How to Send Your Android Feedback, and Actually Get a Response

I have a lot of experience with tech support. That’s not because I’m an IT guy on the side, or because I know someone who is, it’s because I need to troubleshoot constantly. Not for fun mind you, but because technology doesn’t get along with me very well. Because I am the nemesis of technology, I’m frequently talking to customer support, and sending reports and emails on many different subjects.

I understand how frustrating it is not to get a response, so I’ll run you through all the steps you need to take to get actual feedback. This advice could vary from device to device, but most, if not all, Android devices have a few set ways to send your feedback.

What Type of Feedback Are You Sending?

Before you send any feedback, it’s important to understand what type of feedback you have to send. This will help you figure out the perfect place to send it, and determine your likelihood of a response.

Generally, there are two kinds of responses you’ll want for Android feedback—consideration and advice. If you’re sending feedback about technical issues, you’ll want a quick response with advice. If you’re sending feedback about improvements or suggestions, you’ll want consideration, and response time will vary.

Your best chance at getting a response is with technical feedback if you’re having an issue. I’ll be focusing on this type of feedback for the most part, but I’ll touch on the second type afterwards.

Method 1: Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

With the growth of social media, it’s next to impossible to find a company that doesn’t at least have a Twitter or Facebook page. If we’re talking about something as big as Android, then you know for sure they’ve dipped their fingers into every social pot.

For this example, I’m going to be using the official Android Twitter, the Android developer’s Twitter, and the official Google Twitter. You’d be surprised how much a single tweet can help.

Step 1:

If you’re using Twitter, you’ll need an account, and it’s the same deal for any type of social media.

You can create a new account if you don’t want this linked to any existing accounts. However, if your account appears to be a bot, your chances of getting a response is much lower.

Step 2:

Depending on which company you want to talk with, send them a public message. Your question or feedback has a higher chance of being missed in a direct message.

In a public message, you even give the company a potential good PR opportunity with a response. This gives you a good chance at getting a response depending on who’s at the social media helm.

Method 2: Android Accessibility Website

This next option covers both wanting to submit suggestions, and requesting technical help, with Android accessibility options. Android accessibility includes:

• TalkBack’s Screen Reader
• Switch access
• Voice access, options, and gestures
• Braille support
• Most gestures and options are under Settings > Accessibility

Step 1:

Visit the Android accessibility help center. The center has a list of topics to choose from, and an option to send feedback at the bottom of the topics.

Step 2:

Select the topic at the bottom to take you to a new page to submit your feedback. After that, you’ve got at least one more link to follow to take you to Google’s accessibility form.

Fill out the form and provide your email below. Response time varies, but you’ll usually get a follow up within 48 hours. This follow-up won’t always be the response you’re looking for, but it’s much better than silence.

Method 3: Sending a Bug Report

This doesn’t let you send worded feedback, but instead sends data on the state of your Android device as an email as a bug report. You most likely won’t ever get a worded response, but your bug report could help fix a problem you’re having in the future.

Sending the report will take less than a minute.

Step 1:

You need access to developer options from this point on, so if you don’t have them:

• Go to your Settings
• Scroll to About Phone and select it
• Scroll down to your Build number
• Tap the number a few times until you receive a message
• Go back to your Settings, and then scroll to Developer options

Step 2:

At the top of your Developer options will be the Take bug report option.

Select it and wait for the report to be generated, you can then choose to save the report yourself, but at this point it has already been stored and sent. Personally, I like to save them to Google Drive if I need to send any at a later date.

Method 4: Built-in Feedback Sender (Nexus Devices 5.0 and Higher)

On Android 5.0 (and higher) enabled Nexus devices, you can send feedback about your device at any time at the tap of a button. Well, at the tap of several buttons once you dive into your Settings. It’ll only take a minute or less, and works much like a bug report.

Step 1:

Unlike a bug report, this doesn’t require developer access, you just need to go into your Settings. Now go to About phone.

Step 2:

In About phone scroll down until you see Send feedback about this device. Select it, and then use your Gmail account to send your desired feedback, including device statistics if you wish.

If and when you do receive a response, it will be through your linked Gmail account.

Conclusion

There are multiple ways to send your Android feedback out there, but unfortunately, there are fewer ways to get a response out of it. At the very least, you can take all the tools available and let your voice be heard, even if you don’t hear one back.

After you’ve sent your Android feedback, do you have any feedback for us? You can leave it in the comments below, and I can guarantee a response on those.

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