How to Fix Android App Keeps Crashing

We all rely on our phones every day. Messaging, banking, maps, photos, work emails. So when an app suddenly shuts down without warning, it feels disruptive. You open it, it loads for a second, then disappears.

If your Android apps keep crashing, you're not alone, and you don't need to be a tech expert to fix it. Most crashes occur for simple reasons, such as outdated software, corrupted files, or low storage space. In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to identify and solve the problem, step by step.

Understanding Why Apps Crash

Before jumping into solutions, it helps to understand what's actually going wrong. Apps don't crash randomly; there's always a reason, even if it's not immediately obvious.

Common causes include:

⦁ Outdated software: Either the app itself or your Android system needs an update
⦁ Corrupted cache: Temporary files that help apps load faster can become damaged over time
⦁ Low storage: When your device is nearly full, apps struggle to function properly
⦁ App conflicts: Sometimes two apps interfere with each other in unexpected ways
⦁ Battery optimisation settings: Aggressive power-saving features can force apps to close

Samsung users often ask if their device behaves differently, but the core causes remain the same across Android brands. The troubleshooting steps below work for Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and other Android devices.

Quick Fixes to Try First

1. Restart Your Phone

Yes, it sounds basic, but restarting clears temporary glitches that build up when your phone runs for days or weeks without a break. This simple step resolves crashes surprisingly often.

How to do it: Hold the power button, tap 'Restart' or 'Reboot', and wait for your phone to turn back on. Give it a full restart, not just a screen lock and unlock.

2. Force Stop the App

Even when you swipe an app away, it might continue running in the background. Force stopping completely shuts down all its processes, giving it a fresh start when you reopen it.

Steps:

1. Open Settings → Apps
2. Find and tap the problematic app
3. Tap 'Force Stop'
4. Reopen the app and see if it behaves normally

3. Clear the App's Cache

Cache files help apps load faster by storing temporary data. But when these files become corrupted, they cause more problems than they solve. Clearing the cache is like giving the app a clean slate without deleting your personal data (like login info or saved content).

Steps:
1. Open Settings → Apps
2. Select the crashing app
3. Tap Storage → Clear Cache

Note: If clearing the cache doesn't work, you can also try 'Clear Data', but this will reset the app completely (you'll need to log in again and reconfigure settings).

Deeper Solutions When Simple Fixes Don't Work

1. Update Everything

Developers constantly release updates to fix bugs and improve stability. Running outdated software, if it's the app itself or your Android system, is one of the most common causes of crashes.

To update apps:

⦁ Open the Google Play Store
⦁ Tap your profile icon → Manage apps & device
⦁ Update the crashing app (or tap 'Update All')

To update Android:

⦁ Open Settings → System → System Update
⦁ Install any available updates

2. Free Up Storage Space

When your phone's storage is nearly full, apps don't have enough space to run properly. They need space to create temporary files, download updates, and store new data. Without it, they crash.

Check your storage:

⦁ Settings → Storage
⦁ See what's using the most space

Quick wins:

⦁ Delete old photos and videos (back them up to Google Photos or a cloud service first)
⦁ Uninstall apps you haven't used in months
⦁ Clear downloads and old files from your Downloads folder

Aim for at least 2-3 GB of free space to keep things running smoothly.

3. Review App Permissions

Apps need certain permissions to function—access to your camera, storage, location, etc. If you've recently denied a critical permission, the app might crash when it tries to use that feature.

Steps:
⦁ Settings → Apps → [Select app] → Permissions
⦁ Make sure necessary permissions are enabled (especially Storage, Camera, Location, depending on what the app does)

4. Uninstall and Reinstall the App

If the app's installation files become corrupted, reinstalling gives you a fresh, clean version. This often solves persistent crashes that other fixes can't touch.

Steps:
1. Long-press the app icon and select 'Uninstall'
2. Restart your phone
3. Reinstall from the Play Store

Advanced Troubleshooting

1. Test in Safe Mode

Safe Mode temporarily disables all third-party apps. If your app works fine in Safe Mode, you know another app is causing the conflict.

How to enter Safe Mode:

1. Press and hold the power button
2. Tap and hold 'Power Off' until you see 'Reboot to Safe Mode'
3. Tap OK

If the app works normally in Safe Mode, start uninstalling recently added apps one by one until you find the culprit.

2. Reset App Preferences

This restores all app settings to their defaults without deleting your personal data. It's helpful if multiple apps are crashing or if you've accidentally disabled something important.

Steps:
⦁ Settings → Apps
⦁ Tap the three-dot menu → Reset app preferences
⦁ Confirm

3. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, a factory reset returns your phone to its original state. This should be your absolute last option because it erases everything.

Before you do this:

⦁ Back up photos, contacts, and important files
⦁ Make sure you remember your Google account password
⦁ Export any app data you need (messages, notes, etc.)

To factory reset:

⦁ Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data (factory reset)
⦁ Follow the prompts

Preventing Future Crashes

Once you've fixed the immediate problem, here's how to keep your apps running smoothly:

⦁ Enable automatic updates: Play Store → Settings → Auto-update apps → Over any network (or Wi-Fi only)
⦁ Regularly clear cache: Do this monthly for apps you use daily
⦁ Maintain 3-5 GB free space: This gives your system breathing room
⦁ Review battery optimisation: Some phones aggressively close apps to save battery. Settings → Battery → Battery optimisation → exclude essential apps
⦁ Restart weekly: A simple weekly restart prevents many issues before they start

Final Thoughts

App crashes are frustrating, but they're rarely permanent problems. Most of the time, you can fix them in a few minutes with the steps above. Start with the quick fixes: restart, force stop, clear cache, and work your way through the list if needed.

Remember, you don't need to be tech-savvy to troubleshoot your Android device. Just take it step by step, and you'll likely solve the issue before reaching the more advanced solutions. Your phone is a tool meant to work for you, and with a little maintenance, it'll keep running smoothly for years to come.

You Might Also Like:

Sometimes your device needs a full refresh to improve performance. iPhone users can safely restore their device by following our guide on How to Reset Iphone without Losing Data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why Do My Apps Keep Closing by Themselves?

This usually happens because of aggressive battery optimisation settings, low RAM, or background app conflicts. Check your battery settings first; many phones automatically close apps to save power. You can exclude specific apps from battery optimisation in Settings → Battery → Battery optimisation.

Will Clearing the Cache Delete My Data?

No. Clearing the cache only removes temporary files that help apps load faster. Your login information, saved preferences, and personal content remain untouched. However, 'Clear Data' will completely reset the app, so be careful which option you choose.

How much free storage should I keep?

Aim for at least 2-3 GB of free space. When storage drops below 10-15% of total capacity, your phone's performance suffers noticeably. Apps need room to create temporary files, download updates, and operate smoothly.

Why Does the Settings App Keep Crashing?

A crashing Settings app often means your Android system needs an update. Try restarting your phone first. If that doesn't work, you may need to boot into Recovery Mode and clear the system cache partition (the exact method varies by device manufacturer—search for your specific model + 'clear system cache').

Should I Use Task Killer Apps?

No. Task killer apps are outdated and can actually hurt performance. Modern Android manages memory efficiently on its own. Force-stopping individual problematic apps (as described above) is much more effective than using third-party task killers.