An app that closes on its own, freezes on one screen, or stops responding is usually fixable without a reset. The most common causes are an outdated app or operating system, a full storage drive, corrupted temporary data, or a bug in a specific app version. This guide takes you through the fixes in order, from least disruptive to most, for both Android and iPhone.
First, work out how widespread the problem is
What you do next depends on the pattern:
- One app only: the app, its saved data, or its latest update is the likely cause. Start with the app-specific fixes below.
- A few apps, especially ones that load web content or need internet: check your connection, then update the apps and your phone's system software.
- Nearly every app, plus general sluggishness: suspect low storage, a pending system update, or overheating. Go to the phone-wide fixes.
Quick fixes to try first
- Close the app completely and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom edge and pause (or double-press the Home button on models with one), then swipe the app's card upward. On Android, open the recent apps view and swipe the app away. Or open Settings > Apps, choose the app, and tap Force stop. Exact wording varies slightly by manufacturer.
- Restart the phone. This clears temporary memory problems and stuck background processes. On Android, hold the power button and tap Restart. On iPhone, use Settings > General > Shut Down, then turn it back on.
- Check your connection. If the app only freezes while loading content, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data. If it works on one but not the other, the problem is the network, not the app.
Reopen the app and use it for a few minutes. If it still crashes, move on to updates.
Update the app and the operating system
Developers often fix crashes in later versions, and an app may misbehave if your phone's software is too old for it, or if the phone is updated but the app is not.
- Android, app update: open Google Play, tap your profile picture, choose Manage apps & device, then update the app if it appears under available updates.
- iPhone, app update: open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and scroll to the pending updates list (pull down to refresh). Tap Update next to the app.
- Android, system update: go to Settings > System > System update on Pixel phones, or Settings > Software update on Samsung. Other brands use similar names.
- iPhone, system update: go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If several Android apps that display web pages inside them are crashing, also search for Android System WebView and Chrome in Google Play and install any updates. These components are shared by many apps.
If you are already up to date and the crashes began right after an update, check the app's store page or reviews for similar reports. That points to a bug only the developer can fix, and you can report it to them (see the last section).
Free up storage space
When a phone is nearly full, apps can freeze, fail to save, or close without warning. Check your storage:
- Android: Settings > Storage (on some phones it sits under Battery and device care or similar).
- iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage. This also lists apps by size and shows when each was last used.
Aim for a few gigabytes of free space, more if you record video. Delete unused apps, large downloads, and old videos, after making sure photos and files are backed up. Don't remove anything you can't replace.
Fix a single misbehaving app
Android: clear the cache first, not the data
Cached files are temporary, so clearing them is safe, and a corrupted cache is a common cause of crashes.
- Open Settings > Apps and select the problem app.
- Tap Storage (sometimes Storage & cache).
- Tap Clear cache, then reopen the app.
If that fails, the same screen offers Clear storage or Clear data. This resets the app to its just-installed state. You will probably be signed out, and offline files, local settings, and unsynced progress, such as in some games, may be lost. Confirm that your account or cloud backup holds what you need before doing this.
iPhone: offload the app instead of deleting it
iPhone has no cache-clearing button for most apps. Offloading is the closest safe option, because it removes the app itself but keeps its documents and data.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Select the app and tap Offload App.
- Tap Reinstall App once it finishes, then open it.
Reinstall as the next step
If clearing the cache or offloading didn't help, uninstall the app and install it fresh from Google Play or the App Store. Deleting an app on iPhone, or uninstalling on Android, can remove locally stored data. Check that the app syncs to an account or backup, and note your login details, before you proceed. For apps tied to two-factor authentication, such as banking or authenticator apps, check the provider's recovery steps first so you don't lock yourself out.
For built-in Android apps
System apps such as Chrome or Gmail usually can't be uninstalled. On their App info page, tap the three-dot menu and look for Uninstall updates, which returns the app to its factory version. You can then update it again.
If many apps are crashing
- Let the phone cool down and charge it. Heat and very low battery can make the system slow down or close apps.
- Install any pending system update. Phone-wide instability is often fixed this way.
- Android only: try Safe mode. It temporarily disables third-party apps. On many phones you hold the power button, then touch and hold Power off and confirm, but the method differs by brand, so check your manufacturer's support page. If the phone runs smoothly in Safe mode, a recently installed third-party app is likely the culprit. Restart normally, then uninstall recent additions one at a time.
- iPhone only: if problems persist, Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings doesn't erase your data but does reset system preferences, including network settings, so you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi.
A factory reset is the last resort. It erases the phone, so make a complete backup first and follow Apple's or your manufacturer's official instructions. Only do this if the problem affects the whole phone and nothing above helped.
How to confirm it's fixed
Use the app the way you normally do for several days, not just a single launch. Open the screen or feature that used to crash, and confirm that your data, login, and notifications still work. If the crashing returns after a few days, note when it happens, such as when opening a certain screen or after the phone has been on for a long time. That pattern is useful for support.
When to contact the developer or manufacturer
If the crashing continues after an update, a cache clear or offload, and a reinstall, the problem is probably in the app or its compatibility with your phone model or system version. Contact the developer through the support link on the app's store page. Include the app version, your phone model, your Android or iOS version, and what you were doing when it crashed. On iPhone, you can also find diagnostic logs under Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data if you've turned on analytics sharing, though you may not need them.
If many different apps keep failing even after a system update, or the phone also overheats or restarts on its own, contact the manufacturer or Apple Support, as it could be a hardware or storage fault.
A good order to remember: restart, update, free some space, clear the cache or offload, then reinstall. That sequence fixes most app crashes and risks the least data.