Apps on iPhone Keep Crashing? 4 Ways to Get Them Working Again

September 17, 2026 Nicole Jones

The worst thing would be for an app to close out of the blue, just when you're halfway through a task of importance. I had to face the frustration of apps on iPhone keep crashing, getting stuck, or not opening to their full capabilities, and most of the time one doesn't know what the exact cause is. It could be such a simple thing as a temporary application problem that will take care of itself, but there are also situations when the issue lies somewhere in your old operating software, the lack of storage space, or maybe even a bug in iOS. Most of the time, you don't need any complex repairs to sort out the matter. In this article, I will share with you a number of possible fixes, beginning with the obvious ones and only resorting to a deep cleaning of the system if other ways have failed.

Part 1. Why Do My Apps Keep Crashing on My iPhone
Part 2. How to Fix Apps on iPhone That Keep Crashing
Part 3. FAQs about Apps on iPhone Keep Crashing

Part 1. Why Do My Apps Keep Crashing on My iPhone

iPhone apps keep crashing, which can be either a minor or major glitch. You might try reinstalling an old version, or perhaps the app is just having a temporary fit, but more likely it's down to your iPhone being packed to the brim with data. In some cases, it may be the iOS update itself that is the source of the problem. As Apple suggests, a good place to start troubleshooting would be the simplest solutions like ending and relaunching the app again, turning off your iPhone, and ensuring your app and iOS updates are installed.

Common causes include:

App crashes - Brief glitches in software often mean freezing or crashing of an app.
Owing to the app or iOS - Incompatibility in older apps or iOS can result in malfunction of the device.
Narrow available space on iPhone - When your iPhone memory is full and the free space on your iPhone is very low, it can also drag down the overall performance of your iPhone.
Internal software glitches - If the problem is a software glitch, it can cause multiple apps to be malfunctioning.
Bugs in a single app - Should one app alone be crashing while you have normal use for the others, it stands a good chance that the problem lies only in that app itself.

I can try simple solutions first, which would be sufficient to address your issue without needing us to do deep iOS repair if they are successful.

Part 2. How to Fix Apps on iPhone That Keep Crashing

Method 1. Force Close and Restart the Problematic App

Success rate:4/5 (High for temporary app glitches.)

Best for: One specific app that suddenly freezes or closes.

If only one app is having issues, this is where I would start. Terminating it forcefully allows the application to get a fresh start and is mostly helpful if, for instance, the iPhone Messages app keeps crashing or the app won't respond. In fact, Apple also suggests exiting and re-launching an app if it has become unresponsive to input.

Risk of data loss: Very low. Force-closing an app doesn't normally delete its saved data, although unsaved work may be lost.

For iPhone X and later:

Step 1.

Lift your finger from the bottom of the screen and stop moving when you reach the middle. Look for the issue app in App Switcher.

Step 2.

If you want to exit an app preview, just swipe it up. It will close the app automatically.

Step 3.

Get back to the Home Screen. To reopen the app, just tap on the app. To check whether the app is still crashing, use it for a short time.

For iPhone SE, iPhone 8, and earlier:

Step 1.

Double-click the Home button. Locate the crashing app.

Step 2.

On its preview, swipe up. Go back to the Home Screen and launch the application again.

Method 2. Reboot Your iPhone to Clear Temporary System Issues

Success rate:4/5 (Excellent for transient iOS and memory-related issues.)

Best for: After prolonged use, several apps may crash, freeze, or exhibit strange behavior.

If closing the app hasn't made things better for you, then I guess restarting the iPhone will have to be the second thing that needs attention. A restart will generally flush out temporary system processes and also clear the memory issues that could be affecting a bunch of apps. Give it a go, in particular if you end up with the Google App keeps crashing on iPhone or a set of apps start acting erratically or unstable overnight.

Risk of data loss: Very low. A normal restart doesn't erase your apps, photos, or personal files.

For iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and later:

Step 1.

Press and hold the Side and Volume buttons. Release only when the power-off slider comes up.

Step 2.

Swipe the slider over to the right. Leave the device for at least 30 seconds before turning it on.

Step 3.

Keep holding the Side button after that until you see the Apple logo. After unlocking your iPhone, you can launch the problematic app once again.

For iPhone SE (2nd/3rd generation), iPhone 8, or earlier:

Step 1.

Press and hold the Side button or Top button on certain older models. Swipe the power-off slider when you see it.

Step 2.

Take your time to wait for around 30 seconds. Press and hold the same button until the Apple logo shows up.

Step 3.

Relaunch the app and confirm if this issue is fixed.

Restarting the device does not mean it's literally "emptying the iPhone cache" as is often done on other platforms by clearing an app cache. It is basically restarting temporary system processes and memory.

Method 3. Update the Crashing App and iOS Software

Success rate:4/5 (This really works when the root cause is a software bug.)

Best for: Applications that haven't been updated for a while or the ones that started crashing after an iOS update.

Another thing I would do next to fix an app continuously crashing after a restart is check for updates. An old app can create problems with the new iOS version. But getting used to a new iOS version can cause an old app's issues. If the Mail app keeps crashing on iPhone, then it is definitely worth checking the app update with the iOS update, because Apple says so when there is repeated closing of the app or inability to open an app.

Risk of data loss: Very low. Updating an app or iOS normally keeps your personal data intact.

Update the problematic app:

Step 1.

Open the App Store application. Then, click on your profile picture in the top right corner.

Step 2.

Hit App Updates. Look for the crashed app and tap Update.

Step 3.

Tap the Update All icon if you want to update the other outdated Apps.

Update iOS:

Step 1.

Open Settings. Bring up General and choose Software Update.

Step 2.

When an update is available, tap on Download and Install. Follow the instructions and wait for your iPhone to reboot.

Step 3.

Open the app again and see if it behaves normally.

Method 4. Repair the Underlying iOS Glitch with Aiseesoft iOS System Recovery

Success rate:5 (Good good for common software-related iOS problems.)

Best for: Persistent crashes that appear to be caused by an iOS system problem.

I would go for checking and debugging at the OS level only when regular app updates and iOS-related fixes have failed. That kind of issue usually happens with a problem at the base - system software level, and that is what the Aiseesoft iOS System Recovery software is capable of fixing for you, to resolve commonly encountered issues with iOS software which might be behind your app crashes.

Risk of data loss: Low with Standard Mode. Still, I recommend backing up your iPhone before starting any system repair.

Step 1.

Click the link to download Aiseesoft iOS System Recovery on your PC. Launch it and choose iOS System Recovery.

Free DownloadFor Windows

100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

100% Secure. No Ads.

Step 2.

Attach the iPhone to your PC with a USB cable. Click Start and allow the software to detect your hardware. Choose Standard Mode iOS system restoration, which can repair many general problems for the iOS system without data loss.

Step 3.

Select System Repair in the main menu.

Step 4.

Validate the device info and system version, check the correct repair mode option, then click to confirm.

Step 5.

Just wait until the process has finished, then restart your iPhone and see if the applications are functioning as normal.

Avoid disconnecting your iPhone during the repair.

Part 3. FAQs about Apps on iPhone Keep Crashing

Why is it that my app crashes, but only when a feature is opened?

If the app is fine until a certain feature is opened, then most likely the problem is with the feature, or maybe just a single file, or data loading of that feature rather than the entire app.

Why is an app crashing after my iPhone was restored from a backup?

Restored backups can reappear with app data or settings if the data is corrupted or if it is not compatible with the iOS version in use at the time. Then the app keeps crashing, and you don't know why.

What signs can I look for to differentiate between one app crashing vs iOS?

Look out for signs or patterns. If a particular app keeps crashing, then it is safe to assume that the issue is app-related only. However, if a number of different apps crash together without any connection, maybe the cause is a problem at the iOS level.

Conclusion

If you see iPhone apps keep crashing, a good idea is to try common quick solutions like restarting, updating, and removing all the apps that could be responsible. If nothing works, an iOS system repair may be the best solution to fix the apps.