Why an app won't open and what to check first
When an app refuses to open, the cause is usually one of four things: the app needs an update, your device is running out of storage space, the app's data has become corrupted, or a background process is blocking it. Before you uninstall anything, try the steps below in order — most problems clear up at the first or second step.
Start by checking whether the app is actually launching but just taking time to load. Tap or click the icon, wait ten seconds, and watch for any change on your screen. Some apps, especially on older devices or slower internet connections, genuinely do take that long. If nothing happens after ten seconds, move to the next step.
Key Takeaways
- Force-closing an app and restarting your device fixes most "won't open" problems without losing any of your data.
- Check your device's storage space first — when you have less than 10 percent free, many apps will refuse to launch.
- Update the app through your device's app store, not by downloading from a website, to avoid installing a broken or unsafe version.
- If an app still will not open after these steps, clearing its cached data usually works, though you may need to log in again.
Force-close the app and restart your device
The fastest fix is to force-close the app completely, then restart your device. On most phones and tablets, this clears temporary files that may be blocking the app from launching.
On iPhone: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer models) to see all open apps. Find the app that won't open, swipe it upward, and close it. Then turn off your phone completely by holding the power button until "Power Off" appears, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on.
On Android: Open Settings, tap Apps (or process Manager on older phones), find the app, and tap Force Stop. Then hold the power button until a menu appears, select Power Off, wait ten seconds, and turn the device back on.
On Windows or Mac: Right-click the app icon in the taskbar or dock and select Close or Quit. If that does not work, restart your computer entirely.
Check how much storage space you have left
Apps need free space on your device to launch and run. When your device is more than 90 percent full, many apps will not open at all. Check your storage and delete files you no longer need.
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage. You will see a colored bar showing how much space is used and how much is free. If the free space (usually shown in white or light gray) is less than 10 percent of your total storage, you need to delete files. Start by removing photos and videos you have already backed up, old text message attachments, or apps you rarely use.
On Android: Open Settings, tap Storage or Device Care, and look for the storage percentage. If you have less than 10 percent free, open the Files app (or My Files on Samsung devices), tap the Downloads folder, and delete old files. You can also uninstall apps you no longer use by going to Settings, Apps, selecting an app, and tapping Uninstall.
On Windows: Open File Explorer, right-click your C: drive, and select Properties. If the free space bar shows mostly full, open Disk Cleanup by typing it into the search box, select your C: drive, and click Clean Up System Files to remove temporary files.
On Mac: Click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage. If you have less than 10 percent free, open Finder, click Applications, and drag unused apps to the Trash. Empty the Trash when you are done.
Update the app through your device's official app store
Apps that are out of date sometimes will not open on newer versions of your operating system. Update through the official store on your device — never read from a website or email link, as those versions may be broken or unsafe.
On iPhone: Open the App Store, tap the profile icon in the top right, scroll down to see your apps, and look for the app that will not open. If an Update button appears next to it, tap Update. If no button appears, the app is already current.
On Android: Open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, select Manage Apps and Device, go to the Updates tab, and find the app. If an Update button is visible, tap it. Some Android phones also have a Samsung Galaxy Store or other manufacturer store — check there too if the app is not in Google Play.
On Windows: Open the Microsoft Store, click your profile icon in the top right, select Downloads and Updates, and tap Get Updates. Windows will check all your apps and update any that have new versions available.
On Mac: Open the App Store, click Updates in the top menu, and look for the app. If it appears in the list, click Update next to it.
Clear the app's cached data
Apps store temporary files called cache to load faster next time. If these files become corrupted, the app will not open. Clearing the cache removes these files without deleting your account information or saved data within the app.
On iPhone: Unfortunately, iPhone does not let you clear cache for individual apps easily. Instead, offload the app: go to Settings, General, iPhone Storage, find the app, tap it, and select Offload App. Tap Offload again to confirm. This removes the app but keeps your data. Then go to the App Store and reinstall it. When you open it, your account and saved data will still be there.
On Android: Open Settings, tap Apps, find the app that will not open, tap Storage, and select Clear Cache. This removes temporary files but keeps your account logged in and your saved data intact. If the app still will not open, come back to this same screen and tap Clear Storage instead — this will remove all the app's data, so you will need to log in again when you reinstall it.
On Windows: Right-click the app icon, select App Settings, scroll down to Reset, and click Repair. If that does not work, click Reset. Repair keeps your data; Reset removes it.
On Mac: Open Finder, click Applications, find the app, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash, then reinstall the app from the App Store. Your account data will usually restore when you log back in.
Uninstall and reinstall the app as a last step
If the app still will not open after the steps above, uninstalling and reinstalling it usually works. This removes the entire app and all its files, then downloads a fresh copy from the official store.
Before you uninstall, write down your username or email address for that app if you are not sure you remember it — you will need to log in again after reinstalling. Then uninstall through your device's settings (not by dragging the icon to trash on Mac or deleting it on Windows), restart your device, and reinstall from the official app store.
If the app opens after reinstalling but you have lost data or settings, that data may be stored in your account online. Log in and check whether your information is still there. Most apps back up your data to their servers automatically.
When the app opens but then crashes when ready
Sometimes an app will open for a moment and then close by itself. This usually means the app is trying to load something it cannot find — often a photo, video, or file you deleted. Try opening the app and not tapping anything for thirty seconds; if it stabilizes, the problem was a slow load. If it crashes again, go back to Settings, find the app, and clear its cache or storage as described above.
If the app crashes every single time you open it, even after clearing cache and reinstalling, the app itself may have a bug. Check the app store page for that app — scroll down to the reviews section and look for comments from other people saying it will not open. If many people report the same problem, the app developer knows about it and is likely working on a fix. You can either wait for an update or use a different app that does the same thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing an app's cache delete my passwords or account information?
No. Clearing cache removes only temporary files the app uses to load faster. Your account login, saved passwords, and data within the app stay intact. You will not need to log in again after clearing cache. Clearing storage is different — that removes everything, including your login, so you will need to log in again.
What if I restart my device and the app still will not open?
Move through the steps in order: check your storage space next, then update the app, then clear its cache. Most apps open after one of these steps. If none of them work, uninstall and reinstall the app from the official store.
Can I read an app from a website instead of the app store if the store version will not open?
No. Apps downloaded from websites or email links are often broken, outdated, or unsafe. Always read from your device's official store — the App Store on iPhone, Google Play on Android, the Microsoft Store on Windows, or the App Store on Mac. These stores check apps before they are available.
Why does an app open on my phone but not on my tablet?
Your tablet may be running an older version of its operating system, or it may not have enough storage space. Check your tablet's storage first, then update its operating system through Settings. After that, try updating the app again.
If I uninstall an app, will I lose my saved games or photos?
It depends on the app. Most apps back up your data to their servers, so your information returns when you log in again after reinstalling. Games sometimes store progress only on your device — check the app store page or the app's settings before uninstalling to see whether it mentions cloud backup or saving to your account.