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Performance and Stability Troubleshooting for Android, Windows, and Web

If you're experiencing crashes, slow performance, loading issues, or writing delays, this guide will help you resolve the most common problems.

Essential First Steps

1. Update Goodnotes App

Check for updates first - many performance issues are resolved in newer versions:

  1. Open Goodnotes > Goodnotes menu (top-right corner) > About
  2. If "Update Available" shows, tap "Restart" to update
  3. Ensure you have a stable internet connection during the update process

2. Restart Your Device

A device restart resolves many temporary performance issues and clears memory.

3. Try Web Version

Test if the issue persists on web version:

  • Windows: Open Edge browser → [...] → New InPrivate window → Go to web.goodnotes.com
  • Android/Chromebook: Open Chrome → [...] → New Incognito tab → Go to web.goodnotes.com
  • Log into your Goodnotes account and see if performance improves

4. Try Alternate Store Version (Android Only)

Different app stores may have different characteristics:

  • If installed from Samsung Galaxy Store: Try installing from Google Play Store instead
  • If installed from Google Play Store: Try installing from Samsung Galaxy Store instead
  • Test if performance improves with the alternate version

Note: You may need to uninstall the current version first, so ensure your data is synced before switching

App Crashes and Error Messages

Common Solutions:

  1. Update Goodnotes to the latest version through your app store
  2. Update your device operating system
  3. Reinstall the app if crashes persist

If You See "Something Went Wrong" Errors:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Try switching between WiFi and mobile data
  3. Wait 5 minutes and try again
  4. Force-close and restart the app

Writing Delays

If Your Writing Appears Delayed or Choppy:

Essential Checks:

  1. Ensure stylus is fully charged - low battery commonly causes lag
  2. Test writing in other apps - this helps identify if the issue is Goodnotes-specific or device-wide
  3. Try different tools - test with pen tool, eraser tool, and other tools

For Stylus Users:

  1. Check stylus battery level and charge if needed
  2. Clean stylus tip and screen surface
  3. Try writing in airplane mode (temporarily) to test if network issues are causing delays

For All Platforms:

  1. Reduce notebook page count if very large (500+ pages)
  2. Close other apps running in background
  3. Restart the app
  4. Check for app updates that may fix the issue
  5. As a temporary workaround, try export problematic notebooks to PDF and recreate them

Slow Loading and App Performance

For Slow Document Loading:

  1. Check internet connection - some features require online access
  2. Reduce document size - large PDFs or many images can slow loading
  3. Empty Trash - to free memory
  4. Optimize notebooks by removing unused pages and reduce number strokes on the same page

For General App Slowness:

  1. Close background apps consuming device memory
  2. Free up device storage - delete unused files/apps
  3. Restart your device regularly 

Platform-Specific Browser Updates:

Windows:

  • Update Edge browser: Open Edge → Go to edge://settings/help → Check if update available
  • Enable cookies: Go to edge://settings/content/cookies → Ensure cookies are enabled

Android:

  • Google Play Store install: Update Chrome browser through Play Store
  • Samsung Galaxy Store install: Update Samsung Internet browser

Chromebook:

  • Update Chrome OS: Click time (bottom right) → Settings → About ChromeOS → Check for updates
  • Ensure Chrome browser cookies are enabled

 

Advanced Troubleshooting

Sign Out and Clear Cache 

⚠️ Use with caution - this may cause data loss if you have unsynced notes

Before proceeding:

  1. Remember your login information: Goodnotes menu (top-right corner) → Manage Account
  2. Ensure you're connected to the internet for syncing

Steps:

  1. Sign out: Goodnotes menu (top-right corner) → Sign Out
  2. Sign back in with your credentials

If issue persists, clear cache:

For Android:

  • Clear Goodnotes cache: Settings → Apps → Goodnotes → Storage → Clear cache
  • Google Play install: Clear Chrome cache via Chrome settings
  • Samsung Store install: Clear Samsung Internet cache via Samsung Internet settings

For Windows:

  • Open Edge → Go to edge://settings/clearBrowserData → Select all → Clear now

For Web version:

  • Mac: Press Command + Shift + R for hard reload
  • Windows: Press Control + Shift + R for hard reload

 

Prevention Tips

  • Keep apps updated - new versions often include performance improvements
  • Regular device restarts - especially for heavy daily usage
  • Monitor storage space - keep at least 10% device storage free
  • Backup important work regularly by exporting them as PDF
  • Use recommended hardware - official styluses typically perform better than third-party alternatives