It can be incredibly frustrating when an app on your iPhone keeps crashing. A crashing app interrupts your workflow and prevents you from getting things done. While app crashes are often caused by bugs in the app code itself, there are some steps you can try on your end to resolve crashing issues. In this article, we’ll go over some of the top reasons apps crash on iPhone and provide troubleshooting tips to help get your apps running smoothly again.
Why Do iPhone Apps Crash?
There are a few common culprits behind iPhone app crashes:
Buggy App Code
The most typical source of app crashes is buggy code in the app itself. Apps have millions of lines of code, and it’s impossible for developers to eliminate every single bug before release. New bugs and issues can also crop up after major iOS updates. Complex apps with lots of features are more prone to having code problems that lead to crashes.
Outdated Apps
Apps that aren’t kept up to date with the latest iOS versions are more likely to have issues. If you’re running an outdated version of an app, it may crash frequently as it struggles with compatibility problems. Apps optimized for older iOS versions can have conflicts running on newer iPhones.
Insufficient System Resources
Intensive apps like games require significant processing power and RAM to run properly. If too many system resources are being monopolized, apps can crash unexpectedly. This tends to happen most on older iPhone models that don’t have the same speed and capability as the newest iPhones.
Jailbroken iPhones
Jailbreaking an iPhone can lead to increased app crashes. Jailbreaking bypasses Apple’s tight restrictions on iOS, which introduces instability and compatibility issues. Apps may not function properly in a jailbroken environment.
Corrupted App Data
Corrupted app data is another common source of app crashes. If important app files become corrupted for some reason, the app may be unable to open and function normally. Reinstalling the app can wipe the corrupted data.
Too Many Running Apps
iPhones have limited memory and multi-tasking capabilities. If you have too many apps running simultaneously in the background, the iPhone may run low on resources, forcing some apps to crash unexpectedly.
Conflicts with Other Apps
In rare cases, app crashes can stem from conflicts with other apps on your device. If two apps try to modify the same files or settings, it can lead to clashes that cause crashes. Reinstalling one or both apps usually resolves such conflicts.
Steps to Fix Crashing iPhone Apps
Now that we’ve covered some potential reasons for app crashes, here are some troubleshooting steps to stop apps from crashing on your iPhone:
Close Other Apps
Double click the home button and swipe up on open apps to shut them down. Closing background apps frees up system resources which may prevent the crashing app from running out of memory.
Restart Your iPhone
A simple restart can help clear out any temporary glitches causing the crashes. To restart, hold down the side or volume button and swipe to power off. Wait 30 seconds then turn your iPhone back on.
Check for App Updates
Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and swipe down to refresh. Install any available app updates which include fixes for bugs and crashes. Keeping apps up-to-date is key.
Delete and Reinstall the App
Deleting and re-downloading the app forces it to start fresh eliminating any corrupted files that may be causing crashes. Your app data is preserved in iCloud so you won’t lose anything.
Restart the iPhone Again
Try restarting your iPhone a second time after reinstalling the app. This completes the fresh install process and gives the app a clean slate to run on.
Free Up Storage Space
Lack of sufficient storage space can contribute to app crashes. Delete old photos and videos or offload unused apps to free up more space. A minimum of 5GB is recommended.
Reset All Settings
As a last resort, reset all settings (not content) under General > Reset. This restores iPhone system settings to default and resolves any problematic customized settings without deleting your data.
Update iOS Software
Ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version. Apple fixes stability and performance issues in iOS updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for the newest iOS.
Disable Background App Refresh
Having too many apps refreshing content in the background can overload resources leading to crashes. Turn off Background App Refresh in Settings for apps that don’t need it.
Turn Off Automatic Downloads
The automatic download feature for apps, music, books and updates can consume bandwidth and resources. Disable any auto-downloads you don’t need under Settings.
Check Activation Lock Status
A device with Activation Lock enabled could experience app crashing. Activation Lock prevents new sign-ins if you don’t enter the correct Apple ID password. Check its status under Settings.
Reset Network Settings
Faulty network settings could potentially interfere with proper app functioning. To rule out any network issues, reset network settings under General > Reset.
Check for Carrier Settings Update
Outdated carrier settings files have been known to cause app crashes in some cases. Go to Settings > General > About to check for an update to install.
Uninstall Recently Added Apps
If you started seeing frequent crashes after installing a new app, try uninstalling it. See if crashes stop after removing the suspect app.
Turn Off App Analytics
Analytics reporting may be enabled for some apps which uses resources. Disable analytics options in the app’s settings if available to reduce overhead.
Check Logs for Crash Details
The iPhone log can provide details on the cause of a crash. Plug into iTunes and go to the Device Summary page to see logs with crash info that may identify the culprit.
Eliminate Jailbreak If Present
A jailbreak dramatically alters the iPhone’s software environment frequently leading to app instability. Perform a clean restore to eliminate any jailbreak and return to a normal supported state.
Contact the App Developer
If you can’t resolve the crashes on your own, get in touch with the app developer. They should be very interested in investigating crash reports from users to fix the bugs in future updates.
Prevent Crashes Going Forward
Once you’ve stopped the crashes, here are some tips to help prevent instability and freezing issues going forward:
– Keep apps updated always
– Only install apps from trusted developers
– Avoid running too many resource intensive apps at once
– Regularly restart your iPhone
– Maintain ample free storage space
– Update iOS as soon as new versions are released
– Use a newer iPhone model if you have an older device
– Avoid jailbreaking your iPhone
– Monitor crash logs and analytics data
– Provide feedback to developers about any crashes
When to Restore Your iPhone
If you just can’t resolve recurrent crashes no matter what you try, it may be time to do a factory restore of your iPhone. Restoring will completely wipe your device and install a clean copy of the operating system.
You’ll want to back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes before restoring then sync your backup to your iPhone after the restore completes. This has the best chance of eliminating any corrupted files or settings causing crashes.
Some good indicators it’s time for a full restore include:
– Multiple apps crashing frequently
– System processes like Settings app crashing
– General sluggish performance
– Frozen screens and unresponsiveness
– Overheating even when not using apps
– Strange behaviors like random reboots
A clean restore often fixes even the most serious stability problems. It essentially gives you a like-new iPhone at the cost of some time setting the device up again.
Conclusion
App crashes on iPhone can happen on occasion but shouldn’t be a regular occurrence. With some diligent troubleshooting using the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to pinpoint the reason for app crashes and get them fixed. Keep your apps, iOS, and iPhone up to date while monitoring for issues to maintain optimal performance and stability. If problems still persist, don’t hesitate to perform a factory reset to wipe any lingering glitches or corrupted data. Being proactive about app crashes will ensure you can enjoy your iPhone and apps to their full potential.