How Do I Stop Apps From Crashing on My Phone?
Fix apps that crash, freeze, or close on opening with a step by step troubleshooting flow for iPhone and Android, from force quit to reinstall.
Quick Answer
Force close the app first. Swipe up from the bottom (or double tap Home on older iPhones) to open the app switcher, then flick the app card up to kill it. Reopen it. This fixes most crashes.
If it still crashes, restart the phone, update the app and the operating system, free up storage so the device has at least 1 GB of headroom, clear the app cache on Android, and as a last resort uninstall and reinstall the app. Almost every app crash falls to one of those steps.
Why apps crash in the first place
Apps crash for a handful of repeatable reasons. Knowing the cause helps you pick the right fix instead of trying everything.
- Out of memory: the phone ran out of RAM and the system killed the app to keep the OS responsive.
- Corrupt cached data: a saved file got mangled and the app cannot read it on launch.
- Outdated app version: the developer shipped a fix you have not installed yet.
- Outdated operating system: the app depends on a new system API.
- Low storage: the app cannot write a temporary file and crashes immediately.
- Server side issue: the app launches, contacts the company server, gets a bad response, and closes.
- Hardware problem: overheating, a swelling battery, or a failing chip.
The fix flow that works almost every time
- Force close the app.
- Restart the phone.
- Update the app.
- Update the operating system.
- Check available storage.
- Clear the app cache (Android) or offload the app (iPhone).
- Reinstall the app.
- Reset settings or factory reset as a last resort.
Work through the list top to bottom. Stop the moment the app opens cleanly.
Step 1: force close the app
- iPhone with Face ID: swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle, then swipe the app card up off the screen.
- iPhone with Home button: double press the Home button, then swipe the app card up.
- Android: tap the recent apps button (square or three line icon), then swipe the app card away. Some phones have an X in the corner instead.
Reopen the app. About half the time this is all it takes because you cleared the bad memory state.
Step 2: restart the phone
A reboot clears every cached process, frees RAM, and resets network connections. It is shockingly effective.
- iPhone: hold the side button and either volume button until the slider appears, drag to power off, wait 30 seconds, then hold the side button again to turn it back on.
- Android: hold the power button (or power plus volume up on newer Samsungs), tap Restart.
Step 3: update the app
- iPhone: open the App Store, tap your profile photo in the top right, scroll to the app, and tap Update.
- Android: open the Play Store, tap your profile, tap Manage apps and device, then Updates available.
Crashing apps are often fixed in the very next release. Developers monitor crash reports and push patches within days.
Step 4: update the operating system
- iPhone: Settings, General, Software Update.
- Android: Settings, System (or About phone), System update.
Major apps drop support for older OS versions over time. Banking, Maps, and social apps are the first to go.
Step 5: free up storage
A phone with less than 1 GB free will misbehave. Apps cannot save data, photos fail to import, and crashes spike.
- iPhone: Settings, General, iPhone Storage shows a list sorted by size. Delete unused apps, offload large videos, and clear Recently Deleted in Photos.
- Android: Settings, Storage. Use the built in cleanup tool to remove cached files, large unused apps, and old downloads.
Step 6: clear app cache or offload
Android lets you wipe an individual app cache without losing your login.
- Open Settings, Apps, and tap the misbehaving app.
- Tap Storage and cache.
- Tap Clear cache. If that does not fix it, tap Clear storage (this signs you out).
iPhone does not expose a cache button. The closest option is Offload App in Settings, General, iPhone Storage, which deletes the app binary but keeps documents and data. Reinstall and the data comes back.
Step 7: uninstall and reinstall
- iPhone: long press the app icon, choose Remove App, then Delete App. Reinstall from the App Store.
- Android: long press the app icon, tap Uninstall (or drag to the Uninstall slot). Reinstall from the Play Store.
This wipes every local file the app created and gives you a clean install. Use it before doing anything drastic like a factory reset.
Step 8: check for hardware or server problems
- If only one app crashes, the issue is the app or its server. Check the company status page or social media accounts.
- If many apps crash, suspect the phone. An overheating device throttles aggressively. Let it cool down out of direct sun.
- If the battery has been swelling or the phone shuts off at high battery percentages, get it serviced. Failing batteries cause random app crashes.
Special cases
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| App crashes the moment you open it | Corrupt cache or bad update | Clear cache or reinstall |
| App freezes mid use | Low memory or slow network | Restart phone, switch to Wi Fi |
| App crashes only on Wi Fi | DNS or captive portal problem | Forget the network, reconnect |
| Multiple apps crash after an OS update | App needs its own update | Update all apps |
| App works on Wi Fi but crashes on cellular | VPN or carrier issue | Disable VPN, toggle airplane mode |
FAQs
Why does the same app keep crashing only on my phone?
Usually a corrupted local cache or a setting unique to your account. Reinstall the app, then if it still crashes, sign out of the related account and sign back in.
Does clearing cache delete my account?
Clearing cache does not. Clearing storage or app data does. Always try cache first.
Should I factory reset to fix one crashing app?
No. A factory reset is overkill for a single app. Reinstall the app, and if every app crashes, then consider a reset after backing everything up.
Is closing background apps regularly good for battery life?
No. Modern iOS and Android freeze apps in the background efficiently. Force closing every app actually uses more battery because relaunching from cold start is expensive.
The takeaway
Work the list: force close, restart, update, free storage, clear cache, reinstall. Nine times out of ten one of those steps fixes a crashing app within five minutes, and you avoid the temptation to factory reset.