What to Do When Your Apps Keep Freezing or Crashing: A Simple Guide for Everyday Phone Users
Few things are more frustrating than opening an app—Photos, Messages, Gmail, Facebook, Chrome, anything—and suddenly it freezes, lags, closes itself, or refuses to respond. It always seems to happen at the worst possible moment: when you need directions, want to take a picture, or are trying to reply to a message.
At TechPals, this is one of the top concerns we hear every week. The good news? Apps freeze or crash for predictable reasons, and most problems are easy to fix with a few simple steps. This guide explains exactly what to do, why the issue happens, and how to prevent app trouble in the future.
If you ever want personal, friendly help, you can always reach TechPals at https://www.techpals.org.
Why Apps Freeze or Crash
Apps misbehave for many different reasons—some small, some bigger. But almost all of them fall into these categories:
• Low storage
• Outdated apps
• Outdated phone software
• Weak Wi-Fi or cellular signal
• Too many apps running in the background
• Corrupted files, cookies, or data
• Battery or overheating issues
• Running an app while charging with a damaged cable
• A buggy update from the app developer
• A scam or fake version of an app
• Aging phones with limited memory
If your whole phone—not just apps—is acting strange, you may also find What to Do If Your Phone Is Acting Weird helpful.
Step 1: Restart the App
This fixes more issues than most people realize.
To restart the app:
Close it completely (not just swipe away the screen—fully close it).
Wait 5–10 seconds.
Open it again.
If it loads normally, the problem was likely a temporary glitch.
If the app still freezes, continue below.
Step 2: Restart Your Phone
A restart clears temporary files and stops hidden background processes that may be interfering with the app. TechPals recommends restarting your phone once a week.
If your phone won’t restart or won’t turn on at all, use What to Do If Your Phone Won’t Turn On.
Step 3: Check Your Storage
Low storage is one of the BIGGEST reasons apps crash. When storage runs low, your phone can’t process new information, and apps have trouble saving files or loading content.
To learn your storage details, visit How to Find Your Phone’s Storage Limit.
What takes up the most space?
• Photos
• Videos
• Text message attachments
• Downloads
• Apps you never use
• Screenshots you forgot about
You can clear space by checking:
• How to Delete Old Apps from Your Phone
• How to Save a Photo Someone Texted You
• How to Clear Your Browser History
Even freeing just 1–2 GB can dramatically reduce app freezing.
Step 4: Update the Problem App
Many crashes happen because the developer released a fix—but you haven’t installed it yet.
Updating your apps is easier than most people think. If you’re unsure how, read What’s the Best Way to Update Your Phone’s Apps?.
Step 5: Update Your Phone Software
Your phone’s operating system (iOS or Android) gives apps the tools they need to run smoothly. If the system is outdated, apps may freeze or crash.
Updating the phone itself helps:
• Fix bugs
• Improve speed
• Improve battery life
• Improve app performance
• Repair security problems
If apps started freezing recently, this is often the solution.
Step 6: Check Your Internet Connection
Many apps freeze simply because your phone is struggling to stay connected.
Apps that rely heavily on internet include:
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Gmail
• Chrome/Safari
• Spotify
• Maps
• Banking apps
• Zoom/FaceTime
• News apps
If you’re dealing with poor Wi-Fi, check out What to Do When Your Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping.
If you’re on cellular and the connection is weak, read What’s the Difference Between Wi-Fi and Cellular Data?.
Signal problems can absolutely cause freezing.
Step 7: Close Other Apps Running in the Background
Many people don’t realize they have 10–30 apps open at once. Background apps eat up memory, drain battery, and make active apps freeze.
This is especially common on older devices.
For a deep dive into performance issues, see How to Tell What’s Slowing Down Your Phone.
Step 8: Make Sure Your Phone Is Not Overheating
If your phone overheats, it will slow or shut down apps to protect itself.
Signs of overheating:
• Screen dims
• Apps lag
• Phone feels hot
• Battery drains quickly
• Flashlight won’t turn on
• Camera closes automatically
TechPals has a full guide on this:
What to Do When Your Phone Gets Hot (your earlier post!)
And if your battery drains fast even when cool, see Why Your Phone Battery Dies So Quickly.
Step 9: Clear the App’s Cache or Website Data
Some apps (especially browsers like Chrome or Safari) freeze because old data builds up.
Clearing cache removes:
• Old files
• Temporary data
• Corrupted cookies
• Stuck login information
This doesn't delete your content—it just gives the app a fresh start.
If you’re unsure how to clear browser data, see How to Clear Your Browser History.
Step 10: Delete and Reinstall the App
If nothing else works, reinstalling the app usually fixes the problem completely.
Before deleting:
• Make sure your account is backed up
• Save photos or files stored inside the app
• Confirm login information if needed
If reinstalling helps, the original app likely had a corrupted file.
Step 11: Check for Fake or Scam Apps
Some apps freeze because they aren’t real apps—they’re scam apps pretending to be legitimate. These apps often:
• Slow down your phone
• Overheat your phone
• Display pop-up ads
• Crash regularly
• Try to steal login information
To protect yourself:
• Review Is This Website Safe? Quick Ways to Tell Before You Click
• Check out How to Tell If a Website Is Fake
• See How to Spot and Avoid the DMV Text Scam That’s Targeting States Across the Country
If an app feels suspicious, it might be. Delete it immediately.
Step 12: Consider Whether the App Itself Is the Problem
Sometimes the issue isn’t you—it’s the app.
Apps frequently crash after bad updates. Developers usually release a quick fix, but in the meantime, the app may act unpredictably.
Signs the app is the problem:
• Many users online reporting issues
• Crashes immediately upon opening
• Crashes on both Wi-Fi and cellular
• Started crashing right after an update
If another app works normally, the problem is isolated.
Step 13: Test Your Phone’s Basic Functions
If multiple apps freeze—Messages, Photos, Camera, Mail—your phone might be running out of memory or having a deeper software issue.
Start with:
• Restart
• Storage cleanup
• Updates
If things still feel slow, visit Everyday Phone Fixes: Common Problems and How to Solve Them.
Q&A: The Most Common Questions About App Freezing
Q: Why does Facebook or Chrome freeze more than other apps?
A: They use a LOT of memory and constantly refresh content. Weak internet or low storage makes them freeze first.
Q: Why do apps freeze when my phone is charging?
A: Often due to a bad charging cable or overheating.
If needed, buy a new cable (TechPals may earn a small commission at no cost to you: PLACEHOLDER).
Q: Why do apps crash right after I open them?
A: Usually due to app updates or corrupted files. Reinstalling usually fixes this.
Q: My phone is old—is that why apps don’t work well?
A: Possibly. Older phones have limited memory and may struggle with modern apps.
Q: Should I force quit apps regularly?
A: Yes—if an app is frozen. But don’t force quit constantly, as some apps are designed to run in the background.
Q: Could a scam text cause an app to freeze?
A: Only if you clicked a malicious link or installed a fake app. Check out Why You’re Getting So Many Spam Texts (And How to Stop Them).
When to Ask for Help
If apps keep freezing and you’re not sure why, TechPals can walk you through everything step-by-step. Whether you want help updating apps, clearing storage, or diagnosing a deeper issue, we’re here to make technology simple.
• https://www.techpals.org
• Get personal help from TechPals: https://www.techpals.org
• Learn about TechPals services: https://www.techpals.org
