My Facebook app and YouTube app stutters every 5-6 seconds.

[myfataltouch]

The stutter happens not just when playing video, I can feel it when scrolling as well. It's just more obvious when a video is playing because something is happening on screen.
I have the Sony Z5 Premium.
Solutions I've tried so far:
1. Clearing cache on the apps.
2. Force GPU rendering.
3. Turning off power saving modes.
4. Not a network issue, as it happens on both WiFi and mobile data.
5. I deleted the YouTube app updates, and that fixed the stuttering for YouTube, however I can't delete Facebook app updates, as it downloads the latest version. Also, the latest YouTube version worked fine yesterday.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! How about wiping the system cache partition (which is different from the app caches)? https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-11663

 

[myfataltouch]

Thanks for the assist! Just attempted a system cache partition wipe however it didn't seem to work.

 

[B. Diddy]

How about Safe Mode? https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-11856

 

[myfataltouch]

Yes I have tried booting it in Safe Mode as well. It was weird booting it in safe mode, removed my Facebook app. But I tried the youtube app and I still get the stutter. I've also tried doing a Factory Reset on the phone, and it worked for 3 days, then the stutter came back.

 

[B. Diddy]

So it must be something to do with the system or with preinstalled apps. Did you change anything else in Developer Options? I'd change everything there back to default.

Does the stutter happen if you use the mobile YouTube site, or watch an embedded YouTube video on a website?

 

[myfataltouch]

Watching youtube on chrome and using facebook on chrome is absolutely fine, no stuttering whatsoever. When i reset the phone to factory settings it would have brought all the changes i made in Developer Options back to default, and I haven't gone into those options since.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm, this is a toughie. I know you said it happens on both wi-fi and mobile data, but just to check, are you on T-Mobile? If so, are you sure Binge On is turned off?

 

[jeange]

The stutter happens not just when playing video, I can feel it when scrolling as well. It's just more obvious when a video is playing because something is happening on screen.
I have the Sony Z5 Premium.
Solutions I've tried so far:
1. Clearing cache on the apps.
2. Force GPU rendering.
3. Turning off power saving modes.
4. Not a network issue, as it happens on both WiFi and mobile data.
5. I deleted the YouTube app updates, and that fixed the stuttering for YouTube, however I can't delete Facebook app updates, as it downloads the latest version. Also, the latest YouTube version worked fine yesterday.

I had the exact same issue with Facebook but I am running a Galaxy s3 on Android Lollipop 5.1.1 and what fixed the problem for me what installing an older version of the facebook app, 50.0.0.110.54 to be exact. You can get the apk here:

**link removed by moderator** (sorry can't post link yet on the forum)

Once you install the older version and you run it the first time it will ask you to update but don't or you will be back at square one. Just hit the x in the top right corner and the notification disappears. Hope this helps!

 

[myfataltouch]

thanks for the suggestion jeange, I actually tried doing that a couple days ago, but it still didn't help. Using an older version for Youtube app works perfectly, but Facebook app just keeps stuttering.

I found a temporary solution, after doing multiple different things these are the steps I took which seemed to fix it. Not even sure if this is a solution or not.

Under apps, there are 2 apps called, "com.facebook.appmanager" and "com.facebook.system" I uninstalled updates for both those apps, returning them to their factory default settings. Then I ran an app called "Fast Reboot" which is a regular app I use to clear memory for my phone, as well as clear my most recent apps. This seemed to clear up the stutter. However the stutter comes back as soon as those 2 apps I mentioned before updates itself. So I guess this method needs to be done regularly? This doesn't feel like an actual solution but it's the only thing that's worked so far.

 

[myfataltouch]

Never mind, the above "fix" I found didn't work, it only worked temporarily...very frustrating. This stutter seems to happen on and off...not very consistent. I wonder if there's something wrong with the phone itself?

Oh and I'm not with T-Mobile

 

[B. Diddy]

How old is the phone? If it's very new, I'd bring it back to the store before it gets too late and show them the problem, telling them what you've tried already. Then see if they'll exchange it for a new one. If you're already past that window, but if it's still under warranty, contact Sony.

 

[myfataltouch]

The phone is very new, but I wouldn't be able to return it.

I did contact Sony, and their solution, so far has worked. They suggested to download, the PC-mobile companion app. And use it to fix the phone. Following the below instructions.

1. No matter what the program says do not connect the phone until you complete step 9
2. In the welcome screen you will see the different modules available for you including the "Support Zone" option. Click on "Start" below it.

3. On the next page Click on "Start" under "Phone Software Update"

At this point if you get an error stating that "Unable to install update components" or "Server is busy" , then please proceed to step 12

4. The program will say that there is no phone connected. Click on the option below that reads: "Repair my phone" the program will issue you a warning about the content that you will lose during the update
5. Choose the option to continue.
6. The program will issue a final message warning you of possible data lost during the update. Click on the checkmark and then on "Next".
7. After that, the program will download the necessary information (5 to 6 minutes) and it will present you with a list of phones.
8. Choose your phones model from the list then click on "Next" then you will see a new section telling you how to connect the phone. (don't connect it yet)

At this point the phone must be off and disconnected from the PC.

9. Connect the cable to the PC not to the phone, then while pressing and holding the indicated button (in the steps on screen an specific button will be shown for you to press on the phone) connect the cable to the phone and keep holding the indicated button until the program says "the update of your phone has started..." (in some cases a message of "Installing drivers" will appear before the message of "the update of your phone has started..." is shown.)
10. If you failed to follow the steps correctly the phone will turn on and it will request that you "Proceed with the following steps, slide down the notification bar", If this happens disconnect the phone from the cable, turn it off and repeat from step 9).
11. If the phone is connected properly, PC Companion will proceed with the update ( It will tell you to let go of the back key) then wait for the update to finish and follow instructions on screen to disconnect the unit.

Since doing that, I haven't experienced any issues. HOWEVER, as I've mentioned in my posts above, rebooting the phone to it's original factory settings temporarily fixed the stuttering, and using the mobile companion app as I have above, rebooted the phone as well, so it might be a temp fix. Also, I didn't install all the apps I normally installed, ONLY Facebook and Youtube. So it might also be an app that was causing the issue. I'm suspecting it MIGHT be 3G WatchDog.

I will update this thread if I experience the issue again, but so far, Sony's solution has fixed it.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions thus far.