How to Fix Your Phone When Apps Keep Crashing

Simple fixes for when apps freeze, close unexpectedly, or will not open on your phone.

5 min read · 9 steps · Checked April 2026

1. Step 1. iPhone — Force close the app

   When an app freezes or keeps closing, the first thing to try is force-closing it and opening it again.

   On iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and newer):

   1. Swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and pause in the middle
   2. You will see all your open apps as cards
   3. Find the app that is crashing and swipe it up and off the top of the screen
   4. Wait a few seconds, then open the app again from your home screen

   On iPhones with a Home button (iPhone SE, iPhone 8, and older):

   1. Double-press the Home button quickly
   2. Find the app and swipe it up and off the screen
   3. Open the app again

2. Step 2. iPhone — Update the app

   App developers regularly release updates to fix crashes and bugs. Here is how to update:

   1. Open the App Store (the blue icon with a white "A")
   2. Tap your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner
   3. Scroll down to see available updates
   4. Tap "Update All" to update everything at once, or tap "Update" next to a specific app

   If you do not see any updates, your apps are already up to date.

3. Step 3. iPhone — Restart your phone

   Restarting your phone clears temporary files and can fix many app issues.

   On iPhones with Face ID:

   1. Press and hold the side button AND either volume button at the same time
   2. Slide the "slide to power off" slider to the right
   3. Wait 30 seconds
   4. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears

   On iPhones with a Home button:

   1. Press and hold the side (or top) button
   2. Slide to power off
   3. Wait 30 seconds, then press the side button to turn it back on

4. Step 4. iPhone — Check for an iOS update

   Sometimes apps crash because your phone's operating system needs an update. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap "Download and Install." Make sure your phone is connected to WiFi and has at least 50% battery (or plug it in). The update may take 15 to 30 minutes.

5. Step 5. iPhone — Delete and reinstall the app

   If nothing else works, removing the app and installing it fresh often fixes the problem.

   1. Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears
   2. Tap "Remove App" then "Delete App"
   3. Go to the App Store, search for the app, and tap the download icon (cloud with an arrow) to reinstall it
   4. Log back in if needed

   Note: deleting an app may remove your data within that app (game progress, saved files, etc.), but most apps save your data to the cloud and will restore it when you log back in.

6. Step 6. Android — Force stop the app

   On Android, you can force an app to completely stop running.

   1. Go to Settings (the gear icon)
   2. Tap "Apps" (or "Apps & notifications" on some phones)
   3. Find the app that is crashing and tap on it
   4. Tap "Force Stop"
   5. Tap "OK" to confirm
   6. Go back to your home screen and open the app again

   This is like giving the app a fresh start without deleting anything.

7. Step 7. Android — Clear the app cache

   The cache is temporary data that apps store to load faster. Sometimes this data gets corrupted and causes crashes. Clearing it is completely safe.

   1. Go to Settings > Apps
   2. Tap the crashing app
   3. Tap "Storage" (or "Storage & Cache")
   4. Tap "Clear Cache"

   This does NOT delete your data, photos, messages, or login information. It only removes temporary files. The app may load a little slower the first time after clearing the cache, but it should work normally.

   Quick Tip

   Clearing the cache does NOT delete your data. It just removes temporary files. It is safe to do anytime. For official help, visit support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2668665

8. Step 8. Android — Update the app

   Make sure you have the latest version of the app.

   1. Open the Google Play Store
   2. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner
   3. Tap "Manage apps & device"
   4. Tap "Updates available"
   5. Find the crashing app and tap "Update," or tap "Update all"

   If no update is available, the app is already at the latest version.

9. Step 9. Android — Restart your phone and reinstall if needed

   If the steps above did not help:

   1. Restart your phone: Press and hold the power button, then tap "Restart." Wait for it to fully start back up.
   2. Delete and reinstall the app: Press and hold the app icon, tap "Uninstall," then go to the Play Store and search for it again. Tap "Install" to reinstall.

   Reinstalling gives you a completely fresh copy of the app.

   Warning

   If ALL your apps are crashing after a phone update, try restarting your phone first. If that does not work, wait a day — app developers often release fixes within 24 to 48 hours of a major update.