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The Google Play Store features millions of applications, serving as a platform where developers release updates to enhance functionality and fix issues. From my perspective as a lifelong Android user, crashes often stem from faulty updates rather than hardware problems. Therefore, checking the Play Store should be one of your first moves when facing app malfunctions.
To do this, tap your profile image in the upper right corner, select Manage apps and device, and under Updates available, see if there’s a new version of the troublesome app ready for installation.
If no updates are pending, delve deeper into the app’s settings. You can long-press the app’s icon on your home screen or app drawer and tap the small “i” icon to reach the App info page, or head to Settings > Apps and find it in the list of installed applications. The wording may vary depending on your Android version.
While in the App info settings, go to Storage & cache and choose Clear cache. Afterwards, hit Force stop and try to relaunch the app. Clearing the cache removes temporary, potentially corrupted files and can improve app performance.
Clear the App’s Data
If clearing the cache and force stopping the app doesn’t resolve the issue, you might try uninstalling and reinstalling it from the Play Store. Be cautious, as this will erase any locally stored data including credentials and preferences. If the app supports cloud synchronization, a simple sign-in will restore your data. If not, consider enabling cloud backup prior to uninstallation to safeguard your information.
Alternatively, you can access the app’s App info page and choose Clear data instead. This avoids the need for reinstallation. However, if your internet connection is fast, reinstalling from the Play Store is often the thorough solution to persistent crashing issues.
Although not necessary, restarting your phone can sometimes quickly fix various problems. Usually, you can force restart by holding down the power button until the screen turns off and the logo appears. Some models may also require holding down the volume buttons along with the power button.
Additionally, check if your phone itself requires any updates. By staying current with software versions, you receive essential bug fixes and security patches that may solve app crashes. You can do this by navigating to Settings > System > Software update to install any outstanding updates.
Install an Older Version of the App
A significant advantage of Android is its flexibility in sideloading applications. Though security measures are being tightened, you can still install apps outside of the Play Store. For current Android versions, you’ll first need to enable developer mode by going to Settings > About Phone and tapping Build Number seven times. This will require a device restart as a precautionary measure. After a day, you can allow installations from unknown sources, a process meant to safeguard against potential security risks.
Once enabled, you can download an older, stable version of the problematic app. A reliable site for this is APKMirror. After removing the app from your phone, install the older version by opening the APK file from your file manager. Note that some apps requiring split APK installations may need the APKMirror Installer app.
Bear in mind that this is a temporary workaround until the developers release an update to fix existing bugs. Once that happens, it’s advisable to uninstall the older version and reinstall the app from the Play Store to ensure you continue receiving updates.
If you find all of this cumbersome, consider using the app’s web version in your browser temporarily. Many popular applications that also have a web interface are optimized for mobile browsers, allowing you to enable notifications for supported sites and easily access them from your home screen.
