Using apps on a smartphone is one of the key reasons why these devices are so popular. Their primary function is still to stay in touch with others, but smartphones have much more to offer than flip phones did back in the day, thanks to all the available applications.
But what happens if you launch an app and it does not load or even crashes your device? Your initial reaction is to probably try again or restart the smartphone first. If the issue persists, though, you will need to look for solutions.
In some cases, the struggle is related to a specific application, while in other cases, it is the phone itself. The more potential solutions you know, the higher the odds of solving the problem.
Summary Content
Storage
Let’s start with storage. If there are only a few megabytes of free space left on your smartphone, expect to run into various technical difficulties, including the apps not functioning properly.
To clear up the device, you will need to do a lot of work and delete redundant files. In case you get rid of something you did not want to, be sure to have a backup plan. For instance, where do deleted messages go on iPhone devices, or where can I find saved files for mobile games or other apps that you use?
Once you have ample storage on the smartphone, you should notice an improvement in its performance, which hopefully leads to no problems with launching and running applications.
Lack of Memory
If the app you launch is known to have heavy memory demands, make sure that there are no background processes hogging RAM.
Go to the Settings and check what the state of the Random Access Memory on the device is, and make adjustments where necessary.
Compatibility
For those who have an outdated device, there is hardly anything you can do if you try to launch an application that requires specific hardware.
You could look for an older version of an app, but the official sources usually provide the latest version only. And going through emulators and other means to circumvent the drawback is often not worth it just to launch one app. So, in this case, you might have no other option but to upgrade your smartphone.
Corrupted Files
It is possible that while downloading an app, some of the files become corrupted. Incomplete installation means that you need to delete the app and redownload it again.
After the reinstallation (provided everything goes fine), you are less likely to experience problems.
Overheating
Smartphones are known to overheat, and if the device cannot keep up with the demands, then the temperature reaches a point where the phone restarts itself or shuts down to cool off the battery.
Poor maintenance leads to overheating issues, so you need to keep an eye on that. Launching a demanding app adds to the demands and hardly helps.
Poor Wi-Fi
The recent trend of requiring an internet connection to run applications is annoying, but you cannot really do anything as a consumer.
One can find an offline mode in some apps, but if it is not there, you are stuck without Wi-Fi. But what happens when you have a connection and still struggle to launch an app?
The odds are that the Wi-Fi signal is poor, leaving you in a loop where there are signs that the app should work but ultimately fails.
Check for third-party peripheral interference and other devices hogging the internet. Also, try to move closer to the router and see if that solves your problem.
Malware
Malware is known to cause all kinds of troubles on digital devices, and failure to launch apps on a smartphone is no exception.
Get an antivirus tool and scan the device for corrupted files. In some cases, you might even have to reset the smartphone to factory settings to give it a clean slate.
Updates
Missing an OS update or an update for the app itself is worth a shout as well. The latest version means benefiting from new features and performance upgrades.
It can be a hassle to download and install updates, but it should be one of the priorities if you want a device that is functioning with minimum or no-fault.
