If your Android apps keep crashing, closing by themselves, freezing, or refusing to open, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common issues faced by Android users. Fortunately, most app crashes are caused by simple software conflicts, corrupted cache files, low memory, or outdated software — all of which can be fixed easily.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn why apps crash and, more importantly, how to fix the problem permanently. Follow each solution step-by-step until your apps run smoothly again.
Why Android Apps Keep Crashing
Before jumping into the fixes, here are the most common causes:
- Corrupted app cache or data
- Low RAM or too many apps open at once
- Outdated app version
- Outdated system software
- Insufficient storage space
- Poor or unstable internet connection
- Conflicting background processes
- Buggy updates or compatibility issues
The good news is that most of these issues can be solved without technical knowledge.
Fix 1: Restart Your Phone
A simple restart clears temporary system glitches and refreshes app processes. This alone fixes app crashes for many users.
How to do it:
- Hold the Power button
- Tap Restart
- Wait for your phone to reboot
Once the phone restarts, try opening the app again.
Fix 2: Clear App Cache
Apps store temporary files (cache). When these files become corrupted, the app may crash repeatedly.
Clear cache:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Select the crashing app
- Tap Storage
- Tap Clear Cache
Don’t worry — this does not delete your data.
Fix 3: Clear App Data (If Cache Doesn’t Work)
If the app still crashes, clearing app data may fix corrupted internal files.
Warning: This will reset the app to default settings.
Clear data:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Select the problematic app
- Tap Storage
- Tap Clear Data
Fix 4: Update the App
App developers release updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Running an older version may cause crashes.
Update it:
- Open Google Play Store
- Search for the app
- Tap Update if available
Fix 5: Check for Android System Updates
If your Android version is outdated, apps can become incompatible.
Update system software:
- Go to Settings → Software Update
- Tap Download and Install
Fix 6: Free Up Storage Space
Low storage causes apps to crash, freeze, and stop responding.
What to delete:
- Unused apps
- Old photos/videos
- Large downloads
- Duplicate files
Try to maintain at least 20–25% free storage for best performance.
Fix 7: Close All Background Apps
When too many apps run at once, RAM gets overloaded. Low RAM is one of the biggest causes of app crashes on budget devices.
Close all apps:
- Open Recent Apps
- Tap Close All
Fix 8: Check Your Internet Connection
Some apps may crash or fail to load properly due to poor internet. This applies to apps like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and games.
Try:
- Switching from WiFi to Mobile Data
- Restarting your router
- Turning Airplane Mode on and off
Fix 9: Uninstall and Reinstall the App
If the app installation is corrupted, removing and reinstalling it will usually solve the issue.
How to reinstall:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Select the app
- Tap Uninstall
- Reinstall from the Play Store
Fix 10: Remove Recent Updates (For System Apps)
If a pre-installed app (like Google, Messages, or Chrome) is crashing, a recent update may be the cause.
Remove update:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Select the app
- Tap the menu
- Tap Uninstall Updates
Fix 11: Disable Battery Optimization for the App
Battery optimization can kill apps in the background, causing them to crash or restart.
Disable it:
- Go to Settings → Battery
- Tap Battery Optimization
- Select the app and choose Don’t Optimize
Fix 12: Clear Google Play Services Cache
Many apps depend on Google Play Services. If Play Services is corrupted, apps may crash randomly.
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Find Google Play Services
- Tap Storage
- Tap Clear Cache
Fix 13: Reset App Preferences
This restores all disabled apps, permissions, and background limits — fixing many hidden issues.
Reset preferences:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Tap the menu
- Select Reset App Preferences
Fix 14: Boot the Phone in Safe Mode
Safe Mode disables third-party apps. If apps stop crashing in Safe Mode, another app is causing conflicts.
How to enter Safe Mode:
- Hold the Power button
- Long-press Power Off
- Select Safe Mode
Fix 15: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If none of the solutions work, your system may be corrupted beyond repair.
Warning: This erases everything — back up your data first.
Factory reset:
- Go to Settings → System → Reset
- Tap Factory Data Reset
When to Consider Upgrading Your Phone
If app crashes happen frequently despite all fixes, your device may have outdated hardware:
- Low RAM (2GB or less)
- Slow CPU
- Internal storage close to full
- Older Android version with no updates
Conclusion
Apps crash on Android for many reasons, but most of them can be fixed by clearing cache, freeing storage, updating software, or resetting network and app settings. Follow the solutions step-by-step and you should be able to eliminate the problem completely.
If the issue continues, consider checking system errors or upgrading to a more modern device.
For more troubleshooting guides, visit our Performance & Software Fixes category.