shizukudownload

Shizuku Not Working? The 8 Most Common Fixes

MFWritten by Marcus Feld, Android Systems WriterIndependent editorialUpdated July 2026Tested on real devices

Most Shizuku problems come down to one of eight causes — and the number-one cause is running the outdated Google Play build instead of the GitHub release. Below is a quick-diagnosis table, then a detailed fix for each issue with its symptom, root cause, and solution. Every fix here is drawn from the project’s GitHub issues and tested on real devices.

If you have not already, install the latest v13.6.0 APK from the download page — it resolves several of these on its own.

Quick diagnosis

What you seeLikely causeFix
Stopped working after Android 16 updateOutdated Play build#1
Dies when the screen locks (Samsung)One UI battery / USB config#2
Stuck “searching for pairing service”Smart Switch import#3
rish: cannot load writable dexAndroid 14 security#4
Service dies randomly (any phone)Background process killing#5
Broken on Android 17 (Pixel)Upstream compatibility bug#6
Dhizuku “waiting for activation”v2.11 bug / accounts#7
No auto-start after rebootADB sessions end at reboot#8

The eight fixes in detail

1. Shizuku not working on Android 16 Very high

Symptom. Shizuku force-closes, fails to start, or apps report it as missing after updating to Android 16.

Root cause. The Google Play build has been frozen at roughly v13.5.x since March 2024 and has no Android 16 support. This is by far the most reported failure.

FixUninstall the Play Store version and install the GitHub release v13.6.0 from the download page. Start the service again and your apps will reconnect.

2. Service stops when the screen locks (Samsung) High

Symptom. On Samsung One UI, Shizuku works until the screen turns off, then the service dies and apps lose access.

Root cause. One UI’s aggressive battery optimisation suspends the ADB connection when the display sleeps, especially over USB.

FixSet Shizuku to Unrestricted battery usage. If activating over USB, dial *#0808#, set the USB configuration to MTP+ADB, or set Default USB configuration to Debugging only in Developer options. Full menu paths are in the Samsung guide.

3. Stuck on “searching for pairing service” Medium

Symptom. Wireless debugging never pairs — Shizuku (or Android) spins on “searching for pairing service.”

Root cause. Frequently caused by a Samsung Smart Switch settings import, which carries over a corrupted wireless-debugging state from the old device.

FixToggle Wireless debugging and Developer options off, reboot, and re-pair on the same Wi-Fi. If it persists, reset Developer options, or set the phone up cleanly without importing settings via Smart Switch.

4. rish: “app_process cannot load writable dex” (Android 14+) High

Symptom. On Android 14 or 15, launching rish prints “app_process cannot load writable dex” and exits.

Root cause. Android 14 (SDK 34) blocks executing a writable dex, and /sdcard ignores chmod, so the write bit can never be removed there.

FixMove rish and rish_shizuku.dex into your terminal app’s private directory (Termux’s home), where permissions stick. Step-by-step in the rish setup guide.

5. Service dies randomly on any device Very high

Symptom. Shizuku quits at unpredictable times, often after the phone has been idle, on Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo and others.

Root cause. Android’s background process management (and OEM “memory cleaners”) kill the Shizuku service to save power.

FixSet Shizuku to Unrestricted battery, disable “remove permissions if the app is unused,” enable autostart where the OEM offers it, and lock Shizuku in the recent-apps list. The Xiaomi guide covers the worst offenders.

6. Shizuku not working on Android 17 (Pixel) High

Symptom. On Pixels running Android 17, Shizuku starts but cannot detect or control managed apps.

Root cause. A known upstream compatibility bug tracked in the project’s GitHub issues. It is not a configuration problem on your end.

FixThere is no fix yet. Android 16 works normally with the GitHub release, so stay on Android 16 if you rely on Shizuku, or wait for a project update. Details in the Pixel guide.

7. Dhizuku stuck on “waiting for activation” Medium

Symptom. Dhizuku never finishes activating and sits on “waiting for activation.”

Root cause. The Dhizuku v2.11+ activation bug, and/or an account still present on the device (device owner needs zero accounts).

FixDowngrade to Dhizuku v2.10.1, verify no accounts remain with dumpsys account, then activate through Shizuku. Full walkthrough in the Dhizuku guide.

8. No auto-start after reboot High

Symptom. Shizuku is inactive after every restart and must be re-activated manually.

Root cause. On non-rooted phones an ADB-started service cannot survive a reboot — Android does not persist ADB sessions across restarts. This is expected behaviour, not a bug.

FixRe-activate each boot, or enable the Android 13+ trusted Wi-Fi option to make wireless re-activation almost instant. For true start-on-boot, root the device and enable it in Shizuku’s settings.

Still stuck?

If none of these match, check the per-device guides for brand-specific quirks, confirm the Shizuku service is actually running (not just installed) via the activation guide, and make sure you are on the GitHub build, not Play. Not sure your Android version is supported? See the compatibility table.

Troubleshooting FAQ

You are almost certainly on the Play Store build, which has not been updated since March 2024 and lacks support for Android 16. Uninstall it and install the latest GitHub release (v13.6.0). That single change fixes the most common “Shizuku not working” report.
Set Shizuku’s battery usage to Unrestricted, disable any “remove permissions if app is unused” option, and lock it in the recent-apps list. On Samsung and Xiaomi this is essential — their battery managers kill background services aggressively. See the per-device guides for exact menu paths.
On Pixels running Android 17 there is currently a known upstream bug (tracked on GitHub) where Shizuku cannot detect managed apps. There is no fix yet. Android 16 works normally with the GitHub release. Stay on Android 16 or wait for a Shizuku update if you depend on it.
Without root, the ADB-started service cannot survive a reboot — Android does not keep ADB sessions alive across restarts. Re-activate it each boot, use the Android 13+ trusted-Wi-Fi option to make that quick, or root the device for true start-on-boot.
This is common on Samsung phones after settings were imported by Smart Switch, which can corrupt the wireless-debugging state. Toggle Wireless debugging and Developer options off and on, reboot, and re-pair. If it persists, resetting Developer options or a clean setup without a Smart Switch import resolves it.
No. Uninstalling the Play build and installing the GitHub APK keeps your apps intact. They simply re-request Shizuku access on next launch. Just start the Shizuku service again after installing.

Sources

Fixes consolidated from the project’s issue tracker (issues #1478, #1459, #1072, #1149, #1967 and #2180) and verified on real devices.