Help "Unfortunately, Hangouts has stopped" error

[Daniel M]

Phone: Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
Android: 4.4.4

About 2 weeks ago, I let my phone go through the whole update process to the latest and greatest. Since then, about 4-5 times a day, I am getting the error message "Unfortunately, Hangouts has stopped. [Report] [OK]"

Steps taken:
- I don't use the Hangouts app, so I quickly went into the App manager and disabled it, but the error continues.
- I have done a reboot.
- I have payed attention to what I was using. It doesn't matter. Could be graphic intensive games, could be just the phone. As I said before, I never use Hangouts (or Google+).
- I have searched "google" for answers, but it is really hard question to describe, since I just get lots of results on how to disable Hangouts. (already done).

Any ideas? This is getting really annoying.

 

[Davenexus7]

I have a nexus 7 (2013) 4g and I get exactly the same. Since upgrade to lollipop. Very annoying. I also don't have hangouts loaded or use Google +. My limited search for a solution has been unsuccessful. Can anyone help in removing "unfortunately hangouts has stopped" message appearing 9 or 10 times a day

 

[Totaalisen Tuntematon]

I also have the same problem with my Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. It began with Lollipop and I've done everything but rooted the phone to get rid of this. Annoying pop-up and disabling "Show all ANRs" from developer options doesn't solve this either.

Do I really need to root the phone or use an app I really wouldn't want to use?

 

[Slug]

With any software issue appearing after an OS update, the first thing I suggest is doing a factory data reset. Nine times out of ten this solves the problem.

 

[Clementine_3]

I have used it on and off and the last time I stopped using it I was getting that message. I did a few things and it went away, not sure it will help you guys or not but try:

Go to your Google account and make sure sync is off for HO's and G+
Go into HO's and sign out (if it's signed in, it might be by default)
Go to Apps in settings, HO's, clear cache, clear data, force stop and then disable
Then, just for good measure, clear/wipe cache from recovery

After I did all of that I've not seen that message. It's a pain but it did stop it for me at any rate.

 

[Totaalisen Tuntematon]

That seemed to do the trick @Clementine_3 ! Thanks.