App Keeps Crashing on Android? How to Fix It

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

You open an app and it closes immediately, or you see "App has stopped" or "App keeps stopping". Crashes are annoying, especially with important apps like banking or WhatsApp. Here's how to fix them step by step.

1. Force stop and restart the app

Go to Settings → Apps → [app name] and tap Force stop. Then open the app again.

2. Restart the phone

A restart clears memory and fixes temporary conflicts.

3. Update the app

Crashes are often caused by bugs that have already been fixed. Open the Play Store, search for the app and tap Update. If the app just updated and started crashing, check its Play Store reviews; others may report the same issue and a fix may be coming.

4. Clear the app's cache

In the app's settings, tap Storage → Clear cache. This removes temporary files that may be corrupted, without deleting your data.

5. Clear the app's data

If clearing cache doesn't help, tap Clear storage or Clear data. This resets the app as if newly installed. You'll need to sign in again, and some offline data may be lost. For WhatsApp, make sure you have a chat backup first.

6. Update Android System WebView and Chrome

Many apps depend on Android System WebView to display content. A faulty WebView update has caused mass app crashes in the past. Update both WebView and Chrome from the Play Store.

7. Update Google Play services

Go to Settings → Apps → Google Play services → App details in store, and update if available.

8. Free up storage and memory

Apps crash more on phones with very little free storage. Keep at least 1–2 GB free. See our storage guide.

9. Reinstall the app

Uninstall the app, restart the phone, and install it again from the Play Store.

10. Update Android

Check Settings → System → Software update. Some apps require a newer Android version to run properly. See updating your Android phone.

If many apps crash

If several apps crash at once, try Safe Mode to see if another app is causing conflicts, and consider a factory reset after backing up.

Tips for commonly crashing apps

Before clearing WhatsApp's data, make sure your chat backup is current in Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Low storage is a common cause of WhatsApp crashes, especially with large media folders. See freeing up storage.

Banking apps

Banking apps may close immediately if they detect Developer options, USB debugging, a rooted phone, an outdated Android security patch, or screen-recording apps. Turn off Developer options and update Android. If the app still closes, contact your bank's official support.

Games

Games crash when phones overheat or run out of memory. Close other apps, lower graphics settings, and make sure you have enough free storage for game updates.

Camera

If the camera app crashes, clear its cache, check that no other app is using the camera, and restart. Third-party apps with camera access can conflict.

Reporting a crash to the developer

Developers fix bugs faster when they get useful reports. When you contact support:

Mention your phone model and Android version (Settings → About phone).
Mention the app version (Settings → Apps → [app] → App details).
Describe exactly when it crashes, for example "when opening a chat with a video".
Say what you've already tried.

Android sometimes shows a Send feedback option when an app stops. Using it helps developers see the technical details of the crash.

Frequently asked questions

Why does an app crash only on my phone?

Your Android version, phone model or low memory may not be fully supported by the app. Contact the app's support team through its Play Store listing.

Should I install an older version from a website?

Avoid downloading APKs from random websites; they can contain malware.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.