Radio continues to be an important element for many users, within the functions of their mobile. However, the forums are filled with users who have problems with the radio when it stops for no reason shortly after it is playing. Let’s see why this problem occurs and how to avoid it on Android terminals.
Manufacturers, mostly in the high and mid-range, have chosen to eliminate the 3.5mm headphone jack and FM radio antenna. This means that in order to listen to the radio, you depend on third-party applications that have the desired stations, or download their own from each of them. However, even when the radio is installed by default in the system, many users report that it stops for no reason.
The radio that stops itself: solutions to the problem
This fault always has the same symptoms, since after a while, the FM radio stops. The application can be closed completely or simply paused. Luckily we have a handful of solutions that work in the vast majority of cases.
Remove battery saver modes
This is one of the most common causes and the one that solves the problem in many cases. If we have activated the energy saving, it is possible that it is preventing the execution of certain applications in the background, including the radio. In addition, and although it does not close immediately, when we turn off the screen, the function will make the radio stop working. We can deactivate saving, from the quick settings on the top bar, or by entering Settings / Battery / Battery saving.
Clear cache and data from radio
This option also works well. Some settings or a saturated cache can cause the radio to malfunction and turn itself off. Therefore, we will have to go to Settings / Applications and look for the radio app. Once done we touch on “Storage” and choose to clear data and cache. Then we restart the mobile and test if the problem has disappeared.
Remove data saving
Many mobiles have a data saving mode. Therefore, if we are listening to the radio and we are not under a Wi-Fi network, it is likely that the playback will stop if this mode is activated. We can review this point within Settings / Networks and Internet / Data saving. The idea is to deactivate this option if you find it activated, and try again to see if the radio no longer stops.
Sleep timer
This is another aspect to take into account, since it is the cause of the problem in the vast majority of cases. Radios usually have a timer or “sleep mode”, that is, an automatic shutdown after a while. It is possible that without realizing it, it is activating , causing the radio to turn off after a while. Within Settings, we can find this function and deactivate it so that it does not happen again.
Background Plays
Other applications may be playing audio or video in the background, or even in the PiP format. If so, the radio application will stop. The solution is to close all background apps that may interfere, such as games, and other audio or video services.
Energy consumption management enable
There is an option in Android called “Background energy consumption management” This means that apps may or may not have permission to continue running with high energy consumption in the background. Since the radio is an item that can be kept on constantly, the system will detect this high “milliamp” draw and stop the application.
We will have to go to Settings / Battery / Management of energy consumption in the background, and look for our radio application. Then we check the box to grant this permission to the radio and the problem should disappear.
Launch permissions to the app
The radio can also turn off after locking the screen , due to not having automatic start permissions. This is necessary, because if the option is not activated, the radio will not be able to start automatically when the system restarts when the apps are removed in the background. To activate this box we must go to Settings / Apps / Automatic Start. We can also search for “Home” in the search box to access directly if the route is different.
The Google app may be the culprit
A detected pattern related to this problem is that the FM radio stops when Google is activated or open. After Google starts, it automatically starts the “recording function”. The FM radio detects that the Google recording function has started and automatically stops. The solution is in a simple setting of the Google app, entering Settings / Applications / Google Application / Permissions / Microphone and disable access to the microphone.