On the whole, iOS apps are very reliable. But, from time to time you might experience one that freezes or just generally gets itself into a bit of a lather. So, what can you do to fix it and get things back to normal? We show you a few different methods that can bring unruly apps to heel.
If your problem is iTunes or iCloud related then you might want to also read our How to fix ‘iPhone is disabled. Connect to iTunes’ error messages or How to fix an iPhone that keep asking for Apple ID & iCloud password guides.
Try rebooting the app
The quickest way to usually cure an app of most ills is to shut it down and launch it again. On all iPhones, with the exception of the new iPhone X, this is done by quickly pressing the Home button twice to bring up all the recently used apps.
Scroll until you find the problematic app, then swipe up on it until it disappears.
Those with an iPhone X need to swipe up the Home Indicator bar from the bottom of the screen, then keep holding onto it until the app switcher menu appears, as outlined in our How to use the iPhone X guide. Now you’re free to dismiss the app as normal.
Relaunch the app and see if this has done the trick.
Reboot your iPhone
Sometimes a problem can be down to some kind of hiccup in the app or operating system that simply needs a quick reboot to correct.
As we’re sure you already know, hold down the power button on your device until the ‘Slide to power off’ option appears, then do exactly that.
Once your iPhone is fully turned off, hold the power button down again until you see the Apple logo appear. When the device reboots you should hopefully have no more issues.
Update to the latest version of the app
Apps can run into problems due to coding errors, or not being fully compatible with the newest iOS update. If you’re struggling with performance on an app it’s always worth checking that you are running the latest version.
Tap the App Store icon on your iPhone and then look for the Updates section in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap this, and then download any updates that are available.
Launch the app again and see if this has solved the problem.
Download a fresh version of the app
If you’ve tried all of the methods outlined above but had no joy, it could be worth deleting the app entirely and downloading it again from the App Store. Maybe the app has become corrupted in some way, and if this is the case a fresh version is your best option.
On your Home screen tap and hold the app icon (be sure not to press down if you have a 3D Touch-capable device) until they all start to wiggle. Tap on the X in the upper corner of the app giving you grief and it will be deleted.
Now, head back to the App Store and download it again. With a little luck this should have you back to normal.
Report the problem to the developers
Should all of these approaches prove ineffective, then there might be a problem with the app that can only be fixed by its creators.
To report the problem, go to the App Store and find the app. Tap on it, then select Reviews from the three options under the main icon.
Just above the customer reviews section you’ll see the option App Support. Tap this and you’ll be able to send the developers details of your complaint.
True, it won’t solve your immediate issue, but it should ensure that the problem is brought to their attention and the error can be put right.
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.