- Apps close due to lack of resources, software errors, connection problems, or damaged system components such as WebView.
- Updating Android, apps, clearing cache, and freeing up memory usually resolves most unexpected shutdowns.
- Adjusting battery optimization and checking WebView or the Google app is key when many applications are crashing at once.
- Only when all else fails should you resort to resetting the device or switching to previous versions of the app.
An app closing unexpectedly on your Android phone is one of those things that drives you crazy at the worst possible moment : right when you're working out with a fitness app, in the middle of an online game, or while you're sending an important message. Although it seems like a mysterious glitch, there's almost always a clear cause behind it… and several ways to fix it without having to buy a new phone.
Throughout this guide, you'll see all the common causes of sudden crashes and a range of practical solutions: from the classic, life-saving restart to more advanced settings (system cache, safe mode, or even reverting to previous versions of an app). You'll also learn a very specific trick for frequent Android crashes related to battery optimization, which can make all the difference if you use your phone for demanding apps like virtual cycling apps or games.
A real case: continuous shutdowns due to battery optimization
Before getting into technical details, it's worth mentioning a very common situation: some users experience constant crashes of the same app (for example, a fitness or gaming app) even though the rest of the phone is working fine. A trick that has worked on Samsung phones like the S21 is to change the battery management settings for that app.
On many current models, Android (and the manufacturer's interface) tries to save battery power in a big way. This means that some resource-intensive apps are closed in the background or even in the foreground. On a Samsung S21, for example, you can go to Settings → Apps → Battery and change the "Optimized" option to "Unrestricted." This tells the system not to touch that app, even if it uses more battery.
This setting has allowed some users to use apps like Rouvy connected via HDMI to an external monitor for extended periods without them crashing. The only drawback is that, after an app or Android update, the system sometimes reverts to "Optimized," requiring the change to be repeated. Even so, it's a simple solution that can be invaluable if your crashes occur primarily with a single, demanding app.
Why do apps close on Android?
When an application crashes or closes unexpectedly, it's almost always due to a resource bottleneck, a software bug, or a connectivity issue. Understanding these causes helps you find the right solution the first time, instead of trying things blindly.
Too many apps open and insufficient RAM
RAM is responsible for keeping the apps you're using active, as well as many that run in the background. If you have half your life open at the same time (games, social media, browser, email, etc.), Android starts to run short of resources.
When RAM is at its limit, the system takes drastic measures: it closes applications to continue functioning . Sometimes it doesn't even show a warning; the app simply disappears or freezes and then closes. This is common on phones with limited RAM or when using resource-intensive games and apps.
Limited internal storage available
Many apps require a minimum amount of free space to create temporary files, cache, or user data . If the device's internal memory is almost full, the app may stop saving information, start running slowly, or even crash and close.
Furthermore, a saturated storage makes the whole system more sluggish: messages that don't save, emails that don't download , photos that fail to save, and of course, unexpected application closures when they try to write data and can't.
Internal errors and programming flaws in the app
Not all apps are equally well made. Some have programming errors, memory leaks, or bugs that are triggered by certain actions (for example, pressing many buttons in a row, changing orientation, opening a certain menu, etc.).
In these cases, even if the phone has sufficient resources, the application itself is causing the crash. It can also happen that a specific version of the app has a bug that only appears on certain Android models or versions, resulting in frequent crashes for a group of users.
Malware and untrusted software
Another less obvious cause is that your phone is infected with malware (viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware) or that you have a compromised app installed. This type of software can consume resources, interfere with other applications, or even close them if it tries to take control of the device.
If you notice strange behavior (invasive ads, strange permissions, apps using the camera or microphone for no reason, uncontrolled data consumption) it is very possible that a malicious app is causing instability throughout the system, including random crashes.
Device overheating
When your phone overheats—whether from prolonged gaming, charging while using resource-intensive apps, or a hot environment—Android activates protective mechanisms. One of these measures is closing resource-intensive apps to reduce the temperature.
If you notice that the back of the phone is burning hot, the brightness is lowering on its own, charging is slowing down, or messages are appearing warning of overheating, it's normal for apps to start closing on their own until the phone returns to a safe temperature.
Outdated operating system or apps
Updates aren't just annoying "new features" that bombard you with notifications. They usually include security patches, bug fixes, and compatibility improvements . If your Android device or apps haven't been updated in a long time, you're more likely to experience crashes or freezes.
It is very common for a newly updated app to fail on phones with older versions of Android , or for a version of the app with a specific bug to start causing problems until the developer releases a corrective update.
Excessive memory usage by a single app
Android assigns each application a dynamic memory limit . If an app tries to use more memory than the system allows (something that often happens with very large games, video editing apps, or poorly optimized applications), an internal error occurs.
When that happens, Android may decide to immediately close the problematic app to prevent it from affecting the rest of the system. To the user, it appears to be a random closure, but it's actually a protective measure.
Unstable or non-existent internet connection
Many modern apps rely entirely on an internet connection: social media, online games, streaming services, email, etc. If your Wi-Fi or data connection is unreliable, slow, or drops frequently , these apps often freeze and eventually close.
In some cases you will see the screen frozen waiting for a response from the server, in others the app simply closes because it cannot handle network outages or signal changes between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Software conflicts and problems with WebView or Google apps
There are system components used by countless applications. One of the most important is Android System WebView , the module that allows web content to be displayed within apps without opening a browser.
When a WebView update is faulty or corrupted, apps as varied as Gmail, Outlook, PayPal, Twitter, or any other app that loads embedded web pages may start crashing. Something similar can happen with the Google app , which is also deeply integrated into the system and, if it fails, can bring other applications down with it.
Solutions for unexpected app closures on Android
Now that you know what's behind most app crashes, it's time to take action. Below is a complete list of steps you can take when an app keeps freezing or crashing.
1. Keep Android updated
An outdated system is fertile ground for errors and compatibility problems. It's a good idea to check from time to time if new versions of the operating system are available for your mobile device.
On most devices, this is done through Settings → Software update . If an update is available, download it while connected to Wi-Fi and with a good battery, and tap "Install now" to complete the process. Often, after updating Android, the random crashes of various apps disappear without any further action required.
2. Update the Google Play Store and your apps
If you notice that the Google Play Store itself is malfunctioning, crashing, or not downloading apps, it's a good idea to check that it's up to date. Go to Google Play, tap your profile icon → Settings → About, and tap "Update Play Store" if the option appears.
While you're at it, it's a good idea to check the app store's updates tab and update your installed apps. New versions usually fix bugs that caused crashes , as well as bringing performance improvements and security patches, which are always welcome.
3. Check your Wi-Fi and mobile data connection
If the crashes occur mainly in apps that rely on the internet, the first thing to check is your connectivity. Swipe up from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and look for the Wi-Fi and mobile data icon.
If you're connected to a public network with poor coverage, or if the signal is intermittent, many apps may freeze while waiting for a response and eventually close. Try changing your access point, moving to a location with better signal, or restarting your router and phone. On some Samsung devices and those from other manufacturers, you can also choose which apps can use only Wi-Fi, only mobile data, or both—something to check if a particular app isn't working properly.
4. Identify if the problematic app is from a third party using safe mode
If you're unsure which app is causing the problem, Android's safe mode is your best bet. In this mode, only the essential system apps load, excluding any third-party apps you've installed.
Usually, you just need to press and hold the power button, tap "Power off," and keep holding it until the "Safe mode" option appears. If restarting in Safe mode resolves the crashes and freezes, then one of your installed apps is causing the problem. From there, you can uninstall the most likely culprit apps and try again outside of Safe mode.
5. Close and force stop the application
When an app is misbehaving, the first thing to try is closing it completely . Tap the recent apps button (the square or the three-line icon, depending on your phone) and swipe the app out to remove it from the background.
If it still doesn't work, you need to go a step further: go to Settings → Applications → and tap on “Force stop”. This will actually stop all its processes. Then, reopen the app and check if the problem persists. Before force-stopping apps with unusual system names, it's a good idea to search online for what they do, because some are essential for the normal operation of Android.
6. Restart the mobile
It sounds like a typical tech support response, but restarting your device solves a ton of problems. Every action you take leaves processes and services running in the background, and sometimes one of them gets stuck, causing general instability.
Press and hold the power button and select "Restart". In less than a minute, your phone will be booting up "clean," which is usually enough to eliminate crashes and occasional shutdowns without needing to access more advanced settings.
7. Free up storage space
If you're running low on free space, you'll likely see apps closing or malfunctioning. Taking a few minutes to clean up makes a big difference in overall performance. You can start by moving photos and videos to the cloud or a USB drive , as these are usually the files that take up the most space.
It also helps to uninstall games and apps you no longer use, and check your Downloads folder to delete old files, installers, and duplicates. If you don't feel like doing it manually, there are tools like AVG Cleaner that largely automate the process: they locate photos that are truly junk (blurry, duplicates), flag apps you rarely use, and let you close processes that are consuming resources without you noticing.
8. Clear the application data
Over time, each app accumulates configuration data, preferences, user sessions, and internal files that can become corrupted or cause conflicts . Deleting this data returns the application to its initial state, as if it were newly installed.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → Storage and tap on “Clear data” or “Manage storage” and then “Clear all data,” depending on what your phone displays. Keep in mind that this may sign you out and cause you to lose custom settings, so make sure your important information is synced to the cloud beforehand . In apps like Google, your data is retained in your account even if you delete local data.
9. Clear the app cache
The cache stores temporary data to help the app load faster (images, page snippets, etc.). However, if too many corrupted files accumulate, the cache itself can cause slowdowns, blank screens, or sudden crashes.
The steps are similar to clearing data: go to Settings → Apps → Storage and tap "Clear cache". It's a safe process: it only deletes temporary files and doesn't erase your account or preferences. In many cases, this is enough to get an app working normally again.
10. Uninstall and reinstall the app
If a particular app keeps malfunctioning, the most practical solution is usually to uninstall it and reinstall the latest clean version . Press and hold its icon on the home screen or app drawer and select "Uninstall."
Next, go to Google Play, the Galaxy Store, or the manufacturer's app store and download it again. Always check who the developer is and make sure you install the legitimate app, as there are many fake copies that mimic the icon and name. A fresh installation will eliminate any update errors or corrupted files that were causing the crashes.
11. Review and adjust the app permissions
Some apps require specific permissions (location, storage, camera, etc.) to function correctly. If you've denied them any critical permissions, they may behave erratically or even crash when trying to access something they're not allowed to.
Go to Settings → Apps → Permissions and review what permissions are allowed and what they're not. Only enable permissions that make sense for the app's function (for example, a weather app needs location access, but it doesn't make sense for it to request microphone access). It's also important to be wary of apps that request too many permissions for no reason, as they may be spyware or disguised malware.
12. Clean the system cache partition
In addition to each app's cache, Android has a cache partition where it stores temporary system files (logs, intermediate data, etc.). Over time, this partition can fill up with outdated or corrupted information and contribute to crashes, restarts, and system shutdowns.
To delete it, you need to enter recovery mode: usually, turn off your phone and turn it on while holding down the volume up and power buttons (on some models, also the home button). Then, use the volume keys to navigate to "Wipe cache partition" and confirm with the power button by pressing "Yes". After restarting, the phone may take a little longer to boot the first time because it rebuilds those temporary files , but it usually boots up and runs more smoothly afterward.
13. Restore a previous version of the app
Sometimes the problem lies with a specific update: the app was working fine, it updates, and suddenly it starts crashing and freezing . In these cases, an effective solution is to revert to a previous version that you know worked correctly.
If the app can be uninstalled, delete it first. Then, search trusted APK repositories like APKMirror or Uptodown for a version or two older than the problematic one. Download the APK file, enable installation from unknown sources if necessary, and reinstall. However, be sure to disable automatic updates for that app in Google Play, or it will update back to the problematic version.
For system apps that Android won't let you uninstall, go to Settings → Applications → and use the "Uninstall updates" option to revert to the factory version. Then, if needed, manually install an APK of a more stable, intermediate version. If the apps still crash, the app might not be fully compatible with your device, and you'll need to find an alternative.
14. Fixes errors caused by WebView or the Google app
If many apps that display web content suddenly start malfunctioning, the culprit is most likely Android System WebView . To try and fix it, go to Settings → Applications, open the menu (three dots), and select the "Show system apps" option. Search for "Android System WebView" and open it.
From there, you can tap the menu and select "Uninstall updates" to revert to a previous, more stable version. Afterward, it's a good idea to restart your device. Similarly, if the crashes seem to be related to the Google app , you can locate it in the app list, uninstall its updates, and, if necessary, clear its data in the storage section so that it downloads a clean version.
15. Reset the device to factory settings (last resort)
If you've exhausted all the previous options and your phone is still crashing, freezing, and malfunctioning, your Android installation might be so damaged that only a complete reset can fix it.
Before doing so, back up your photos, videos, documents, and important data to the cloud or a computer. Then, go to Settings → General management → Reset → Factory reset (the path may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer) and confirm. Your phone will be completely erased and returned to its out-of-the-box state, without your apps or data. It's a drastic measure, but in many cases, it leaves the system running like new without unexpected crashes.
Extra help with maintenance and security apps
If you don't want to be constantly freeing up space or hunting down apps that are draining your battery and memory, you can rely on maintenance tools. Solutions like AVG Cleaner are designed to automate a large part of the cleaning process: they identify junk files, photos that don't really add anything, apps that have gotten out of hand, and processes that consume resources without you even noticing.
On the other hand, to keep malware at bay —which can also be behind crashes and other unusual behavior—it's helpful to have a good antivirus like AVG AntiVirus for Android . These types of apps scan your device for threats, block malicious websites, and help remove persistent software that sometimes can't be easily uninstalled from the standard Android menu.
Knowing the most common causes of unexpected crashes and having this repertoire of solutions at hand (from adjusting the battery optimization of a specific app to clearing caches, checking WebView, or, if necessary, reinstalling Android from scratch) makes it much easier to restore stability to your phone and prevent apps from closing when you need them most. Share this information so other users can learn about this issue.