Grok 4 Android App Issues: When Premium Features Don't Work
Hey everyone. So, you jumped on the Grok AI train. You heard about its real-time info, its snarky personality, & its powerful new Grok 4 model. You decided to go all-in & pay for a Premium or Premium+ subscription to unlock the good stuff, especially on your Android phone. But then… nothing. The app is acting like you’re still on the free plan, you’re hitting usage limits, & the features you paid for are nowhere to be found.
It’s SUPER frustrating. Honestly, it feels like you've been sold a bill of goods. You're not alone in this. Turns out, this is a pretty common headache for a lot of Android users trying to use Grok 4. Here's the thing, the issue often isn't that you've done something wrong; it's a bit of a mess on the back end, especially with how the Grok app talks (or fails to talk) to your X (formerly Twitter) subscription.
Let's get into what’s really going on & how you can actually fix it.
The Heart of the Problem: Subscription Sync Chaos
The biggest issue seems to be a major disconnect between where you bought your subscription & the Grok app itself. A lot of people subscribe to Premium+ through the main X app or on their desktop. But when you open the standalone Grok Android app, it doesn't always get the memo. It fails to check & see that you're a paying customer, so it keeps you on the free tier with all its limitations.
A user on Reddit described this exact scenario: they had an active premium subscription but kept getting an error message in the Grok app saying, "looks like you bought this subscription on an Android Device. You'll need to manage or cancel your subscription from that platform." Even weirder, some users find their premium account works fine when accessed through the X app but is limited on the dedicated grok.com website or the Grok app.
To make matters worse, there's a growing frustration among Android users about feature disparity. A recent example is the new "Imagine" AI image & video generator. On iOS, it's available for Premium subscribers, but on Android, it's been restricted to the MUCH more expensive "SuperGrok Heavy" tier. So not only are you potentially locked out of the features you paid for, but you're also getting fewer of them than your iOS counterparts. It’s a classic case of feeling like a second-class citizen.
Why Is This Happening?
It mostly boils down to a few key things:
- Separate Systems: The X platform & the standalone Grok app aren't as seamlessly integrated as they should be. Your subscription status is held by X, & the Grok app needs to successfully ask for & receive that information. Sometimes, that digital handshake fails.
- App-Specific Bugs: The Android app itself might have bugs that prevent it from correctly recognizing subscriptions. Grok's own status page even acknowledged an issue back in April 2025 where some Android users couldn't even purchase a subscription, though they marked it as resolved.
- Cache Confusion: Your app's cache—the temporary files it stores to run faster—can sometimes get corrupted or hold onto outdated information, like your old "free user" status.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Grok's Premium Problems
Alright, let's walk through the fixes, starting with the easiest stuff first. Work your way down this list.
1. The Obvious First Step: Restart & Relog
I know, I know, "have you tried turning it off & on again?" But seriously, it often works.
- Close the app completely. Don't just go to your home screen. Open your recent apps & swipe Grok away.
- Restart your phone. A full reboot can clear out a lot of temporary glitches.
- Log out & log back in. Open the Grok app, go to your account settings, log out, & then log back in. This forces the app to re-verify your credentials & hopefully your subscription status. Some users reported this simple step fixed the issue for them.
2. The MOST Important Step: Link Your X & xAI Accounts
This is the big one & often the real solution. The Grok app needs to be explicitly linked to the X account that holds your premium subscription.
The official xAI documentation points to this as a key step. Go into the Grok app's Settings, then look for an Account section. You should see an option that says something like "Connect your X Account." Tap that. It will take you through a process to authorize & link the two accounts. Once linked, the xAI system can retrieve your X subscription status & grant you the premium benefits you're paying for.
3. Clear the App's Cache & Data
If the app is stubbornly holding onto your old free-tier status, you need to force it to forget.
- Go to your phone's Settings > Apps > Grok.
- Tap on Storage & cache.
- First, tap Clear Cache. This gets rid of temporary files without logging you out. Re-open the app & see if it works.
- If that doesn't work, go back & tap Clear Storage (or Clear Data). This is a more drastic step. It will completely reset the app & you WILL need to log in again. Think of it as a fresh install without the hassle of re-downloading.
4. Make Sure Your App is Updated
This seems simple, but app developers are constantly pushing out bug fixes. You might be stuck on an older, buggier version.
- Go to the Google Play Store.
- Search for "Grok - AI Assistant."
- If you see an "Update" button, tap it. If you only see "Open," then you're on the latest version.
5. Check Your Google Play Subscriptions
Sometimes, the issue can be with the Google Play Store itself.
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right.
- Go to Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.
- Find your Grok or X Premium subscription here. Make sure it's listed as active. If you don't see it, it means you likely subscribed elsewhere (like on your desktop).
Some apps have a "Restore Purchases" button in their settings. While I haven't seen this confirmed specifically for Grok, it's worth looking for in the app's settings menu.
If you've tried everything & your premium features are still locked, it's time to get a human involved.
- Through the X App: One user recommended going into the X app, clicking on "Premium" in the menu, & looking for an option to "Message premium for support." This might be your most direct line.
- Official Support Email: The Grok app's Google Play Store page lists a support email: support+googlePlay@x.ai. Be specific in your email. Tell them you're an Android user, you have an active premium subscription, & the app isn't recognizing it. Include screenshots if you can.
This part can be frustrating. You might get an automated response or have to wait a while. This is a perfect example of where customer service can make or break an experience. It’s why some businesses are turning to platforms like Arsturn. Imagine if instead of a slow email response, a company could build a no-code AI chatbot trained on its own data. It could instantly check your subscription status, understand the Android-specific bug, & give you the exact steps to fix it, 24/7. That kind of instant, intelligent support is what's missing from so many big tech companies.
7. The Last Resort: Request a Refund
If support is unhelpful or you're just done with the hassle, you can request a refund through Google Play.
- Go to the Google Play website.
- Click your profile > Payments & subscriptions > Budget & order history.
- Find the Grok subscription order & click Report a problem.
- Choose the option that fits & explain the situation – that you paid for premium features that are not working on your device.
Hope this helps!
It’s a real bummer when you pay for something & it just doesn't work, especially with all the hype around Grok 4. Hopefully, walking through these steps, especially linking your X and xAI accounts, will get things up & running for you. The tech is pretty cool when you can actually use it.
Let me know if you find another fix that works. We're all in this together.