"Unfortunately, the process com.sec.ims.android has stopped." What does this error message mean? I have a Samsung Note 3. It normally works very well, but I just got this error message:

Unfortunately, the process com.sec.ims.android has stopped.

    OK


When I selected "OK", the error message went away for just long enough to do something very quick (such as a single button click, a small scroll, etc.), then the same error message came back.

After ignoring my phone for quite a while, I found a different error message:

Process system isn't responding.
Do you want to close it?

    Wait    OK


When I clicked "OK", the error message went away – and the original "Unfortunately" error message came back.

I tried a slow-click of the right button, and the "Device options" dialog box came up – underneath the "Unfortunately" error message. And this time, the "Unfortunately" error message wouldn't go away, not even long enough to select from "Device options".

My next step was a battery-pull power cycle. That appears to have resolved the problem – for now – but the few answers I found with a web search for the "Unfortunately" error message suggest it might recur again soon.



So, two questions:


Does anyone have a general solution to the problem? I can pull the battery, but that's a hassle (remove armor, remove back of phone, pull battery, put everything back together). Ideally I'd like a fix that makes it go away and not return. Failing that, I'd like a fix that minimizes recurrence.
Can anyone explain what the process "com.sec.ims.android" is, and what it does? (A web search suggests that "IMS" in this context means "IP Multimedia System".) Is it specific to Samsung?




Since I mention web search results, and they might not be there next time someone searches, here's a summary:


One reply suggests this [sic]:

Go into settings>General>app manager>All> find contacts and open it then clear cache. If that doesnt help. Clear cache and data. Fixed it for me.
Another reply says that clearing cache and data in contacts fixes the problem, but only for a call or two.
Yet another reply says that dismissing the error message once solves the problem.
Call your provider, they have a patch to fix the issue. After they download the patch you will just have to remove your battery and sim card for one minute. After about five minutes of use, the problem is solved.