Why does Google Play Music keep shutting off?
Google Play Music is a streaming service that allows users to listen to music online or offline. However, many users have reported problems with Google Play Music randomly shutting off or stopping songs in the middle of playback.
This issue appears to be a common bug that has frustrated a lot of Google Play Music listeners. Playback getting cut off abruptly can ruin the listening experience. While the exact causes are unclear, many users have complained about this problem across various forums and discussion boards.
Possible Causes
There are a few common culprits that could be causing Google Play Music to repeatedly stop playing on your Android device:
App and system updates can sometimes introduce bugs that disrupt services like Google Play Music. For example, an Android OS update or Google Play Music app update may have bugs that intermittently stop music playback [1]. Trying rolling back updates or waiting for a patch if you suspect this is the issue.
Connectivity problems with your WiFi or mobile data can also lead to music stopping. If your connection drops while streaming music from Google Play Music, it will pause playback. Check that you have a strong, stable internet connection when using the app.
Overly aggressive battery optimization can inadvertently stop background apps like Google Play Music. Go to your phone’s Battery settings and whitelist Google Play Music so it’s not killed in the background. You can also disable battery optimization entirely for the app if issues persist [2].
Updates Causing Bugs
Sometimes after major Android or app updates, new bugs can arise that cause issues like Google Play Music shutting off randomly. For example, the Android 10 update introduced several bugs for Google Play Music users related to background playback and automatic pausing.
According to an Android Authority article, the Android 10 update in 2019 caused problems with Google Play Music stopping or cutting out unexpectedly. This seemed to primarily impact Pixel devices after updating. Resetting app preferences was one recommendation to fix playback issues caused by Android 10 bugs.
In addition, new versions of the Google Play Music app itself may also introduce bugs accidentally. If the problems started around the time of an app update, it’s possible the update is the culprit. Checking app reviews and forums can help determine if others are experiencing issues after an app update that could be causing problems.
Connectivity Issues
One common cause of Google Play Music shutting off unexpectedly is connectivity problems, either with WiFi or mobile data. Music streaming relies on having a consistent, uninterrupted connection to deliver audio without disruptions. If the connectivity is spotty or keeps cutting out, this can cause the music playback to stop.
Problems with a slow or overloaded WiFi network can lead to buffering issues and song interruptions. This is especially true if you are in an area with a weak WiFi signal, far away from the router. Interference from other devices, networks, or physical barriers may also degrade the WiFi performance. Generally, a minimum of 3-5 Mbps download speed is recommended for music streaming, according to this source.
Likewise, using mobile data on a congested or poor coverage network can result in connectivity problems that disrupt music playback. Switching between different mobile towers may cause temporary loss of data that leads to Google Play Music stopping. Ensuring you have a strong LTE or 5G connection can help minimize mobile streaming issues.
Overall, Google Play Music relies on having consistent, high-quality connectivity to stream without disruption. Troubleshooting network issues and minimizing interference is key to avoiding abrupt shutdowns.
Battery Optimization
One potential cause for Google Play Music shutting off randomly is Android’s battery optimization settings, which are enabled by default. This feature can restrict background activity and processes for apps in an effort to conserve battery life. However, the downside is that it can cause apps like Play Music to be killed or stopped unexpectedly.
Battery optimization works by limiting how often apps can perform tasks in the background when the screen is off. This includes things like downloading music, refreshing playlists, and communicating with online services. While beneficial for battery life, it can cause music playback to halt if the app is put into a deep sleep or closed prematurely.1
To prevent Play Music from being optimized, users need to exempt the app from the battery settings. This allows it to function normally and communicate as needed. Alternatively, the optimization can be disabled altogether, although this will reduce battery efficiency.
Background App Usage
Modern versions of Android place limits on how apps can run in the background when not actively being used. Starting with Android Oreo in 2017, Google began restricting background services and processes to improve battery life and optimize performance (https://developer.android.com/about/versions/oreo/background).
Apps like Google Play Music rely on consistent background usage to keep playing audio when not in the foreground. However, Android’s background optimizations can sometimes force the app to be shut down when running in the background for too long. This is a common cause of playback stopping unexpectedly in Google Play Music and other media apps (https://medium.com/its-tinkoff/android-background-restrictions-b63e73fe508).
If Android is forcing Google Play Music to shut down while running in the background, it may cause playback to halt. Checking the battery optimization settings and allowing consistent background usage for the app could potentially fix these shutdown issues.
Account and App Issues
One potential cause of Google Play Music shutting off unexpectedly is corrupted app data or account issues. If the app data becomes corrupted or your Google account that is linked to the app encounters problems, it can cause the app to malfunction or shut down unexpectedly.
Signing out of the Google Play Music app and then signing back in can potentially help resolve these types of issues. This resets the app’s data and reconnects it properly with your Google account. Simply open the app, go to settings, select your account, and choose “Sign Out.” Then open the app again and sign back into your Google account.
If signing out and back in does not resolve the issues, reinstalling the Google Play Music app may be necessary. First, uninstall the app from your device. Then go to the app store, search for Google Play Music, and redownload and install the app. Sign into your Google account, which will reconnect the fresh install of the app. This can clear out any corrupted data that may be causing problems.
If account and app issues persist after signing out/in and reinstalling, check Google support forums for the latest troubleshooting advice. There may be server-side bugs affecting Google Play Music that require further fixes. Reaching out to Google Play support can also help diagnose and resolve any ongoing account or app problems shutting the music service down.
Device Compatibility Issues
Google Play Music is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Android smartphones and tablets as well as iOS devices (Source). However, older or incompatible devices may experience issues with the app.
In particular, devices running older versions of Android (below 5.0 Lollipop) or iOS (below iOS 11) may have problems running the latest version of the Google Play Music app. Additionally, some non-certified or unsupported Android devices, such as those running custom ROMs, may have compatibility issues.
On iOS devices, bugs have been reported with the app crashing or failing to open on certain iPhone and iPad models. There can also be playback issues, with music stopping unexpectedly, which tends to happen more frequently on older iOS versions.
In general, using the latest official version of Android or iOS and keeping your devices up-to-date can help minimize compatibility issues with Google Play Music.
Fixes and Solutions
There are several potential fixes to try if Google Play Music keeps stopping unexpectedly:
Check that Google Play Music is not being put to sleep by battery optimization settings. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization and whitelist the app so it ignores battery saving restrictions. This will allow it to run smoothly in the background.
Try toggling airplane mode on and off to reset connectivity. This re-establishes your WiFi or cellular data connection which can resolve interruptions if it’s a network issue causing the music to stop.
Make sure you have a strong internet connection when streaming music through the app. Connect to a stable WiFi network or switch to a cellular data connection if needed.
Check for Google Play Music app and Android OS updates which may include bug fixes for music stopping problems. Keeping your software up-to-date can prevent issues.
Restart your device which clears out memory, ends background processes, and provides a fresh start. After rebooting, open Google Play Music again to see if it now runs without stopping.
Log out then back into your Google account within the app’s settings. This refreshes your account authorization which can fix account-related problems.
As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the latest version of the Google Play Music app from the Play Store. This does a clean reinstallation which can resolve software bugs causing music to stop.
Preventative Measures
There are some steps you can take to prevent issues with Google Play Music shutting off randomly:
Disable battery optimization for the Google Play Music app in your device settings. This will prevent your device from aggressively restricting background resources for the app and potentially causing it to shut off prematurely. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Music > Battery and toggle off ‘Optimize Battery Usage’ or ‘Battery Optimization’.
Ensure you have a stable WiFi or mobile data connection when streaming music. Switching between connections or having a weak signal can cause interruptions. Try moving closer to your router or enabling Airplane Mode then re-enabling WiFi for a stronger connection.
Keep your Android OS and Google Play Music app updated to the latest versions. Developer updates often include bug fixes that resolve app crashing issues. Enable auto-update in the Play Store and install updates as soon as available.
Avoid excessive multitasking when listening to music. Having too many apps running simultaneously puts a strain on resources which could cause playback issues. Close out of any apps you aren’t using.