https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/ Recurring complaints about widely used mobile apps, scored from public app store reviews. en Mon, 28 Sep 2026 01:48:20 GMT https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/notion--the-mobile-app-freezes-and-lags-while-editing-pages https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/notion--the-mobile-app-freezes-and-lags-while-editing-pages Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Performance Reviewers on both iOS and Android describe the mobile app freezing, lagging or closing itself while they edit. It is reported on iPhone, iPad and Android, and across several releases rather than a single bad build. Several people say they have to close and reopen the app to carry on working. Scored 73 of 100 from 7 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Strong signal. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/expedia--refunds-are-refused-delayed-or-issued-as-credit-that-cannot-be-used https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/expedia--refunds-are-refused-delayed-or-issued-as-credit-that-cannot-be-used Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Travellers describe paying for a booking that did not materialise, cancelling within the stated terms, or buying cancellation cover, and then being refused the money back. Several report repeated promises of a refund within a set window that then passes. Scored 72 of 100 from 7 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Strong signal. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/ticketmaster--purchased-tickets-cannot-be-reached-when-the-app-fails-to-load-or-sign-i https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/ticketmaster--purchased-tickets-cannot-be-reached-when-the-app-fails-to-load-or-sign-i Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Accounts and login Reviewers report the app refusing their login with a generic error, logging them out after every close, or hanging on a loading screen. Because tickets are only available in the app, a failed sign-in means no way into the event. Reinstalling does not resolve it. Scored 68 of 100 from 10 reviews across Android. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/teams--the-mobile-app-stutters-and-crashes-in-chats-and-calls https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/teams--the-mobile-app-stutters-and-crashes-in-chats-and-calls Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Performance Reviewers report the mobile app freezing while scrolling channels, stuttering as they type, and restarting during calls. It is described on both iOS and Android and across several releases. Some say it began after an update and that reinstalling did not help. Scored 62 of 100 from 4 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/strava--the-app-freezes-or-fails-to-load-and-recording-can-stop-mid-activity https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/strava--the-app-freezes-or-fails-to-load-and-recording-can-stop-mid-activity Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Reviewers describe the app hanging on its startup screen, showing a black screen with a retry message, or freezing during use. In several cases a recording stopped part way through an activity and nothing was saved. The reports span four consecutive releases. Scored 61 of 100 from 4 reviews across iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--lessons-hang-crash-or-fail-to-load-their-audio https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--lessons-hang-crash-or-fail-to-load-their-audio Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Reviewers report the app freezing at the end of a lesson without saving progress, failing to load character or writing exercises, and producing no sound on activities that need it. Several say it began after a recent update and that restarting does not help. Scored 60 of 100 from 5 reviews across iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/airbnb--refunds-are-refused-after-problems-with-a-stay https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/airbnb--refunds-are-refused-after-problems-with-a-stay Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Guests describe reporting a serious problem with a booking and being denied a refund, in several cases after one had already been agreed. Complaints include a cancellation the night before travel and charges for damage the guest says they did not cause. Scored 58 of 100 from 5 reviews across iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/expedia--the-app-errors-out-and-the-support-chat-is-unusable https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/expedia--the-app-errors-out-and-the-support-chat-is-unusable Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Support Reviewers report a repeating error on booking screens, reservations that do not appear after being made, and freezing that requires a restart. The in-app chat is described as slow, and the keyboard covers the field while typing. Scored 58 of 100 from 4 reviews across Android. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/spotify--the-free-tier-will-not-let-you-choose-which-song-plays https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/spotify--the-free-tier-will-not-let-you-choose-which-song-plays Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Free users describe being unable to pick a track from their own playlist, being forced into shuffle, and losing basic transport controls. Several report the app substituting recommended tracks for the playlist they selected. Scored 58 of 100 from 5 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/uber--there-is-no-way-to-reach-a-person-about-a-problem-with-a-ride https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/uber--there-is-no-way-to-reach-a-person-about-a-problem-with-a-ride Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Support Reviewers describe automated support that will not connect them to anyone, no support option in the app for riders, and unanswered reports of lost property or duplicate charges. Several say the only route offered leads back to a bot. Scored 58 of 100 from 4 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/venmo--payments-and-transfers-fail-leaving-money-unreachable https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/venmo--payments-and-transfers-fail-leaving-money-unreachable Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Reviewers report being unable to send a payment, reach the wallet screen, or move a balance to their bank, each ending in a generic error. Several describe money that has left one account and not arrived in another, with no resolution from support. Scored 58 of 100 from 6 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/airbnb--the-app-returns-generic-errors-and-basic-actions-silently-fail https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/airbnb--the-app-returns-generic-errors-and-basic-actions-silently-fail Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Reviewers on both platforms report being unable to sign in, a repeating request failure message, and controls that do nothing when tapped. Uninstalling and reinstalling is described as having no effect. Scored 57 of 100 from 4 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/airbnb--hosts-cannot-reach-the-calendar-or-messages-after-the-redesign https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/airbnb--hosts-cannot-reach-the-calendar-or-messages-after-the-redesign Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Navigation Hosts describe being held on a dashboard or review prompt that blocks access to their calendar and messages. Others report navigation and messaging failing on Android, and repeated feature popups interrupting pricing work. The reports come from long-standing hosts on both platforms. Scored 56 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--ads-and-ai-prompts-interrupt-lessons-and-cannot-be-dismissed https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--ads-and-ai-prompts-interrupt-lessons-and-cannot-be-dismissed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Ads and interruptions Reviewers on both platforms report advertisements that cannot be closed, leaving the app stuck until it is force quit. Others describe repeated notification sounds and AI features being added with no straightforward way to opt out. One reviewer reports losing earned progress when an ad would not close. Scored 55 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/spotify--playback-pauses-restarts-or-cuts-out-on-its-own https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/spotify--playback-pauses-restarts-or-cuts-out-on-its-own Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Reviewers describe music stopping without input, restarting from the beginning of a playlist, or cutting off and not resuming. Reports come from both platforms and from paying subscribers as well as free users. Scored 55 of 100 from 4 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/strava--free-trials-convert-to-a-paid-year-immediately-and-refunds-are-refused https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/strava--free-trials-convert-to-a-paid-year-immediately-and-refunds-are-refused Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Reviewers describe accepting a trial and being charged for a full year straight away, in one case after the trial prompt appeared a second time. Others report repeated upgrade prompts leading to an accidental purchase that could not be reversed. Scored 55 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--free-trials-become-a-paid-year-without-warning-and-refunds-are-refused https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--free-trials-become-a-paid-year-without-warning-and-refunds-are-refused Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Reviewers report being charged for a full year immediately after starting what was presented as a free trial, including some who say they cancelled before it ended. The in-app response is that no refund is available. Scored 54 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/spotify--adverts-interrupt-every-second-song-and-cover-the-player https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/spotify--adverts-interrupt-every-second-song-and-cover-the-player Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Ads and interruptions Free users report audio adverts between almost every track, plus banner adverts obscuring album art, the liked songs list and search results. Several describe the frequency as having increased recently. Scored 53 of 100 from 4 reviews across Android and iOS. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/ticketmaster--tickets-are-only-available-in-the-app-and-the-barcode-often-will-not-dis https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/ticketmaster--tickets-are-only-available-in-the-app-and-the-barcode-often-will-not-dis Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Other Reviewers describe being required to install the app to see a ticket they have already paid for, then finding the barcode unavailable or pushed into a separate wallet app. Screenshots are blocked, so there is no fallback when the display fails. Scored 53 of 100 from 5 reviews across Android. Verdict: Recurring. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--the-energy-system-stops-free-lessons-after-a-few-minutes https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/duolingo--the-energy-system-stops-free-lessons-after-a-few-minutes Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Reviewers describe a change to an energy or battery system that exhausts after one or two lessons, leaving free users unable to continue until it refills. Several say this makes sustained practice impossible without paying. Scored 51 of 100 from 3 reviews across iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/slack--the-app-crashes-signs-you-out-and-will-not-reopen-without-reinstalling https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/slack--the-app-crashes-signs-you-out-and-will-not-reopen-without-reinstalling Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Android reviewers report the app closing itself with a system bug notice, random sign-outs, and a state where it refuses to open until it is uninstalled and reinstalled. One describes two-step sign-in failing because switching to an authenticator resets the screen. Scored 49 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/canva--added-ai-features-slow-the-app-and-cannot-be-turned-off https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/canva--added-ai-features-slow-the-app-and-cannot-be-turned-off Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Ads and interruptions Long-standing users describe AI and promotional features added to the editor that they cannot disable. They report these prompts appearing on every document open and slowing the app down. One reviewer also reports their own original work being labelled as AI generated. Scored 48 of 100 from 3 reviews across iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/teams--sign-in-fails-and-a-stale-account-cannot-be-removed-from-the-app https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/teams--sign-in-fails-and-a-stale-account-cannot-be-removed-from-the-app Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Accounts and login Android reviewers report being unable to get past the login screen, landing on an error page instead. One describes leaving an organisation and then being locked into signing in to an account that no longer exists, with no way to remove it or switch. Scored 44 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/uber--the-amount-charged-does-not-match-the-fare-that-was-quoted https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/uber--the-amount-charged-does-not-match-the-fare-that-was-quoted Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pricing and billing Reviewers report final fares well above the quoted price, waiting-time fees applied when the rider was the one waiting, and cancellation fees charged after the driver cancelled. Several say reversing a charge requires contacting support, which is itself difficult. Scored 44 of 100 from 3 reviews across iOS. Verdict: Thin evidence. https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/zoom--meetings-cannot-be-joined-from-the-mobile-app https://jayharwani.github.io/friction/challenges/zoom--meetings-cannot-be-joined-from-the-mobile-app Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Crashes and stability Android reviewers report being blocked from joining a meeting by an update prompt with no update available, by repeated verification requests, or by the app ejecting them when the camera is opened. Reinstalling is described as not helping. Scored 41 of 100 from 3 reviews across Android. Verdict: Thin evidence.