How to Fix Apps That Keep Crashing on iPhone and Android in the UK

Few things are as frustrating as an app that closes the moment you open it. One minute you are trying to pay for parking, check a train time or reply to a message, and the next you are staring at your home screen. App crashes usually have a simple cause: a bad update, a full phone, a corrupt temporary file, or a clash with your phone's software. Work through the steps below in order, and stop as soon as the app behaves again. Before you start, note whether one app or many apps are affected. If only one app crashes, the fix is almost always inside that app. If several crash, or your phone itself restarts, storage or software is more likely to blame.

Step 1: Force close the app and try again

Start with the simplest fix. Force closing an app clears it from memory completely, which is different from just going back to your home screen. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and pause in the middle, or double press the Home button on older models, then swipe the app's card up and away. On Android, swipe up and hold, or tap the square overview button, then swipe the app away. You can also go to Settings, then Apps, tap the app, and tap Force stop. Open the app again. If it works, you are done. If it crashes again straight away, move on.

Step 2: Restart your phone

If force closing does not help, restart your phone. A restart clears temporary memory, ends stuck background processes, and gives the app a clean start. Press and hold the power button, or the power and volume buttons together on newer models, then slide or tap to power off. Wait about thirty seconds, then switch the phone back on. Repeated crashes point to something more specific, which the next steps address.

Step 3: Update the app and your phone software

Outdated apps crash more often, especially after your phone has updated to a newer system version. App makers release fixes for exactly this kind of problem, so check for updates before anything more drastic. On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and look for updates. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps and device, then Updates available. Update the crashing app first. Also check your phone software. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update. On Android, go to Settings, then System, then Software update. Install any available update, then test the app again. If the app only started crashing after a recent update, check the app's store page for recent reviews. Other users often report the same crash, which tells you a fix is likely on its way.

Step 4: Clear the app cache on Android, and offload on iPhone

Temporary files can become corrupt and crash an app every time it opens. Android lets you clear these files directly. Go to Settings, then Apps, tap the crashing app, then Storage, then Clear cache. This does not delete your account, photos or saved work inside most apps. It only removes temporary files, which the app rebuilds as needed. Do not tap Clear data or Clear storage at this stage unless you are happy to sign in again and lose local settings, since it can remove downloaded content inside the app.

iPhone does not offer a general clear cache button for every app. Instead, some apps have a clear cache option inside their own settings. If yours does not, use Offload App. Go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage, tap the app, then Offload App. This removes the app itself but keeps its documents and data. Reinstall it from the same screen, and your data should still be there.

Step 5: Free up storage space

A phone that is nearly full struggles to run apps properly. Apps need free space for temporary files, updates and background work. If your storage is almost full, crashes become much more likely, especially in large apps like maps, photo editors and games. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage to see what is using space. On Android, go to Settings, then Storage. Delete videos and downloads you no longer need, remove apps you never use, and move photos to cloud storage or a computer if you have a backup. Aim to leave at least a few gigabytes free if you can. After freeing space, restart your phone and test the app again.

Step 6: Reinstall the app, and check permissions

If the app still crashes, delete it and install it fresh from the App Store or Google Play Store. A fresh install replaces any damaged app files. Before deleting, check whether your data is saved to an account or to the cloud. If you sign in with an account, your main data should come back when you sign in again. If the app stores everything only on your phone, back up anything important first, or you could lose it. After reinstalling, sign in again. If it asks for permissions, grant only what the app genuinely needs, but note that denying a permission the app expects can sometimes cause a crash. If every app crashes, or your phone restarts on its own, the problem may be wider than one app. Check for a software update, free up storage, and if trouble continues, contact your phone maker or a repair shop. Back up your phone before handing it over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing cache delete my photos or messages?

Clearing cache on Android removes temporary files only, not your photos, messages or account data. On iPhone, offloading keeps documents and data while removing the app itself. Avoid Clear data unless you are ready to sign in again and possibly lose local content.

Why did an app start crashing after an update?

Updates can introduce a bug, or they can clash with your phone's software version. Check the app's store page for similar reports, update your phone software, and look for a further app update. Makers often release a fix quickly once a widespread crash is reported.

Should I delete and reinstall straight away?

No. Try force closing, restarting and updating first, because those steps are quick and keep your data untouched. Reinstall only if the app still crashes after those steps, and check first whether your data is saved to an account or the cloud so you can sign back in safely.