It can be incredibly frustrating when an app on your iPhone keeps crashing unexpectedly. A crashing app interrupts your workflow and wastes your time having to restart the app over and over. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to try and fix a crashing iPhone app.
Quick Fixes to Try
If your iPhone app keeps crashing, here are some quick things you can try that may resolve the issue:
- Force quit the app – Double click the Home button and swipe up on the app to force quit it. Then try re-opening the app.
- Restart your iPhone – Press and hold the Power button until “Slide to power off” appears. Shut down your iPhone, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
- Check for app updates – Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and check if any apps need updating. Install any available updates.
- Free up storage space – Delete large files, offload unused apps, and manage your iCloud storage to free up space on your iPhone. Lack of storage can cause apps to crash.
- Reset network settings – Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Network Settings. This will wipe all Wi-Fi networks and passwords but may help with app stability.
These basic troubleshooting steps resolve app crashing issues a lot of the time. If the app still keeps crashing after trying them, read on for some more in-depth solutions.
Determine If It’s the App or Your iPhone
Figuring out whether the issue is with the app itself or a problem with your iPhone is an important first step:
- Try a different app – Does more than one app keep crashing, or is it isolated to a single app? If multiple apps are affected, it likely indicates a larger iPhone issue.
- Reinstall the app – Delete and reinstall the problematic app. If it still crashes, the app is likely the issue.
- Update iOS – Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version. Outdated software can cause app crashing.
- Test on a different device – See if the app crashes on another iPhone or iPad. If it doesn’t, your iPhone is likely the culprit.
If the crashing is isolated to a single app, the app itself probably needs troubleshooting. Widespread app crashing points to an underlying iPhone problem.
Troubleshoot iPhone Issues Causing App Crashing
Here are some common iPhone issues that could cause your apps to crash and how to fix them:
Outdated iOS Version
Make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version. Apple releases regular iOS updates to fix bugs, patch security flaws, and improve performance. Outdated iOS versions are more prone to app instability and crashing.
To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Install any available updates.
Lack of Available Storage
Your iPhone needs sufficient free storage space to run apps smoothly. When storage space runs low, apps have less room to store temporary data and cache files, which can cause them to crash.
Check your available storage by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If space is low, you can free up storage by:
- Deleting large files like videos and photos
- Offloading unused apps
- Enabling iCloud Photo Library to store photos in the cloud
- Streaming music instead of downloading songs to your device
- Deleting apps you no longer use
iPhone Overheating
If your iPhone overheats, apps may crash due to the device’s internal processor throttling performance to cool itself down. Overheating can be caused by intensive gaming, prolonged direct sunlight exposure, faulty battery, or running processor-intensive apps.
To prevent overheating:
- Close any processor-heavy apps and games when not in use
- Avoid extended sun exposure by keeping iPhone in the shade
- Inspect the battery for swelling – this can indicate a faulty battery that needs replacing
- Add a case to your iPhone to help dissipate heat
Corrupted Software
Corrupted software and files on your iPhone can also lead to app crashing. A system restore can help eliminate corrupted data by wiping your device and reinstalling a clean version of iOS.
Before restoring, it’s essential to backup your iPhone data either locally or to iCloud. Then follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings
- Confirm the reset and wait for your iPhone to reboot
- Follow the on-screen setup prompts to restore your phone from the backup
Hardware Failure
In rare cases, a hardware component failure like defective RAM or storage could be causing the crashes. Take your iPhone to an Apple store for inspection and testing if app crashes persist after trying all other troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting Crashing App Issues
If the app crashing seems isolated to a single app, focus troubleshooting efforts on that specific app:
Update the App
Make sure the app is updated to the latest version from the App Store. App developers frequently release updates to fix bugs and crashes. Updating apps when new versions are available can help boost stability.
Delete and Reinstall the App
Deleting the app entirely and reinstalling a fresh copy from the App Store can clear out any corrupted files or cached data that may be causing crashes.
Check App Permissions
Make sure the app has been granted the proper permissions to access data, location, photos, contacts, etc. Apps may crash if they don’t have permissions needed to function properly.
You can review and adjust app permissions by going to Settings > Privacy and selecting the permission category.
Check App Compatibility
Verify that the app is designed to be compatible with your iPhone model and the version of iOS you are running. Apps designed for newer iPhone models or later iOS versions may not function properly and can crash on older devices or OS versions.
Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone essentially clears out your device’s memory and starts apps with a clean slate. Simple restarting can resolve random app crashing in some situations.
Offload and Reinstall the App
Offloading the app saves its data but deletes the app itself. Reinstalling gives you a fresh install of the app. Offloading and reinstalling ensures no corrupted files are left behind.
Contact the Developer
If an app continues crashing after trying the above steps, reach out to the app developer through the App Store listing or developer website. They may be able to troubleshoot the issue or determine if it’s a larger problem impacting multiple users.
Best Practices to Avoid App Crashes
Here are some tips to help prevent iPhone app crashes going forward:
- Keep your iPhone storage cleared – Don’t let storage fill up completely
- Close apps you aren’t using – This frees up RAM and processing power
- Update apps regularly – Install updates as soon as they become available
- Use the latest iOS version – Update iOS as soon as new versions release
- Don’t overload on apps – Delete unused apps to streamline your iPhone
- Monitor battery health – Replace batteries that show signs of failure
- Avoid extreme temperatures – Don’t leave iPhone in very hot or cold environments
When to Seek Repair or Replace Your iPhone
If your iPhone apps keep crashing despite all troubleshooting efforts, it may be time to seek professional repair or replace the device if it’s older. Reasons you may need repair or replacement include:
- Failing or swollen battery – Have Apple replace the battery
- Severe overheating even after a reset – Indicates hardware defect
- Phone consistently freezing or apps crashing after resets – Could signify a larger issue
- Device is several years old – Crashing may signal impending hardware failure
- Displaying other severe issues like random reboots – Take to Apple or replace phone
Troubleshoot app crashes thoroughly before concluding your iPhone is beyond repair. But if problems persist, professional service or replacement may be the remedy.
Conclusion
App crashing can stem from both software-based and hardware-based iPhone issues. Methodically troubleshoot by verifying app updates, trying resets and reinstalls, checking permissions and compatibility, and monitoring iPhone conditions like storage, heat, and iOS version. Address any underlying iPhone problems that may be the root cause. While frustrating, most app crash causes can be identified and resolved with persistence and patience.