Apps that start crashing immediately after an Android update usually fall into one of two groups:
- One app is crashing, which usually points to that app’s compatibility, cache, or data.
- Several unrelated apps are crashing, which points more strongly to a shared Android component, storage problem, or update-related system issue.
That distinction matters. There is no reason to reset app preferences or reinstall half your phone when only Instagram is crashing, and there is little value in reinstalling one app when Gmail, Chrome, Maps, and other apps are all failing at the same time.
Start by identifying which situation you have.
If Only One App Keeps Crashing
Open two or three unrelated apps.
If they work normally and only one app keeps closing, freezing, or showing an “App keeps stopping” message, treat it as an app-specific problem.
Update the affected app first
Open Google Play Store, search for the app, and install any available update.
Major Android releases can change APIs, permissions, background behavior, and security requirements. App developers often release compatibility updates after a new Android version reaches more devices.
If an update is available, install it and restart the phone before doing anything more destructive.
Force stop the app
Open:
Settings > Apps > [app name] > Force stop
Then reopen the app.
This clears the currently running process without deleting your account, files, or app settings.
Clear only the app cache
Go to:
Settings > Apps > [app name] > Storage & cache > Clear cache
The exact wording varies by manufacturer.
Clearing cache removes temporary files the app can recreate. It does not normally delete your login, saved documents, messages, or account data.
If you want a clearer explanation of the difference between cache and stored app data, use my guide to clearing Android cache without losing data.
Test the app again before moving on.
Clear app storage only when you can afford to reset the app
If cache clearing does not help, corrupted app data may be involved.
The more destructive option is:
Settings > Apps > [app name] > Storage & cache > Clear storage
or:
Clear data
This resets the app as though it had just been installed.
You may need to:
- sign in again;
- redownload offline content;
- restore app settings;
- resync local information.
Do not use this casually with apps that store important data locally.
For WhatsApp, authenticator apps, note-taking tools, games, finance apps, or anything with local files, confirm your backup or recovery method before clearing storage.
Reinstall the app if the crash is still isolated
If the app still crashes after updating, force stopping, and clearing cache or data, uninstall and reinstall it.
Back up anything important first.
If the freshly installed version still crashes while other apps work normally, the app may simply not be fully compatible with your new Android version yet.
At that point, check the developer’s Play Store listing or support page rather than repeatedly resetting Android.
If Several Apps Started Crashing After the Update
This is a different problem.
When Gmail, Chrome, social apps, banking apps, or several unrelated apps begin crashing after the same Android update, look for a shared component before reinstalling each app individually.
Start with a full restart.
Hold the power button and restart the phone normally. If the update has only recently finished installing, a clean reboot can reload Android services and finish post-update setup.
Then continue below.
Update All Apps From Google Play
Open:
Google Play Store > profile picture > Manage apps & device
Install available updates.
This is especially important after a major Android upgrade because several apps may need newer builds at the same time.
Do not judge the result while Play Store is still updating dozens of apps in the background. Let the important updates finish, restart the phone, and test again.
Update Android System WebView and Chrome
Android System WebView is used by many Android apps to display web-based content inside the app.
When WebView has a bad or incompatible update, multiple unrelated apps can crash even though the apps themselves are not broken.
Google has previously documented a WebView incident that caused Gmail, Chrome, and partner apps to crash, and the fix was to update Android System WebView and Google Chrome.
Open Google Play and check for updates to:
- Android System WebView
- Google Chrome
On some phones, Chrome provides the WebView implementation, so Android System WebView may not appear as a normal standalone app.
Install any updates that are offered, restart the phone, and test the crashing apps again.
Do not follow old advice telling you to uninstall WebView updates unless you are dealing with a specifically documented current issue. Google has warned that manually uninstalling WebView updates can cause data loss in some apps.
Check Google Play Services if Google-Connected Apps Are Failing
Google Play services is another shared Android component.
Google describes it as the layer that connects apps with services such as Google Sign-In and Maps.
If several Google-dependent apps are crashing, refusing to sign in, or behaving abnormally after the update, make sure Google Play services is current.
Open:
Settings > Apps > Google Play services
Depending on your Android version, you may also be able to reach its update page through:
Settings > Google > All services > System services > Google Play services
Install an update if Android offers one.
I would not clear Google Play services storage early in troubleshooting.
Google warns that clearing Play services data can remove information such as saved payment-related data and may require you to sign back into your Google Account and reauthenticate services.
If Google Play services itself is showing repeated crash messages, use my dedicated Google Play Services Keeps Stopping guide instead.
Check for a Google Play System Update
An Android OS update is not the only system update on the phone.
Google also distributes Google Play system updates, which can update important Android components separately from the main manufacturer firmware.
Search Settings for:
Google Play system update
or check under the device’s security/update section.
Install any pending update and restart the phone.
This is particularly worth checking when the phone has just received a major Android version but shared Google components are behaving inconsistently.
Make Sure Storage Is Not Nearly Full
Android and apps need working space for temporary files, databases, app updates, and background tasks.
Open:
Settings > Storage
If the phone is nearly full, free some space and restart.
Do not chase an arbitrary “keep exactly 5 GB free” rule. The amount Android needs depends on the device and what you are doing.
The more useful warning sign is a phone that is running at or extremely close to full capacity and cannot comfortably install updates or create temporary files.
Delete unused downloads, move large videos, remove apps you no longer use, or use your phone’s built-in storage recommendations.
Check Whether the Update Is Still Settling
A phone can run hot, feel slow, or behave unusually for a while after a large system update.
Android may be:
- optimizing apps;
- rebuilding indexes;
- updating Play Store apps;
- syncing accounts;
- processing photos;
- refreshing system components.
If the update completed only minutes ago, let the phone finish charging and background work, then restart it once and test again.
That does not excuse crashes that continue for days. It simply prevents unnecessary resets during the period immediately after a major update.
Test Safe Mode When the Crashes Are Widespread
Safe Mode temporarily disables downloaded apps and lets Android run mainly with system software.
It is useful when the phone became unstable after the update but you are not sure whether a third-party app is conflicting with the new Android version.
The exact method to enter Safe Mode varies by manufacturer.
Once in Safe Mode, test the parts of the phone that were crashing.
If the phone is stable in Safe Mode
A downloaded app is likely contributing to the problem.
Think about apps that interact deeply with Android, such as:
- launchers;
- antivirus or security tools;
- VPNs;
- accessibility utilities;
- screen filters;
- battery managers;
- automation apps;
- floating-window or overlay tools.
Uninstall or update suspicious apps one at a time.
If system apps still crash in Safe Mode
The issue is less likely to be caused by an ordinary downloaded app.
Focus on system updates, storage, Google components, or a manufacturer-specific bug.
My Android Safe Mode guide explains what Safe Mode tells you and how to return to normal mode afterward.
Install the Next Android Patch When One Is Available
Sometimes the update itself contains the bug.
Phone manufacturers frequently release follow-up maintenance updates after major Android releases.
Check:
Settings > System > Software update
or your manufacturer’s equivalent menu.
If a newer patch is available, read its notes when possible and install it.
This matters more when:
- many users with the same phone report the same crash;
- the affected apps worked normally before the Android update;
- app updates do not help;
- crashes continue even in Safe Mode;
- the manufacturer acknowledges the issue.
When a confirmed system bug is responsible, repeatedly clearing app data will not permanently repair it.
Do Not Reset App Preferences Just Because Apps Crash
Resetting app preferences is often included in generic Android troubleshooting lists, but it is not an especially targeted response to post-update crashes.
It can re-enable disabled apps and reset permissions, notification settings, background restrictions, and default-app choices.
That may be useful when those settings are the actual problem.
It is much less useful when the crash is caused by:
- an incompatible app build;
- WebView;
- Google Play services;
- a full storage volume;
- an Android update bug.
Use it only when there is evidence that app-level defaults or permissions were changed incorrectly.
A Factory Reset Should Be the Final Software Test
I would not factory-reset a phone just because apps began crashing after an update.
Consider it only when:
- many unrelated apps continue crashing;
- the phone is unstable even in Safe Mode;
- all available Android, Google Play system, and app updates are installed;
- storage is healthy;
- the manufacturer has no known fix;
- the phone remains unusable.
Back up photos, messages, authenticator recovery information, files, and anything else you cannot replace.
After the reset, test the phone before restoring every app immediately. If stability returns on a clean setup and crashes begin again after restoring a particular app, you have learned more than a blind reset would tell you.
If crashes continue on a clean system, the problem may be a firmware bug or hardware issue that needs manufacturer support.
