✓

The app is running background services that consume resources.

Option B is correct because the most common cause of performance degradation and increased battery drain after installing a new app is that the app runs background services, such as sync adapters, location listeners, or push notification keep-alives. These services consume CPU cycles, memory, and network activity even when the app is not in the foreground, leading to slower device responsiveness and faster battery depletion.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
The app is a known malware that steals personal data.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, performance issues are more commonly due to resource-heavy background processes rather than malware specifically.
✓
The app is running background services that consume resources.
Why this is correct
Many apps run background services for updates or notifications, which can slow the device and drain battery.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The phone's storage is full from the app installation.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario states the app was just installed, and storage fullness would not typically cause immediate slowdown unless storage was critically low before.
✗
The app requires a newer version of Android.
Why it's wrong here
Incompatibility would usually cause the app to crash or not install, not gradual slowdown and battery drain.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may immediately assume malware (Option A) because of the dramatic symptoms, but CompTIA A+ tests the understanding that legitimate background services are the most common and probable cause for performance and battery issues after a new app installation.

Trap categories for this question

Scenario analysis trap
The scenario states the app was just installed, and storage fullness would not typically cause immediate slowdown unless storage was critically low before.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Android apps can register for background services using the `Service` or `JobScheduler` APIs, which allow them to run tasks even when the app is not visible. For example, an app might use a `Foreground Service` with a persistent notification to maintain a network connection, or use `WorkManager` for periodic syncs; if these services are poorly optimized or run too frequently, they can keep the CPU awake and prevent the device from entering deep sleep states (Doze mode), directly causing the reported symptoms.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1201 question test?

Mobile Device Application Support — This question tests Mobile Device Application Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The app is running background services that consume resources. — Option B is correct because the most common cause of performance degradation and increased battery drain after installing a new app is that the app runs background services, such as sync adapters, location listeners, or push notification keep-alives. These services consume CPU cycles, memory, and network activity even when the app is not in the foreground, leading to slower device responsiveness and faster battery depletion.

What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A user reports that their Android phone's battery drains quickly after installing a new social media app. The phone worked fine before. What is the most efficient first troubleshooting step?

easy

A.Uninstall the social media app immediately.
✓ B.Check the app's permissions and disable background activity.
C.Perform a factory reset of the device.
D.Update the phone's operating system.

Why B: The most efficient first step is to check the app's permissions and disable background activity because the new social media app is likely consuming battery by running background services (e.g., location polling, push sync, or wake locks). This approach isolates the problem without removing the app, allowing you to confirm the cause before taking further action. It aligns with the CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology of identifying the most probable cause first.

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