Hot topics

Common Moto X problems and how to fix them

AndroidPIT Moto X hero broken 1
© nextpit

The original Moto X was a revelation. I still remember all the leaks, rumors and excitement over the new Moto device under Google's ownership. The Moto X may have been succeeded now by the Moto X (2014) but it's still the smartphone of choice for a lot of people. So today we're taking a look at common Moto X problems and how to fix them.

Every smartphone gets a little long in the tooth after a while, but a little maintenance, the occasional software update and knowing how to fix Moto X problems on the fly will keep your phone in tip-top shape for a lot longer yet. Here are the solutions for the most common Moto X (2013) problems.

1. My Moto X has Wi-Fi connectivity problems

Wobbly Wi-Fi connectivity is one of the hallmarks of an Android update, right up there with battery drain (don't worry, that fix is next in the list). The first thing to try if your Wi-Fi connections are dropping out is to reboot your phone.

If that doesn't help, try disconnecting your Wi-Fi (use flight mode or just turn off Wi-Fi). The next step is to forget the connection and re-add it. To do this, just tap the Wi-Fi connection and then tap Forget. This means the next time you try to connect to that network (by tapping its name in the list), you'll need to re-renter the password. 

You can also try restarting your wireless router. Changing your Wi-Fi frequency band in Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced > Wi-Fi Frequency Band can also help. Switching between 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and Auto sometimes does the trick. 5 GHz bands typically have less traffic on them, but sometimes a band will get ''choked'' . Changing to a different band gets you going again.

AndroidPIT Moto X problems Wi Fi frequency band
Sometimes just switching from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections fixes problems. / © ANDROIDPIT

2. My Moto X battery drains really fast

Battery drain is the single most common problem following a software update, so if you're suffering from it, you're not alone. The most common reason your battery suffers after an update is because of incompatibilities between apps on the old version and how they play with the new version.

AndroidPIT Moto X problems Facebook clear cache
If you know one particular app is causing the problem you can deal with it alone. / © ANDROIDPIT

To clear the app cache, go to Settings > Apps and tap an individual app to clear its cache. If you want to clear all app caches at once, go to Settings > Storage > Cached Data.

AndroidPIT Moto X problems clear cached app data
Or you can clear all cached app data at once. / © ANDROIDPIT

You can also clear the system cache by wiping the Moto X cache partition through Recovery Mode:

  • Turn off your Moto X
  • Pressing and hold Power and Volume Down until you see the Fastboot Menu.
  • Press Volume Down to highlight Recovery and press Volume up to select it.
  • You'll see the Motorola logo followed by the Android robot with his belly open.
  • Press Volume Up for a second and then power as well and release both.
  • You'll now be in the Recovery Menu.
  • Use the volume buttons to scroll to Wipe Cache Partition at the bottom and press the Power button to select it.
  • You'll see an ''erasing'' animation and then you can reboot your Moto X.
AndroidPIT Moto X wipe cache partition
This is the Recovery Menu on the Moto X. / © ANDROIDPIT

If the battery problems continue, your best bet is to do a full backup of your important data and then factory reset your Moto X before restoring your apps. Make sure you also got to Settings > Battery and flip the switch for Battery Saver Mode too.

AndroidPIT Moto X problems battery saver running apps
Don't forget to turn on Battery Saver (left) and keep an eye on running apps (right). / © ANDROIDPIT

Apps like Greenify can hibernate apps when you're not using them and help you identify which apps are always running. Go to Settings > Apps and swipe to the Running Tab to see which apps are running at any one time. If a game you haven't played in weeks is doing things, it might be a good idea to get rid of it or force stop it.

3. My Moto X has Motorola Assist problems

The first port of call for any app-related bug is to clear the app's cache. As mentioned above, go to Settings > App and find the app in the list. Tap it and then tap Clear Cache. If this doesn't work you can go back and Clear Data as well, but be warned this will delete any passwords, preferences etc that you may have saved.

androidpit moto g 5
Moto Assist is great: when it works. / © ANDROIDPIT

In this case, you'll first want to clear cache for Motorola Assist, Motorola Assist Engine, Motorola Assist Framework and Motorola Assist Talk To Me. If that doesn't help, try clearing data for those apps as well.

A restart of your Moto X might help, but you'll also want to make sure you have the latest Moto X Android update in case you're missing a patch. Go to Settings > About Phone > System Updates to check.

AndroidPIT Moto X hero broken 2
Sometimes your Moto X will just crash or freeze completely. / © ANDROIDPIT

4. My Moto X freezes or crashes

This is a little more serious. It could either be a problem with an app causing the crashes or the system itself. Again, make sure you have the latest software update for your phone and then start to narrow down the problem.

To identify whether it is the system or an app, you can try starting your Moto X in Safe Mode. This will help you see if any of the apps you've added afterward are the cause of the issue, because Safe Mode disables all third-party apps you've installed. If your Moto X still crashes or freezes in Safe Mode, you now it's the system and not an app.

AndroidPIT Moto X problems reboot to safe mode
Long press the Power Off option in the shutdown menu to access Safe Mode. / © ANDROIDPIT

To enter Safe Mode, hold the Power button to bring up the shutdown menu. Press and hold Power Off and you'll see the option to reboot into Safe Mode. Tap OK. Use your Moto X in Safe Mode for a while and keep an eye out for freezes or crashes. To exit Safe Mode, just restart your phone again.

AndroidPIT Moto X problems safe mode
Safe Mode disables all apps except the ones that came with the Moto X. / © ANDROIDPIT

If everything was fine in Safe Moe, you now need to find the particular app that's causing problems. You can do this through trial and error or by paying attention to what you're doing when the phone freezes or crashes (patterns usually appear). Uninstalling suspect apps and seeing if the crashes continue is a simple, if slow, way to find the culprit.

Alternatively, you can back up your data, factory reset and then slowly add apps one by one to see when – or if – the problems start again. To factory reset your Moto X, go to Settings > Backup and Reset > Factory Data Reset > Reset Phone.

Buggy night motorola
If playing games causes your phone to overheat, we can fix that too. / © ANDROIDPIT

5. My Moto X overheats

There are lots of reasons a phone might overheat, from poor processor management to runaway processes or wake locks. The easiest thing to do is turn your Moto X off for at least 30 seconds. Restart in recovery mode and clear the cache partition. This will clear up most app-related bugs that could be causing overheating.

If the problem persists, them you might want to look more closely at the apps you have installed. Does the phone always heat up after using a particular app? Have you checked how much RAM and battery life the phone is using?

What other problems are affecting your Moto X? Got any other solutions we missed?

Choosing the Right Samsung Foldable

  Fold 2023 Fold 2022 Fold 2021 Flip-Phone 2023 Flip-Phone 2022 Flip-Phone 2021
Product
Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Product Image Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Product Image
Review
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Offer*
Go to comment (11)
Kris Carlon

Kris Carlon
Senior Editor

Kris is a former AndroidPIT Editor who came to the team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.

View all articles
Liked this article? Share now!
Recommended articles
Latest articles
Push notification Next article
11 comments
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

  • 1
    Usama Mustafa Jan 15, 2017 Link to comment

    My videos are not playing
    Not even in gallery
    It just says can't play video


  • Alishia Phelps 1
    Alishia Phelps Nov 23, 2016 Link to comment

    I had a Moto x prior to my new Moto z play... Would have kept it if it went for it randomly shutting off, over heating and wouldn't charge... No idea what happened to it but it just took a nose dive and straight up tried to die on me.... Don't know if it's the battery or if it's the port... Just an all around mess.


  • Elizabeth “Beth” Riddle 1
    Elizabeth “Beth” Riddle Apr 15, 2016 Link to comment

    I have a MotoX phone...the Bluetooth in my 2014 ACURA RDX worked just fine prior to the update recently which now doesn't holds its link but continually tries to reconnect but disconnects; over and over again. My husband's MotoG works just fine with my car...baffled!


  • Debi Swing 1
    Debi Swing Apr 11, 2016 Link to comment

    I select messages and it brings up my camera.


  • 1
    Ivan Mokorich Mar 15, 2016 Link to comment

    My issue with the Moto x play is that the volume turns itself down on its own, I have it set to always interrupt, but every morning I check, and sure enough my volume is turned all the way off,any ideas?


  • 1
    Jeff Dixon Nov 10, 2015 Link to comment

    Maybe 1/3 of my pictures all of a sudden went black and I am not able to recover them. Any clue what I could do or what happened?


  • 1
    Prabhakar M Oct 2, 2015 Link to comment

    I'm having the problem with moto x recently updated to 5.1, the phone reboots. Usually it optimizes all 140 apps, sometimes only approx. 50, sometimes less. which takes about 10 to 15 minutes each time, but sometimes it boots succesfully.

    Additionally I am having problems with the wifi, which sometimes drops and refuses to connect. This is correlated with the reboots. I've tried factory reset and wiping the cache.

    I have followed the below steps as well as Motorola suggested
    *********************************************************************
    In response with your conversation, we are forwarding the details of wipe cache partition:

    With the phone powered off, press and hold the Volume Down button+Volume Up button+ Power button (or you can also hold Volume Down button+ Power button )at the same time and release after two sec.
    Press the Volume Down button once to highlight "Recovery mode"

    Press the Volume Up button to restart into Recovery mode.
    You'll see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark and the words "No command."

    Hold on the Power button+ Volume Up button and release.

    Use the volume buttons to scroll to "wipe cache partition" and press the Power button to select it.

    "Reboot system now" will be highlighted, press the Power button to select it.

    Factory reset:

    With the phone powered off, press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button (or Volume Down button+Volume Up button+ Power button) at the same time until the device turns on. You will see the word "Start" with an arrow around it.

    2. Press the Volume Down button once to highlight "Recovery mode"

    3. Press the Volume UP button to restart into Recovery mode. You'll see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark and the words "No command."

    4. While holding down the Power button, press the Volume Up button.

    5. Use the volume buttons to scroll to "wipe data/factory reset" and press the Power button to select it.

    6. Scroll down to "Yes - erase all user data" and press the Power button to select it
    *********************************************************************
    After up gradation of my Moto x is giving problems like any thing.

    Heating issue,
    Slowness
    Optimizing apps after restarting the phone.


    • Miss Heather K 1
      Miss Heather K Oct 13, 2015 Link to comment

      Hi there!! I have some questions about factory mode settings! I have the moto x play and I locked myself out of my phone ;( what the heck to I do now?? I tried restoring but It seems to not work? Help me please


  • 1
    A K Jul 8, 2015 Link to comment

    When I open the Email icon, it gives me a blank page. My yahoo account is on there but no emails are visible for viewing. And within a minute I get the message "Unfortunately email has stopped." I erased my email account and put it back on but with no success.


  • Shubham Choudhari 1
    Shubham Choudhari Jul 8, 2015 Link to comment

    Another problem.with Moto x many users are facing is camera. When ever I opeb camera white and black line runs through my screen from left to right. Even after uninstalling update this problem pursuits every time Moto x users open a camera.
    Talking about Moto X 1st gen.
    Any permanent solution for this issue??


  • Adam 1
    Adam Jul 8, 2015 Link to comment

    The only issue I've come across with my Moto X 2013 is sometimes the back / home buttons disappear, and I can't get them back. The only solution I've found is rebooting the phone. If anyone has a better solution, let me know! This can be very annoying.

Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing