iPhone Apps Keep Crashing? 10 Fixes That Work

If your iPhone apps keep crashing, the fix is usually a simple restart, an app update, or a settings change—not a trip to the Apple Store. This guide covers the most common causes and walks you through the exact steps to stop the crashes, from force-closing the app to freeing up storage and checking for iOS updates.

Why Do iPhone Apps Crash?

Apps crash when the iOS operating system kills them because they stop responding, run out of memory, or hit a software bug. The most frequent triggers are:

Outdated app or iOS version — bugs are fixed in updates, and old versions may not be compatible with the latest iOS.
Low storage space — when your iPhone is nearly full, apps can’t write temporary files and get terminated.
Too many apps running in the background — though iOS manages memory well, a memory-hogging app can still crash.
Corrupted app data — a bad update or restore can leave an app’s data in an unusable state.
Network or account issues — apps that need a login or a stable connection can crash if the connection drops.
Hardware problems — rarely, a failing component (like a damaged storage chip) can cause crashes, but this is uncommon.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Start with these steps—they solve most crash issues in under a minute.

Force-close the app. Swipe up from the bottom (on iPhones with Face ID) or double-click the Home button (on older models) to open the app switcher, then swipe the app card up and away. Reopen the app.
Restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds, then power it back on. This clears temporary glitches.
Turn Airplane Mode on and off. This resets the network connection, which can fix apps that crash on launch due to a weak or stuck connection.
Check for app updates. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, then scroll to see pending updates. Tap “Update All” or update the specific crashing app.
Check for iOS updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Install any available update, as it may contain fixes for app compatibility.

Free Up Storage Space

When your iPhone has less than about 1-2 GB of free space, apps can’t create temporary files and will crash. To check your storage:

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
You’ll see a bar showing used vs. available space. If it’s almost full, tap “Offload Unused Apps” to automatically remove apps you don’t use (their data is kept).
Also, review the list of apps below the bar—delete large ones you no longer need, or clear photos/videos by moving them to iCloud or a computer.

A good rule of thumb is to keep at least 2-3 GB free. You can also use the “Review Large Attachments” feature in the same screen to delete old message attachments.

Update the App and iOS

Developers constantly release updates to fix bugs and improve compatibility. If an app crashes after an iOS update, the app may not yet be optimized for the new OS—an update usually arrives within days. To make sure you don’t miss updates:

Enable automatic updates: Settings > App Store and toggle on “App Updates” under Automatic Downloads.
For iOS, enable automatic updates: Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.

If an app crashes immediately after you update it, try deleting and reinstalling it (see next section).

Delete and Reinstall the Problem App

If an app still crashes after updating, its data may be corrupted. Deleting the app removes the app and its data, so you’ll lose any saved files or login information unless they’re backed up. To reinstall:

Press and hold the app icon on the Home Screen until the context menu appears.
Tap “Remove App” > “Delete App” > “Delete” to confirm.
Go to the App Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Log in and see if the crash is gone.

This is the most reliable fix for a single app that keeps crashing. If the app uses cloud sync (like Notes or WhatsApp), your data will be restored after you log in.

Check Background App Refresh and Other Settings

Sometimes apps crash because they’re trying to refresh in the background when memory is low. You can turn off Background App Refresh for specific apps:

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Toggle off the switch for the crashing app (or set it to “Wi-Fi” only).

Also, check if the app needs certain permissions (like location or camera). If a permission is denied, the app might crash on launch. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security and ensure the app has the permissions it needs.

Another setting that can cause crashes is “Reduce Motion” or “Increase Contrast” in Accessibility—some apps have bugs with these. You can temporarily disable them to test.

When All Else Fails: Restore or Contact Support

If multiple apps are crashing and none of the above helps, the issue may be with iOS itself. Try these last-resort options:

Reset All Settings. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This doesn’t erase your data, but it resets Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, and other preferences.
Restore your iPhone. Back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer, then use Finder (on a Mac) or iTunes (on a PC) to restore the device to factory settings. Then restore from your backup.
Contact the app developer. If only one app crashes, the developer may be aware of the issue. Look for a support link in the App Store listing.
Contact Apple Support. If the problem persists after a restore, it could be a hardware issue. Apple Support can run diagnostics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone keep crashing when I open an app?

This is usually caused by an outdated app, low storage, or a corrupted app cache. Try force-closing the app, restarting your iPhone, and then updating the app. If it still crashes, delete and reinstall it.

Can a virus cause iPhone apps to crash?

No. iOS is sandboxed, and viruses are extremely rare. Crashes are almost always due to software bugs, memory pressure, or storage issues, not malware.

Will resetting my iPhone fix app crashes?

Yes, a full restore (erase and reinstall iOS) can fix persistent crashes that are caused by a corrupted system file. But try the simpler steps first, as a restore is time-consuming and requires a backup.

Why do apps crash only on Wi-Fi?

This could be a network issue—the app might be failing to load content and timing out. Try forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting, or use cellular data to see if the crash stops. If it does, the problem is with your Wi-Fi router or connection.

How do I stop apps from crashing in the background?

Turn off Background App Refresh for the apps that crash. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle off the specific apps. Also, make sure you have enough free storage.

Is there a way to see why an app crashed?

Yes. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data. You’ll see a list of crash logs with names like “AppName-2025-04-01-123456.ips”. You can tap one to view the report, but it’s technical. You can also share it with the developer for help.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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