How to Fix a Frozen App on Android

Edited 5 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

App TroubleshootingAndroidSmartphoneMobile AppsPerformanceDevice ManagementCustomizationUser InterfaceMobile OSSoftware

App freezing on your Android device can be frustrating. A frozen app stops responding and makes it difficult for us to continue our work or entertainment. However, you can solve this problem by following a few simple steps. This guide will walk you through these steps in detail, so you can solve the problem efficiently and resume using your app in no time.

Understand why apps hang

Before we move on to the solutions, let’s understand why apps might freeze. There are several reasons for this:

• Resource overload: An app may be using too many resources, such as memory or processing power, resulting in it crashing.
• Software bugs: The app might have bugs that cause it to suddenly shut down or freeze.
• Operating system issues: Sometimes, the Android operating system may have problems that affect app performance.
• Network issues: Internet-dependent apps may hang if there's a network issue.

Steps to fix frozen apps on Android

1. Close the app

The first step is to force close the frozen app completely. Here's how to do this:

1. Open the Recent Apps menu on your device. This is usually done by tapping the square button at the bottom of the screen or swiping up from the bottom if you have gesture navigation.
2. Find the app you want to close. Swipe the app off the screen or tap the 'X' if available.

Once the app is closed, you can open it again to see if it works normally.

2. Restart your device

If closing the app doesn't work, the next step is to restart your device. Restarting clears temporary data and can fix many problems. Here's how to do it:

• Press and hold the Power button on your device until options appear on the screen.
• Tap Restart. If Restart isn't available, tap Power off and then turn your phone back on after a few seconds.

Once the device restarts, reopen the app to check if it is working properly.

3. Check for app updates

Developers release updates to fix bugs and improve app performance. Make sure your app is up to date:

• Open Google Play Store.
• Tap your profile picture in the top right corner and select My apps & games.
• In the "Updates" tab, see if there's a list of apps that need updates. If so, tap Update.

Updating the app may resolve freezing issues caused by bugs or compatibility issues.

4. Clear the app cache and data

Another effective method is to clear the app’s cache and data. Keep in mind that clearing data will reset the app to its default state, which may lead to the loss of app-specific data.

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Scroll to Apps or Applications and select it.
3. Find the paused app in the list and tap on it.
4. Select Storage, then tap Clear cache.
5. If clearing the cache doesn't work, go back and select Clear Data. This action requires logging in again or resetting preferences.

This step often resolves problems related to corrupted data or excessively cached information.

5. Uninstall and reinstall the app

If clearing the cache and data doesn't resolve the issue, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the app. Here's how:

• Open Settings and go to Apps or Applications.
• Select the app and tap Uninstall.
• Re-open Google Play Store, search for the app and reinstall it.

Reinstalling ensures you have the latest version and may also fix serious, unresolved issues.

6. Free up device storage

Low storage space can also cause apps to freeze. To free up space:

• Go to Settings.
• To see what's using space, tap Storage.
• Clear unwanted files, such as unused apps, photos, and videos, or use the Smart Storage feature.

Make sure there is enough free space available for optimal application performance.

7. Factory reset

If none of the above solutions work, perform a factory reset as a last resort. Please note that this will erase all data on your device, so make sure you have backed up your important information:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap System, then tap Reset options.
• Select Erase all data (factory reset).
• Follow the prompts to complete the reset.

After the reset, reinstall the app and see if the freezing issue is resolved.

8. Check for Android system updates

An outdated Android system can cause compatibility issues with apps. Here's how to check for updates:

• Open Settings.
• Scroll down to System and select System updates.
• Follow the prompts to download and install any available updates.

Keeping your Android device updated helps prevent performance errors.

Conclusion

Experiencing app freezes on Android is common, but by following the steps above, you can usually resolve the problem. Whether it's closing the app, restarting your device, clearing the cache and data, or reinstalling the app, each step targets the specific problems causing the app to freeze.

If the problem persists, consider contacting the app's support team for further assistance as there might be some underlying issues that only the developers can fix.

Always make sure your data is safe, and remember to keep your apps and operating system updated to minimize the chances of experiencing such problems in the future.

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