How to fix a frozen app on your phone

Edited 7 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

App TroubleshootingFrozen AppsSmartphoneAndroidiPhoneMobile AppsPerformanceDevice ManagementSoftwareUser Interface

Everyone has had the frustrating experience of an app getting frozen on their phone. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as software bugs, memory overload, or poor app optimization. This guide will show you several steps you can take to fix an app getting frozen on your phone.

Understand why apps hang

Before we talk about how to fix a frozen app, it's important to understand why apps get frozen. Here are some common reasons:

• Memory overload: When an app consumes too much memory, the operating system may not be able to allocate enough resources to it to run smoothly.
• Software bugs: Bugs in the app’s code can sometimes cause it to become unresponsive.
• Network problems: Apps that require Internet connectivity may freeze if they have network problems.
• Background processes: Sometimes, an app can get stuck due to a background process that’s taking too much time.
• Device problems: The overall health of the device — including its storage, RAM, and overall condition — can also play a role.

Steps to fix a frozen app on your phone

1. Wait a moment

Sometimes an app may freeze temporarily. Give it a few seconds or a minute as it may recover on its own. If the app doesn't unfreeze, proceed with the next steps.

2. Force close the app

The easiest way to unfreeze an app is to force close it. Here's how you can do it:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "Apps" or "Application Manager."
3. Find the paused app in the list and tap on it.
4. Select "Force Stop."

For iOS:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to open the app switcher.
2. Find the stopped app.
3. Swipe up on an app to close it.

After force closing the app, try opening it again to see if it’s working properly.

3. Restart your phone

If force closing the app doesn't work, try restarting your phone. Here's how to do it:

For Android:

1. Press and hold the Power button until the power menu appears.
2. Select "Restart."
3. Wait until the phone turns off and then restarts.

For iOS:

1. Press and hold the Power button (and the Volume button on some models) until the "Slide to Power Off" slider appears.
2. Slide to power off.
3. After the device turns off, press and hold the Power button again until the Apple logo appears.

4. Clear the app cache

Clearing the app cache can solve many app freezing problems. Here's how to clear the cache:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "Apps" or "Application Manager."
3. Find and select the problematic app.
4. Tap "Storage."
5. Select "Clear cache."

Note that there is no direct option to clear the app cache in iOS devices. Instead, you may have to reinstall the app for the same effect.

5. Update the app

App developers often release updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Make sure you're running the latest version of the app:

For Android:

1. Open Google Play Store.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
3. Select "My apps & games."
4. Find the paused app in the list and tap "Update" if an update is available.

For iOS:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down to view pending updates and release notes.
4. Locate the stopped app and tap "Update" if an update is available.

6. Reinstall the app

If updating the app doesn't resolve the issue, try uninstalling and then reinstalling it. This can sometimes fix serious issues that a simple update won't fix:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "Apps" or "Application Manager."
3. Find the paused app in the list and tap on it.
4. Select "Uninstall."
5. Once uninstalled, open the Google Play Store.
6. Search for the app and reinstall it.

For iOS:

1. Find the app on your home screen.
2. Press and hold the app icon until it starts to shake.
3. Tap the “X” icon to delete the app.
4. Go to the App Store and search for the app.
5. Reinstall the app.

7. Check for OS updates

Sometimes, the operating system itself can cause compatibility issues. Make sure your phone is running the latest version of its operating system:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Scroll down and tap “System.”
3. Select "System updates."
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

For iOS:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "General."
3. Select "Software Update."
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

8. Free up storage space

Insufficient storage space can cause a variety of problems, including app freezing. Here's how you can free up space:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "Storage".
3. See what's taking up space and remove unnecessary files, apps, or media.

For iOS:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "General."
3. Select "iPhone Storage".
4. See what's taking up space and remove unnecessary files, apps, or media.

9. Check permissions

Some apps require special permissions to work properly. Make sure the app has the necessary permissions:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "Apps" or "Application Manager."
3. Find the stopped app and tap on it.
4. Select "Permissions."
5. Grant any necessary permissions.

For iOS:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Scroll down to find the app and tap on it.
3. Make sure all the required permissions are granted.

10. Reset app preferences

On Android devices, you can reset app preferences, which can sometimes fix problems with frozen apps:

For Android:

1. Open "Settings".
2. Go to "System".
3. Select "Reset options."
4. Tap "Reset app preferences."
5. Confirm the action.

Note that this action will reset preferences for disabled apps, notification preferences, default apps, and background data restrictions.

11. Use Safe Mode

Booting your phone in safe mode disables third-party apps and can help you identify if a third-party app is causing the problem:

For Android:

1. Press and hold the Power button.
2. Press and hold the "Power Off" option.
3. When the "Reboot to safe mode" prompt appears, tap "OK."
4. If the issue doesn’t occur in Safe Mode, then a third-party app is likely the cause.

For iOS:

iOS doesn't have a "safe mode" like Android. However, you can troubleshoot by manually disabling specific apps.

Conclusion

Fixing a frozen app can be easy if you take the right steps. Whether it's forcing the app to quit, updating it, or reinstalling it, these solutions can help you get your app running smoothly again. Don't forget to keep your phone's OS updated and make sure it has enough storage space to avoid such problems in the future. If the problem persists, you should consider contacting the app's support team for further assistance.

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