How to Fix an Android App That Keeps Crashing
By Site Editor · Updated September 14, 2026 · 7 min read
An Android app that crashes on launch or mid-use usually comes down to a corrupted cache, an outdated version, or a permission conflict. These fixes work for most apps without losing your data.
1. Clear the app's cache
Go to Settings → Apps → find the app → Storage → Clear Cache. The cache holds temporary data that can become corrupted over time. Clearing it does not delete your account or saved progress — it only removes temporary files. Open the app again and check if it still crashes.
2. Update or reinstall the app
Open the Play Store → tap your profile icon → Manage apps and device → check if the app has a pending update. Install it. If the app is already up to date and still crashes, uninstall it completely, restart your phone, and reinstall from the Play Store. A fresh install replaces any corrupted app files.
3. Check app permissions
Settings → Apps → select the app → Permissions. Some apps crash if they lack a permission they need — camera, microphone, storage, or location. If a permission was accidentally denied, grant it and try the app again. Conversely, if Android recently changed how permissions work in an update, the app may be crashing because it has not been updated to match.
4. Free up RAM by closing background apps
Tap the recent apps button and swipe away apps you are not using. On phones with limited RAM, keeping too many apps in the background leaves the foreground app with too little memory to run, which triggers a crash. This is especially common with memory-intensive apps like video editors or games.
5. Clear app data as a last resort
Settings → Apps → the app → Storage → Clear Data. This is more thorough than clearing the cache — it deletes all locally stored app data including your settings and login session. You will need to log back in, but it gives the app a completely clean start. Only do this if clearing the cache and reinstalling did not help.
Frequently asked questions
Will clearing app data delete my game progress?
If your game saves progress to a cloud account (like Google Play Games), your progress is safe. If the game only saves locally on your device, clearing app data will erase it. Check whether the game has a cloud save option before clearing data.
Why does only one specific app crash while everything else works fine?
A crash affecting only one app almost always points to that app itself — a bug in the current version, a corrupted cache, or a permissions conflict. Clearing its cache and updating it resolves most single-app crashes. If the crash persists after a fresh install, the problem may be a known bug that requires a future app update to fix.
Can a phone case or screen protector cause app crashes?
No. App crashes are software problems and are unrelated to physical accessories. If a screen protector is interfering with touch input it may cause apps to misbehave, but that would look like unresponsive touches rather than a crash.