This Android app drains the battery: beware of the pre-installed Google app

Be it Google Drive, Gmail or Google search: Google has already pre-installed numerous of its own apps in its own Android operating system. This fact alone makes some users suspicious, but now a pre-installed Google app is actually causing serious problems.

Because a bug in Google Messages sucks the battery of affected Android smartphones and also causes them to heat up excessively. The good news: You are not powerless when it comes to the battery problem, you can solve it yourself in just a few simple steps.

Google Messages causes battery problems on Android

The Google app actually serves as an alternative to the classic SMS application and promises extra features such as sending audio messages, location or emojis. Similar to WhatsApp, the app accesses the camera, among other things, so that you can take and send photos directly in the app. An error is currently causing this live access to the camera to run continuously – even if the app is only open in the background. If your smartphone is currently discharging unusually quickly or becomes excessively hot, you may also be affected and should act as soon as possible.

Fix battery problem: Here’s how it works

To fix the bug, Android users should therefore first deny camera access to the app to be on the safe side. This works in the settings of your smartphone under the “Apps” tab. In the list of all applications that opens, click on the “Google Messages” app. Under “Permissions” you must now uncheck “Camera”.

The problem has already been fixed in the current beta version of Google Messages. Anyone who uses the app regularly can therefore also install the APK file of the beta version, which we offer you at CHIP for free download. Nice treat: This not only solves the battery problem of the app faster, but also gives you some additional functions that are still missing in the final version of Google Messages.