Phone Reboots When Opening Apps? Here’s the Fix

If your phone suddenly restarts every time you open a specific app—like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, a game, or even the camera—you’re not alone. This problem is more common than it seems, and it usually points to a software conflict, corrupted app data, low memory, or system instability.

The good news is that most of the time you can fix this at home without going to a service center. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn why your phone reboots when you open certain apps and what you can do to stop it.

Why Does My Phone Restart When I Open an App?

Here are the most common reasons:

Corrupted app data or cache
Outdated app version that crashes the system
Incompatible or buggy updates to the app or Android OS
Not enough RAM or storage available
Battery or power management issues
System files corrupted after failed updates
Malware or poorly coded third-party apps

We’ll start with the app itself, then move to deeper system fixes.

Fix 1: Restart Your Phone

Before trying anything complex, perform a simple restart. It can fix temporary memory conflicts and background glitches.

To restart:

Hold the Power button
Tap Restart or Power Off, then turn it back on

After rebooting, open the problematic app and see if the issue persists.

Fix 2: Update the Problematic App

An outdated or buggy version of the app can crash, causing the system to restart in some cases.

To update the app:

Open the Google Play Store
Tap your profile icon → Manage apps & device
Tap Updates available
Find the problematic app and tap Update

Once updated, try opening the app again.

Fix 3: Clear App Cache and Data

Corrupted cache or data can cause an app to crash or trigger system instability. Clearing it gives the app a fresh start.

To clear cache and data:

Open Settings
Tap Apps or Applications
Select the problematic app
Tap Storage
Tap Clear Cache
Then tap Clear Data or Clear Storage (this may log you out of the app)

Open the app again and log in if necessary, then check if the restarts still happen.

Fix 4: Uninstall and Reinstall the App

If clearing data doesn’t help, the app installation itself might be corrupted.

To reinstall the app:

Go to Settings → Apps
Select the problematic app
Tap Uninstall
Open the Google Play Store
Search for the app and tap Install

After reinstalling, open it and see if the phone still reboots.

Fix 5: Check for Android System Updates

Sometimes, app incompatibility issues are fixed by system updates from the phone manufacturer.

To check for system updates:

Open Settings
Tap Software Update or System → System Update
Tap Download and Install if an update is available

Install the update, restart the phone, and test the app again.

Fix 6: Free Up Storage Space

Low storage can cause apps and the system to behave unpredictably, including random restarts when opening heavier apps.

To free up space:

Go to Settings → Storage
Delete unused apps
Move large videos and photos to cloud storage or a computer
Clear downloads and old files you no longer need

Try to keep at least 20–25% of total storage free for stable performance.

Fix 7: Close Background Apps Before Opening the Problematic One

If your phone has limited RAM, having too many apps open can cause the system to overload and restart.

To close background apps:

Tap the Recent Apps button
Tap Close All or swipe away apps one by one

Then open the problematic app alone and see if it still causes a reboot.

Fix 8: Boot the Phone in Safe Mode and Test

Safe Mode disables third-party apps and runs only system apps. This helps you find out if another app is causing conflicts.

To boot into Safe Mode (may vary slightly by model):

Hold the Power button
Tap and hold Power off until Safe Mode appears
Tap OK

Once in Safe Mode, try opening the app that caused restarts. Note that some apps may not work in Safe Mode if they require Google services or third-party components.

Interpret results:

If the phone does not restart in Safe Mode, another app might be conflicting with it
Uninstall recently installed apps or apps that modify system behavior (boosters, cleaners, overlays, etc.)

Fix 9: Check for Problematic Third-Party Apps

Some apps can interfere with others—especially apps that:

Draw overlays (chat bubbles, floating toolbars, screen dimmers)
Claim to “boost RAM” or “cool CPU”
Modify system animations or controls

To identify these:

Remember which apps you installed shortly before the problem started
Uninstall suspicious apps one by one and test the problematic app after each removal

It’s better to remove low-quality “optimizer” apps and rely on built-in system tools instead.

Fix 10: Wipe Cache Partition (If Available)

Some Android devices allow you to wipe the system cache partition, which can fix odd crashes and restarts without deleting personal data.

The method varies by phone, but usually involves:

Turning off the phone
Holding a combination like Power + Volume Up to enter Recovery Mode
Selecting Wipe Cache Partition using the volume buttons and confirming with Power

Note: Not all modern devices still offer this option. If you’re unsure, look up instructions specific to your phone model.

Fix 11: Reset App Preferences

Sometimes, misconfigured app permissions or disabled system apps can cause instability when certain apps are opened.

To reset app preferences:

Go to Settings → Apps
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner
Tap Reset App Preferences
Confirm

This will not delete apps, but it resets permissions, notifications, and defaults, which can fix hidden conflicts.

Fix 12: Reset All Settings

If something in your system settings is causing the restarts, resetting all settings can help without removing your data.

To reset settings (not factory reset):

Go to Settings
Tap System or General Management
Tap Reset
Select Reset All Settings

After this, try opening the app again.

Fix 13: Factory Reset the Phone (Last Software Option)

If your phone still reboots when opening certain apps, even after all the steps above, your system might be corrupted at a deeper level.

Warning: Factory reset erases all apps, settings, and personal data. Back up important files first.

To perform a factory reset:

Open Settings
Tap System → Reset or General Management → Reset
Select Factory Data Reset
Confirm and wait for the reset to complete

After resetting, install the problematic app again and test it. If the phone still restarts at this point, the issue might be hardware-related.

Fix 14: When to Suspect Hardware or Battery Issues

If your phone restarts with multiple different apps, or even randomly without opening anything heavy, the problem might not be the app at all.

Hardware warning signs:

Phone restarts even on home screen or during light use
Battery percentage jumps or drops suddenly
Phone gets unusually hot before rebooting
Phone is old or has had multiple drops or water exposure

In such cases, the cause might be:

A failing battery
Loose internal connector
Damage to the motherboard

You should contact a repair shop or official service center to diagnose it. Battery replacement is often enough to fix random restarts on older phones.

How to Protect Your Phone from Future App-Related Reboots

Only install apps from trusted sources (Google Play Store)
Avoid third-party “modded” apps or hacked versions
Keep your apps and system software updated
Do not install too many apps that do the same thing
Regularly clear cache and uninstall apps you don’t use

Conclusion

When your phone restarts every time you open a certain app, it’s usually caused by corrupted data, outdated versions, or software conflicts—not instant hardware failure. By updating and reinstalling the app, clearing cache and data, freeing up storage, testing in Safe Mode, and resetting settings, you can often solve the problem at home.

If your phone continues to reboot frequently even after a factory reset, especially with multiple apps, it’s time to consider hardware diagnosis and possibly battery or board-level repair.

For more step-by-step troubleshooting, visit our Phone Repair Guides and Performance & Software Fixes categories.

How to Fix a Phone That Reboots When Opening Certain Apps