Fix an installed Android app that isn't working

Try the following steps if an app installed on your phone has any of these problems:

  • Crashing. 
  • Won’t open. 
  • Won’t respond. 
  • Isn’t working properly. If the app that isn’t working is an Instant App, try these troubleshooting steps instead.

After each step, restart your phone to see if it fixed the issue.

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 phone
  1. Press your phone's power button. On the screen, tap Restart Restart.
  2. If you don't see "Restart," press your phone's power button for about 30 seconds, until your phone restarts.
Check for Android updates
  1. Open your phone's 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
  1. On your phone, open the Google 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
Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.
  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps & notifications And then the app. If needed, tap App info before the app.
  3. Tap Force stop.
Tip: 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

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

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.

  1. Open your phone's 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 & cache and then Clear cache.
Tip: 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 data

Important: Settings can vary by phone. For more info, contact your device manufacturer.

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

  1. Open your phone's 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 & cache and then Clear storage or Clear data and then OK.
Tip: If problems continue after you've force stopped the app, 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

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

  1. Touch and hold the app that you want to uninstall.
  2. To see your options, start dragging the app.
  3. Drag the app to Uninstall at the top of the screen. If you don't see "Uninstall," you can't uninstall the app.
  4. Lift your finger.

Tip: 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?