Why Do My Apps Keep Crashing On Android?

If your Android apps keep crashing, it might be due to an outdated or cracked app version. That’s because they contain unresolved bugs and run on poorly written pieces of code.

Since each Android app is developed by a different developer, there isn’t exactly a single reason to pinpoint. However, here are other common reasons behind the app crashing issue:

• Using an app that’s incompatible with older Android versions
• Too many applications running at once
• Running the app on insufficient storage space or RAM
• Problem in the cache partition
• Virus and malware
• Overheating issues

Apps that keep crashing on Android generally get fixed on their own after a simple restart in case of minor glitches. If it doesn’t, updating the app or the Android device usually does the trick for you.

Apart from that, here are some of the most common ways to fix this issue.

Force Close and Re-Open the App

Sometimes, it’s normal for an app to crash unexpectedly due to a minor glitch. In such cases, you can force close it from the Settings app and re-open it.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap the Apps or Application Manager option depending on your specific Android device.
3. Select the app you want to force close.
   
4. Tap Force stop.
   
5. Additionally, close all the apps that are running in the background.
6. Re-open it and see if it works now.

Check Network Connection

While all apps don’t need an active internet connection, some explicitly require it to run smoothly. However, if you are connected to a weak network connection, such apps can freeze or shut down abruptly. 

Therefore, consider switching to a stronger Wi-Fi network while using such an app.

Update the App

If it’s been a while since you last updated the app on the Play Store, chances are it is outdated and contains several unresolved bugs.

To avoid it, you should always use the latest version of the app. That’s because each app update contains fixes for issues in the previous app version. 

1. Open the Google Play Store app. 
2. On the top right corner of the screen, tap on your profile icon.
   
3. Now, tap the Manage apps & device option.
   
4. Under the Overview section, tap the Updates available option.
   
5. Tap Update next to the problematic app.
   
6. Wait for your phone to finish installing the updates. 
7. Open the app and check if it’s working fine now.

Clear All App Data and Cache

Whenever you use an app, it stores the temporary data in a cache to load the app faster the next time you open it. However, as the app cache accumulates over time with each usage, it could sometimes become corrupt. 

To resolve it, you can clear the app cache. Once you do so, all the previous cache will be replaced with a fresh copy of the cache.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select Apps.
3. Then, tap the problematic app.
   
4. Next, tap on Storage.
   
5. Now, tap on Clear cache and Clear data.
   
6. Restart the device.

Free Up Some Storage Space

By default, any app you install on your Android device is stored on the internal storage. So whenever you run on low storage, the apps do not get sufficient space to run efficiently. 

Therefore, you need to free up some storage space to avoid such issues. You can start by deleting large unnecessary files like videos and uninstall the apps you no longer use. 

Alternatively, you can insert an external SD card and move files to free up the internal storage.

Update Google Play Services

Google Play Services is one of the core services of the Android system that makes sure the installed apps are running smoothly. Whenever it becomes outdated, your apps could start crashing unexpectedly.

Since it runs in the background, your Android phone won’t display it like a normal app. However, you can update it like any other app as follows.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select Apps.
   
3. Tap the Google Play Services option.
   
4. Next, tap the App details in store option at the bottom.
   
5. Tap Update.
   

Update the Device

In some instances, an app is compatible with specific devices or Android versions only. You can check if an app is compatible or not by searching for it in the Play Store and going through the About this app section.

Most of the time, an app only works on a higher Android OS version. So, consider installing to latest system updates to upgrade your OS.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Software Update.
   
3. Tap Download and install.
   
4. Wait for the device to check for new updates.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest available updates.

Scan Your Device for Virus/Malware

If only one or two of your apps freeze or close suddenly, then it’s possible that the app’s code is not well-written and contains some bugs.

However, if multiple apps crash repeatedly, your phone is likely infected with malware. In some instances, such malware can even prevent apps from opening.

To get rid of malware, scan your phone with a pre-installed antivirus app or download a reliable antivirus app from the Play Store. Then, scan and remove the malware once detected. Finally, restart the device and try opening the app again.

Avoid Opening Multiple Applications

Opening apps that demand intensive CPU resources or RAM can cause them to freeze or crash.  On the other hand, this can even lead to overheating issues, resulting in apps closing abruptly.

Even if your Android phone has a decent RAM capacity, you could be running too many applications at once. This causes the apps to freeze or close unexpectedly. 

Therefore, you should avoid opening too many applications at once and open only the essential apps. Even better, one app at a time to reduce the stress on your device’s CPU and RAM.

Avoid Using Mod APKs

In case you are using a mod APK, it usually crashes at some point in time. The reason is such apps are made by anonymous developers and are unlicensed. In worst cases, they could have even inserted malicious code in the app to steal your data.

So, you’re better off using such apps anyway. If you really need to use a particular app, look for a similar app in the Play Store.

Reinstall the App

If updating the app didn’t work for you, try reinstalling the app. To reinstall the app, you first have to uninstall the app and then install it again after downloading. 

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. On the top right corner, tap your profile icon.
   
3. Tap Manage apps and device.
4. Under the Manage tab, look for the app you want to reinstall and tap on it.
   
5. Then, tap Uninstall and wait for it to complete.
   
6. Next, search for the app in the search bar.
7. Tap Install.

Using the Wipe Cache Partition Method

If clearing the cache and data for an app didn’t work, there could be a problem with your device’s cache partition. Clearing the cache partition cleans any residual files that didn’t get removed after uninstalling an app.

Moreover, it also removes the temporary files that are no longer needed from the previous version of your device OS.

To wipe the cache partition,

1. Power off your device.
2. Connect your device to a PC. (Optional)
3. Press the volume up and power buttons simultaneously and release them until an Android logo appears on the screen.
4. Use the volume buttons to move up/down, select the “Wipe cache partition” option, and press the power button to confirm it.
   
5. Wait until the process is finished.

Reset the Phone

If none of the above methods worked for you, resetting the device is the last resort to fixing your issue. Resetting the phone will restore your device to factory settings.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on the General Management option.
   
3. Now, tap on Reset.
4. Then, choose the Factory data reset option.
   
5. Wait until the process is finished. Then, reinstall the previous apps from the Play Store.