We as a whole commit error in our individual life. That is the reason we always need someone or a group of people to cross-check our work for secure wellbeing and life. That goes the same with mobile applications.  We’ve been studying the most well-known website and mobile app development technologies, tools, and trends for the past few years.  Today we’ve decided to focus your attention on mobile app testing and the issues and bugs that have been discovered in the apps.  

If you’re one of the many companies, professionals, or entrepreneurs trying their hand at top-notch mobile app development, we reckon today’s blogpost will excite you because you’ll come across various types of bugs/errors detected in mobile app testing. 

 1. Bugs in Mobile Apps: How Much Do They Really Cost? 

Let’s take a step back and remind everyone why bugs matter and what devastation they can cause if left untreated before diving into examples of prevalent issues. Yes, we all understand that bug-free products do not exist; even the most cutting-edge businesses are afflicted by bugs. However, the amount and severity of bugs in their software, as well as their desire to spend in continual quality assurance, differentiates a fantastic organization from a poor one.  

Software bugs are predicted to cost the US economy 2.5 trillion dollars each year. Let’s take a closer look at the elements that lead to this shocking figure.  

1.1 Customer retention is very low 

Customers leave for a variety of reasons, but when we examine mobile app usage data intimately, it all becomes clear. Smartphone users do not dismiss an app on a behest; their decisions are calculated and motivated by significant results. For example, approximately 40% of mobile users in the United States will uninstall an app if it has too many software issues and switch to a rival company that has embellished their product, made it intuitive, and battery friendly. 

What’s more concerning for mobile app developers is that they only have one month to fix all of the bugs before approximately 60% of their customers keep cranking. And yes, first impressions do matter, especially since 25% of mobile apps are only used once! What statistic is lacking is how many bugs the user can accept, but you don’t want to be the one collecting this information and turning your customers into beta testers. 

1.2 A shattered reputation 

Apart from the immediate losses incurred by fast uninstalls, problems in mobile apps also cause damage that is hidden beneath the surface. It’s difficult to know how many consumers were turned off by a negative review on Google Play or the Software Store and went on the search for a better-performing app. It’s also a mistake to underestimate the effectiveness of word-of-mouth marketing. When we’re sad or mistreated, we want the world to know about the unfairness we’ve had to endure, whether it’s a payment that didn’t go through or a song that won’t stop playing. 

 Consider the losses certain game publishers, such as CD Projekt Red and Blizzard, have suffered as a result of several bugs in their most recent games, Cyberpunk 77 and Warcraft III: Reforged. Users will request refunds, unsubscribe, and warn their contacts not to waste time and money on poorly made products if they play mobile games or apps. 

1.3 Expired Investment Deals 

Many entrepreneurs rely substantially on funding to continue developing their businesses. A brilliant product idea, on the other hand, is insufficient for a captivating pitch. Investors will seek for evidence that the app in question truly fills a gap in a certain market niche and is used by real people. 

It all falls down to the number of installations and positive ratings once again. If the app crashes, freezes, or fails to save the user’s preferences, it will face harsh criticism and, at best, a small customer base. Even more crucial to investors is the ability to see the product’s promising future, which is difficult to achieve with irregular quality assurance. As a result, inviting an external tech adviser with proven software testing experience to comprehensively test your app for bugs is a realistic move for startups and scaleups expecting to secure their investment deals. 

 2. The Top Mobile App Bugs 

We’ve discovered some major bugs on both platforms, i.e., Android and iOS, so let’s move past them one by one and see how they impact the user experience of thousands, even millions, of actual users. 

2.1 Crashes and Freezes  

There are numerous factors that influence the success of a mobile app. Each case is unique, and the root cause of such conduct must be investigated further. A network failure, insufficient storage, or obsolete coding methods could all be to blame. Newly introduced apps have a substantially greater accident rate. 

Apps have crashed in our experience when the user:  

• Restarted the application. 
• Tried to figure out where the current location is. 
• Tried to utilize a filter by using a button, back arrow, or icon.  
• Tried to save some recorded data by tapping a button, back arrow, or icon. 
• Uploaded a file that’s too big for the app to process. 

2.2 Buttons Issues 

Actually, you only need to hit the button twice for it to operate; other times, you’ll notice that it’s inactive by viewing a random error message (which is still better than repeatedly clicking for nothing).  

2.3 User Profile Issues 

It all begins with the creation of one. If you’re a legitimate user interested in the app, you’ll certainly begin by signing up and filling out all of the required fields. The second most typical circumstance is that email validation is either missing or merely checks for the existence of the @ symbol by default. Such a callous approach toward a user’s security leads to a slew of other problems, including bulk account creation with fictitious emails, the inability to rapidly reset a password, and a skewed client base. 

 Another range of questions concerns the use of Google or Apple ID to sign in. Although not every app has this capability, those that do have to deal with some challenges. In most situations, the attempt resulted in an error notice; however, we did find one hilarious case — when two Android apps already offered Apple sign-in. 

2.4 Landscape not optimized 

Testing how the app looks and functions in landscape mode should be a must-do item on the testing checklist for app publishers. Of course, some software developers prefer to lock the orientation to portrait in order to kill two birds with one stone: eliminate severe issues while also reducing development time. However, in terms of diversity and accessibility, it’s not necessarily a smart idea because some people prefer the portrait orientation.  

The majority of the faults we found while rotating programmes to landscape were UI flaws. While some were barely perceptible, others were a huge cause of discomfort for the user. 

2.5 UI Issues 

This is the most common bug category, and we understand why. When it comes to Android smartphones, the variety of screen sizes and pixel densities can be overwhelming, and it’s a tremendous struggle to fulfil all of the compatibility requirements. Things are quite clear with iOS, but we’ve noticed a trend among some developers to overlook older devices, exposing a subset of consumers to somewhat inferior service. 

 The most common occurrence is when one UI element, such as an icon, a button, or an order price, overlaps another. The following are some other common bugs:  

• Cropped titles and images 
• Incorrect email formatting 
• Overflowing Content  
• Background colour is the same as the input text. 
• Pop-ups can be seen for a long period. 
• Cursor is misplaced. 
• Logo flashing on tap 
• Improper page scrolling 

2.6 Ineffective Filters 

Sorting and filtering tools are unquestionable must-haves in modern apps, and their function is self-evident: they save users’ time while making surfing simple and enjoyable. Isn’t that awesome? What if we told you that filters can occasionally, just sometimes, cause more problems than they solve? It usually arises when the testing procedure isn’t as thorough as it should be. 

While some filter problems are minor, some might cause a terrible first impression and lead to the loss of a customer. For example, a damaged filter on a dating app that was designed to sort male and female profiles is a much more acceptable bug than autocomplete suggestions not reacting to the user’s input. 

2.7 Unfriendly Error Messages 

We keep encountering apps whose developers didn’t take error handling seriously, no matter how many instructions there exist on producing clear, user-friendly error messages. While error notifications aren’t seen every second minute, they might have an impact on a user’s overall impression of the programme. A pop-up with negative language and no immediate answer, on the other hand, is unlikely to elicit pleasant feelings in the user, but rather dissatisfaction and uncertainty. While programmers are adept at deciphering technical language, the common user will find these direct-from-the-server notifications to be of limited utility.  

Let’s have a look at some unfriendly error messages we encountered:  

• Something went wrong 
• Data not found 
• Requesting delivery 
• Please try again. If the issue persists, reach out to support 
• Error loading data 
• Sorry, there was an error during the login process

2.8 Push Notifications 

Another common bug discovered during mobile testing is the synchronization of notifications and activities. It is difficult to make them work properly, but they are an important communication and commitment channel between an application and a client. It’s critical to ensure that they work effectively. 

3. Conclusion 

So, they are few of the most typical bugs discovered during mobile testing. Finding and fixing bugs is the tester’s job. During the development and testing phases of mobile apps, it’s vital to meet all requirements, stay up to date on new developments, and thoroughly test the product. This rigorous testing leads to the discovery and correction of all bugs and common defects in mobile or mobile applications, ensuring that the needs of users are met.  

Check TestDel different types of testing services. TestDel is a leading quality assurance company with over 5 years of experience in providing all testing-related services to ensure the successful delivery of programmes.