An application that closes by itself as soon as it is opened, freezes during use, or loops in a crash without allowing any action: it is frustrating, especially when it is an application used every day. Should it be deleted? Change the phone? Rarely: most application crashes have simple causes that can be resolved with known procedures. Here is the procedure, from the simplest to the most advanced, to stop crashes and get a working application.
Understanding why an application crashes
A crash (« crash ») occurs when an application encounters a problem it cannot handle and closes (or freezes). The most common causes: a TEMPORARY BUG in the application (the most common: a simple restart of the application or the phone often fixes it); an OUTDATED APPLICATION (an older version may have bugs that have been fixed or become incompatible with the system); an OUTDATED OPERATING SYSTEM (the opposite: the application is waiting for a system version that you do not have); a LACK OF MEMORY OR SPACE (a saturated phone can crash applications — our guides to freeing up space); too many applications open at the same time exhausting resources; or, less commonly, a problem specific to the application (a bug that only the developer can fix). Good news: the vast majority of these causes can be easily resolved without technical expertise. A useful first step: is it a SINGLE application that crashes (the problem is with the application or its data) or MULTIPLE/ALL applications (the problem is more general: system, memory, space)? This distinction guides: a single isolated crash is treated at the application level; generalized crashes are treated at the phone level. In both cases, proceed from the simplest to the most advanced action.
A crash is like a hiccup for your app. It usually happens because of a small glitch, an outdated version, or not enough space. Most of the time, you can fix it by restarting the app or your phone, updating it, or freeing up space.
Imagine your messaging app crashes every time you open it. First, close and reopen it. If that doesn’t work, restart your phone. If it still crashes, check for updates. If an update is available, install it. In 90% of cases, this will fix the problem without needing to uninstall the app.
Solutions, from the simplest to the most advanced
Try in order: 1. Close and reopen the application — completely close the application (not just in the background) and relaunch it: this erases a temporary bug (the fastest action, often sufficient); 2. Restart the PHONE — the classic that solves many problems: turning off and on again frees up memory and resets everything; 3. Update the application — check in the app store if an update is available (developers regularly fix bugs: an application that crashes is often an outdated application); 4. Update the SYSTEM — an up-to-date system avoids incompatibilities; 5. Free up memory and space — if the phone is saturated, clean up (our guides to freeing up space); close other open applications; 6. Empty the application’s CACHE — on some systems, one can empty the temporary data of an application without uninstalling it (this resolves cache corruptions; your important application data, if in the cloud/account, are preserved — check according to the application); 7. Uninstall and then REINSTALL the application — the solution that resolves most persistent crashes: it starts from a clean installation (be careful: make sure your application data are backed up or linked to your account before, to avoid losing anything); 8. Check with the developer — if the application crashes for everyone (known bug), the developer is likely working on a fix: wait and update as soon as possible. This progression resolves the vast majority of crashes: often, the first three steps (reopen, restart, update) are sufficient already.
The right reflex. In front of a crashing application, apply the winning trio in order: completely close the application and reopen it, restart the phone, then check if an UPDATE of the application is available. These three actions, fast and risk-free, resolve the overwhelming majority of crashes — a temporary bug erased, memory freed, or a developer’s fix installed. The update is particularly important: an application that suddenly crashes is very often an outdated application, whose bug has already been fixed by an update waiting for you. Enable automatic updates for your applications to prevent such issues. Only if the crash persists after these three steps should more advanced solutions be considered (free up space, clear the cache, reinstall): it is unnecessary to uninstall something that a simple restart or update could have fixed.
Special cases and good habits
Some specific situations: an application that crashes immediately upon opening (impossible to use) — often resolved by an update or a reinstall; if it has just been updated and crashes, the developer may have introduced a bug (wait for the fix); an application that lags or freezes rather than crashes — often a lack of memory (close other applications, restart, free up space); crashes on an old phone — recent applications may require more resources than an old device can provide (hardware limit: keep a compatible version, or accept that the device shows its age); an application that crashes right after a system update — wait for an application update that restores compatibility. Good HABITS to avoid crashes: keep your applications and system up-to-date (enable automatic updates — the best prevention), maintain free space on the phone (our guides to freeing up space), do not overload memory with too many open applications, and restart the phone from time to time (it prevents many issues). A word on DATA: before reinstalling an important application, ensure that your data are backed up or linked to your account, to avoid losing anything (our guides to backups). And beware of questionable applications (installed from unofficial sources): they crash more often and can pose security issues (our security guides). With these reflexes, crashes become rare; and when they occur, the trio of reopening, restarting, and updating usually resolves them. Rarely is it necessary to change a phone for a troublesome application.
Caution: back up your data before reinstalling, and beware of questionable applications. Two precautions: before uninstalling and reinstalling an application (an effective solution for persistent crashes), check that your DATA are well backed up or linked to your account — because for some applications, uninstallation erases locally stored data (a conversation, a progress, settings) that would then be lost — ensure they are in the cloud or your account before uninstalling (our guides to backups). Similarly, clearing the cache is generally safe, but check according to the application that it does not erase non-backed-up data. Second point: install applications only from OFFICIAL STORES — applications from questionable sources (files installed outside official stores) crash more often and can contain malicious software or spy on your data (our security guides). Finally, if a specific application crashes for everyone after an update, it is a developer bug: there is no need to insist, the fix will come in a future update. Most crashes are harmless and can be easily resolved: the main concern is the preservation of your data and the choice of reliable sources.
Frequently asked questions
An application crashes in a loop, where to start?
With the winning trio, in order: completely close the application and reopen it (erases a temporary bug), restart the phone (frees up memory), then check and install an UPDATE of the application (the developer often already fixed the bug). These three fast actions resolve the overwhelming majority of crashes. If it persists, move to more advanced steps: update the system, free up space, clear the cache, and as a last resort, uninstall/reinstall (after ensuring your data are backed up). Start simple: a crash is most often a temporary bug or an application that is outdated.
Should an application that crashes be uninstalled?
Not first: uninstallation/reinstallation is effective against persistent crashes, but it comes only after trying to open the application, restart the phone, and update it (which often suffice). Above all, before uninstalling, ensure that your DATA are backed up or linked to your account, because some applications erase their local data upon uninstallation (our guides to backups). If the crash is due to a lack of space or memory, freeing up space or restarting will solve the problem without having to uninstall. Reserve reinstallation for crashes that resist simpler steps.
Why do my applications crash after a system update?
Because a system update can temporarily create incompatibilities with applications not yet adapted: their developers must then publish an update for the application to restore compatibility. The solution: check that your applications are up-to-date (often, a fix is already available), and wait for those that are not yet (the update will come). Enable automatic updates to receive these fixes without thinking about it. This type of post-update crash is generally temporary: it resolves itself as applications adapt to the new system version.
What to remember
An application that crashes in a loop almost always has a simple cause that can be resolved without changing the phone. Common causes: temporary bug, application or system outdated, lack of memory or space, corrupted data/cache. A useful distinction: a single application crashes (problem with the application or its data) or multiple applications (general problem: system, memory, space). Solutions, from the simplest to the most advanced: the winning trio first (close and reopen the application, restart the phone, update the application — which often suffice), then update the system, free up space and memory, clear the cache, and as a last resort, uninstall/reinstall (after backing up data). Prevent with automatic updates (the best prevention), free space, and regular restarts. Two precautions: back up your data before reinstalling (some applications erase their local data), and install only from official stores (questionable sources crash and pose security risks). In most cases, reopening, restarting, and updating stop crashes: start simple, the rest is rarely necessary.
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