Keeping your center's devices and the Playground platform running smoothly prevents disruptions to your daily operations. This guide covers the most common device issues, in-product errors, and quick fixes to help you maintain a reliable setup for your team.
Common Device Problems and Causes
Devices slow down or freeze
Cause: Devices left powered on all the time can overheat and experience software lag, leading to slow response times and increased wear.
Battery drains quickly or the device shuts off unexpectedly
Cause: Leaving devices plugged in and fully charged for long periods degrades battery health over time, leading to shorter battery life and unexpected shutoffs.
App feels slow, features seem outdated, or pages take longer to load
Cause: Staying logged into the Playground app or web dashboard without logging out regularly. Playground usually pushes updates in the evening, so logging out ensures you load the latest version the next time you sign in.
Common In-Product Errors
Occasionally, you may see an error message while using the platform. These typically happen due to incomplete information, configuration issues, or brief system interruptions, and can usually be resolved quickly. Here are some errors that you may run into:
Not Authorized
If you receive a “Not Authorized” error and expect to have permission to complete the action, follow the troubleshooting steps below.
Log out of your account, then log back in and refresh your browser.
This step often resolves the issue because it refreshes your session and clears temporary browser data that may be causing the error. Logging out and back in reestablishes a clean connection to the platform, while refreshing your browser ensures you’re loading the most up-to-date version of the page.
Ensure you only have one instance of Playground open at a time.
If you have multiple Playground tabs open, you may see a “Not Authorized” error if you’re logged into different accounts in each tab. To resolve this, close any other Playground tabs and ensure you’re logged into only one account at a time.
Close your browser and reopen it.
Closing your browser or tab can fully reset the application and help clear any temporary errors you may be experiencing. You can do that by pressing Control + Shift + R on a Windows or Command + Shift + R on a Mac
Firebase: Error
Firebase errors tend to be caused due to network interruptions or firewalls being put in place. You will usually run into this error upon signing into your account. To solve, try following the troubleshooting steps below:
Switch WiFi networks
If possible, try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network. Switching networks can help determine whether the issue is related to your current network’s settings, security restrictions, or connectivity stability.
Try logging in on your mobile device while disconnected from Wi-Fi.
Turn off Wi-Fi on your mobile device and attempt to log in using cellular data.
If you’re able to sign in successfully, the issue is likely related to your Wi-Fi network, such as a firewall or network restriction blocking the connection.
🚨 If none of these troubleshooting steps resolve the issue, please contact Support and provide details about the error you’re experiencing.
Delete & Reinstall the App
If routine device maintenance and the steps above have not resolved an issue on the mobile app, the next option is to delete the app, force restart the device, and reinstall it. This clears any corrupted app data that a standard restart would not catch.
On iPhone or iPad
Press and hold the Playground app icon until a menu appears.
Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App to confirm.
Force restart your device:
If your iPhone does not have a Home button (iPhone X and later): Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
If your iPhone has a Home button: Press and hold both the Home button and the Side or Top (for older devices) button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
After the device restarts, open the App Store, search for Playground, and tap the download icon to reinstall.
On Android
Press and hold the Playground app icon, then tap Uninstall. Tap OK to confirm.
Force restart your device: press and hold the Power button for 8 to 10 seconds until the screen goes black and the device restarts on its own.
After the device restarts, open the Google Play Store, search for Playground, and tap Install to reinstall.
Best Practices for Device Maintenance
Power down devices regularly
What to Do: Power down your device now. Keep it turned off for 2 minutes and turn it back on. Moving forward, schedule a weekly shutdown during off-peak hours. For example, power off devices completely over the weekend.
Why It Helps: Clears memory, prevents overheating, and allows the system to refresh for optimal performance.
Establish charging habits
What to Do: If your device is fully charged, unplug it. Its best practice is to occasionally let the battery drain before recharging.
Why It Helps: Extends battery lifespan and ensures consistent performance during high-demand times.
Regularly Log Out of Playground
What to Do: Log out of the Playground platform. As often as they can, ensure staff log out of the Playground app and website. It’s also a good idea to perform a hard refresh on your web browser, press Control + Shift + R on Windows or Command + Shift + R on a Mac.
Why It Helps: Prevents outdated data from accumulating in the cache, ensures faster load times, and avoids compatibility issues with new updates. Because Playground is constantly evolving with new features and enhancements tailored to your needs, logging out regularly ensures you’re always benefiting from the latest tools and improvements.