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    4 min read 5 stepsApril 18, 2026Verified April 2026

    Why Does My App Keep Crashing? Here's How to Fix It

    When apps freeze or crash on your phone or computer, these four quick fixes solve the problem most of the time — no tech skills needed.

    At a Glance

    Category
    How-To Guides
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    app crash
    iPhone
    Android
    troubleshoot
    fix

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Force-close the app and reopen it
    2. 2.Check for and install app updates
    3. 3.Clear the app's cache (Android only)
    4. 4.Delete and reinstall the app
    5. 5.Restart your phone
    1

    Force-close the app and reopen it

    ~31s
    On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button on older models) to see all your open apps. Find the crashed app and swipe it upward to close it. Wait five seconds, then tap the app icon to reopen it. On Android, tap the square or three-line button at the bottom to see open apps, then swipe the crashed app away. Reopen it fresh.

    Quick Tip

    Think of this like restarting a stuck program on a computer — closing it completely clears any glitch that built up while it was running.

    2

    Check for and install app updates

    ~34s
    On iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Scroll down to see "Available Updates." If the crashing app appears there, tap "Update" next to it. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, then tap "Manage apps & device" → "Updates available." Update the app that is crashing.

    Quick Tip

    Turn on automatic app updates so this happens in the background without you having to check. On iPhone: App Store → your profile → App Updates → turn on "App Updates." On Android: Play Store → your profile → SettingsNetwork PreferencesAuto-update apps.

    3

    Clear the app's cache (Android only)

    ~27s
    On Android, go to SettingsApps → tap the crashing app → Storage & Cache → tap "Clear Cache." This deletes temporary files the app stored. It does not delete your account, saved content, or settings. On iPhone, the equivalent is to delete and reinstall the app (see the next step) since iOS manages cache differently.

    Warning

    Tap "Clear Cache" — not "Clear Data." Clearing data wipes the app back to a fresh install state and will log you out of your account.

    4

    Delete and reinstall the app

    ~39s
    If clearing the cache did not help, delete the app and install it fresh. On iPhone, press and hold the app icon → "Remove App" → "Delete App." Then go to the App Store, search for the app, and tap the download icon. On Android, press and hold the app icon → "Uninstall." Then go to Google Play and reinstall it.

    Quick Tip

    Your account information and saved content is usually stored on the company's servers, not on your phone — so reinstalling normally brings everything back when you sign in again. This applies to apps like Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, and Gmail. For games, your progress may be tied to your account if you are signed in, so check the game's settings before deleting.

    5

    Restart your phone

    ~18s
    If the app still crashes after reinstalling, restart your phone. This clears all temporary memory (RAM) and gives every app a clean start. On iPhone, hold the side button and a volume button → "slide to power off." Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. On Android, hold the power button → Restart.

    You Did It!

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    When an app suddenly closes, freezes, or refuses to open, it almost always comes down to one of four causes. The app may need an update. Its temporary data may have gotten corrupted. Your phone's memory may be overloaded. Or the app and your phone's operating system may be out of sync after a recent update.

    The good news is that these four fixes solve app crashes the vast majority of the time — and none of them delete your photos, contacts, or account information. You are clearing temporary files or doing a fresh restart.

    Following Apple's iOS 18 release and Google's Android 15 update, many apps had trouble keeping up with the changes. App developers release updates to fix these compatibility issues — so the first thing to always try is checking whether there is an update waiting.

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    iPhone
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