An Android app that closes as soon as you open it, freezes while you’re using it, or crashes repeatedly usually doesn’t mean you need to reset your phone.
Start with the simple fixes: restart the app and your phone, check for an app update, and then clear the app’s cache. If the crashes continue, you can move on to force-stopping or reinstalling the app.
The steps below go from the least disruptive fixes to the ones that can remove app data.
1. Close the App and Open It Again
If an app has crashed once, reopen it before changing any settings.
A one-time crash can happen without there being an ongoing problem. If the same app crashes again, continue with the steps below.
If several apps are crashing rather than just one, the problem may be with the phone, available storage, or Android itself rather than a single app.
2. Restart Your Android Phone
Restarting is worth doing before you start changing app settings.
On most Android phones, press and hold the power button and choose Restart.
The exact method can vary depending on the phone.
After the phone starts again, open the same app and try to reproduce the crash.
3. Check for an App Update
If the developer has already fixed the problem, updating the app may solve the crashes.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Select Manage apps & device.
- Check Updates available.
- Find the crashing app and tap Update if one is available.
It’s also worth checking for an Android system update if the app started crashing after a software or compatibility change.
4. Clear the App’s Cache
A damaged or outdated temporary file can sometimes interfere with an app.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Select the app that keeps crashing.
- Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
Don’t confuse Clear cache with Clear storage/data.
Clearing the cache removes temporary files, whereas clearing storage is a more aggressive step that can remove data saved by the app.
If you’re unsure which option to use, follow our guide on how to clear app cache on Android without losing data before continuing.
Google also includes clearing cache and data among its troubleshooting options for apps that crash, don’t respond, or otherwise don’t work properly.
5. Force Stop the App
If the app remains stuck or continues misbehaving, force stopping it gives the app a fresh start.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Select the app that keeps crashing.
- Tap Force stop.
- Tap OK or Force stop to confirm if prompted.
Force Stop shouldn’t be confused with controlling apps that routinely consume resources in the background. If that’s the actual problem you’re trying to solve, see how to stop apps running in the background on Android instead.
6. Check Your Phone’s Available Storage
Don’t overlook storage if crashes are happening across your phone rather than in one isolated app.
Go to Settings > Storage and check how much free space remains.
Google notes that Android phones can start experiencing problems when less than 10% of storage is available.
If storage is very low, free some space and test the app again before moving to more disruptive fixes. One problem is that you may not know how much storage your Android phone needs to keep running smoothly.
If you are facing this issue, read our guide on how much phone storage do you actually need on Android to choose the right amount of storage for your needs.
7. Reinstall the App
If one particular app continues crashing after you’ve updated it and cleared its cache, reinstalling it may help.
Before uninstalling, make sure anything important stored only inside the app is backed up or synced. Google warns that uninstalling an app can erase data saved in that app.
Then uninstall the app and reinstall it from the Google Play Store.
Sign back in if necessary and check whether the crashes continue.
What If Several Android Apps Keep Crashing?
This is different from one problematic app.
If multiple apps are freezing or crashing, check:
- whether Android has a pending system update
- whether the phone is very low on storage
- whether the problem began after installing a particular app
- whether restarting the phone changes anything
Google recommends Safe Mode as one way to determine whether a downloaded app is causing broader freezing or crashing problems. It temporarily disables downloaded apps; if the problem disappears there, a downloaded app is likely involved, which you can later uninstall.
How to Boot Into Safe Mode on Android
To boot into Safe Mode Turn off the phone. Then press and hold Power until you see the manufacturer logo on the screen. Release the power button and hold Volume Down until the device boots into Safe Mode. This hardware shortcut method commonly works for most devices.
Because entering Safe Mode differs between manufacturers, follow the instructions for your specific Samsung, Pixel, Nothing, or other Android device rather than assuming the same button sequence works everywhere.
Pro Tip: Getting out of Safe Mode is usually as simple as restarting your phone. If you’re still stuck with grayed-out apps after a reboot, pull down your notification shade, tap the “Safe Mode is ON” banner, and confirm to exit.
Is Battery Drain Happening Too?
Crashing and battery drain can sometimes appear together, but they are different problems.
If an app is working but appears to be consuming unusually high amounts of power, check which Android apps are draining your battery before changing unrelated settings.
That will help you determine whether the issue is actually excessive battery use rather than an app crash.
When Should You Contact the App Developer?
If only one app keeps crashing after you’ve restarted the phone, installed available updates, cleared its cache, and reinstalled it, the problem may need to be addressed by the app developer.
Google’s Android app troubleshooting guidance also recommends contacting the developer when problems with an individual app continue after troubleshooting.
This is particularly useful if the crashes started immediately after an app update or if other apps on your phone continue working normally.
Final Thoughts
When an Android app keeps crashing, start with the least disruptive fixes rather than immediately clearing its data or resetting your phone.
Restart the app and phone, check for updates, clear the cache, and then try Force Stop. If one app still crashes, reinstalling it is a reasonable next step. If several apps are affected, look at available storage, Android updates, and whether another downloaded app may be causing the problem.
