Fix an installed Android app that isn't working

If an app installed on your Android device is crashing, or won't open, respond, or work properly, try the troubleshooting steps below. After trying each, check whether it fixed your issue.

If a Google app that came with your device seems to have problems, those problems could be caused by another app later downloaded to your device.

Tip: If the app that isn’t working is an Instant App, try these troubleshooting steps instead.

Note: Some of these steps work only on Android 8.1 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Step 1: Restart & update

Restart your device

To restart your phone, press and hold the power button for a few seconds. Then, on your screen, tap Restart Restart.

If you don't see "Restart," press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds, until your phone restarts.

Check for Android updates

System updates can bring improvements that could fix your issue.

To check for and install system updates:

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Near the bottom, tap System and then Advanced and then System update. If needed, first tap About phone or About tablet.
  3. You'll see your update status. Follow any steps on the screen.
Update the app

App updates can bring improvements that could fix your issue.

To see and get updates for your apps:

  1. Open your device's Play Store app Google Play.
  2. Tap Menu Menu and then My apps & games.
  3. Apps with available updates are labeled "Update."
    • If an update is available, tap Update.
    • If more updates are available, tap Update all.

Step 2: Check for a larger app issue

Force stop the app

In general, you don't need to close apps. Android automatically manages the memory that apps use.

But to completely shut down an app, including any background services that it may be using:

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps & notifications.
  3. Tap the app. If you don't see it, first tap See all apps or App info.
  4. Tap Force stop.

If problems continue after you've force stopped the app, you could need to contact its developer. Learn how to contact a developer.

Clear the app's cache

Clearing cached data can free up needed space by removing temporary files. This is a short-term solution. Over time, cached data will build up again.

To clear the cache for the app:

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps & notifications.
  3. Tap the app. If you don't see it, first tap See all apps or App info.
  4. Tap Storage and then Clear cache.

If problems continue after you've cleared the app's cache, you could need to contact its developer. Learn how to contact a developer.

Clear the app's data

Clearing all of an app's data can resolve some issues.

Caution: Any data saved in this app will be erased.

To clear all of an app's data:

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps & notifications.
  3. Tap the app. If you don't see it, first tap See all apps or App info.
  4. Tap Storage and then Clear storage or Clear data and then OK.

If problems continue after you've cleared the app's data, you could need to contact its developer. Learn how to contact a developer.

Contact the app's developer

If you got the app from the Google Play Store, you can:

Uninstall the app

If problems continue, you can uninstall the app.

Caution: Any data saved in this app will be erased.

To uninstall an app:

  1. Touch and hold the app you want to uninstall.
  2. Drag the app to Uninstall at the top of the screen. (If you don’t see Uninstall, the app is likely a system app that you can't uninstall.)

If you want to use the app again, you can try reinstalling it. Learn how to reinstall apps.

Related articles

Was this helpful?
How can we improve it?