Start with the quick iPhone steps below in order.
Before you begin: note which app crashes, when it happens, and whether it’s only on Wi‑Fi or only on cellular. That detail helps you avoid random “reset everything” moves.
1. Force close the crashing app (and restart your iPhone)
Crashes that repeat after sleep/wake or after switching apps are often fixed by a clean restart.
- Force close the app: swipe up from the bottom (or double‑click Home), then swipe the app away.
- Restart iPhone: power off normally, wait 20 seconds, then power back on.
- Open the app again and try the same action that caused the crash.
If the crash only happens after the app has been open “for a while,” a restart is more likely to help than toggling settings.
2. Update iOS and the app (even if you updated recently)
Apple app crashes are frequently tied to a known iOS bug that gets patched quietly in point releases.
- Update iOS: Settings > General > Software Update.
- Update apps: App Store > your profile icon > Update All.
- If the crashing app is an Apple app (like Maps), iOS updates matter most.
After updating, restart once more. It sounds redundant, but it helps confirm the update “took.”
3. Check storage pressure (low space can cause repeated crashes)
When iPhone storage is very low, iOS may terminate apps aggressively, which looks like random crashing—especially in Mail, Photos, and Safari.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- If you’re under ~2–3 GB free, free space by removing offline downloads, large attachments, or unused apps.
- Prefer Offload App (keeps documents/data) over deleting when possible.
If the crash happens while searching, attaching files, or loading heavy content, storage is a prime suspect.
4. Disable VPN/ad blockers temporarily (and test on a different network)
Apple services can crash or fail in ways that look like app instability when network traffic is filtered or interrupted.
- If you use a VPN, turn it off temporarily and retest.
- If you use content blockers (especially affecting Safari), disable them briefly to test.
- Try switching networks: Wi‑Fi to cellular, or a different Wi‑Fi network.
What you’re looking for: does the crash only happen on one network? If yes, it’s likely network filtering, DNS, or captive portal issues.
5. Reset the app’s related permissions (without deleting everything)
If an app crashes right when it tries to access Photos, Location, Microphone, or Contacts, a permission handshake may be failing.
- Settings > Privacy & Security > choose the permission type (Photos, Location Services, etc.).
- Find the app and set it to Ask Next Time (or toggle off/on), then open the app and grant again.
- For Apple apps specifically, you can also check Settings > the app name (e.g., Settings > Maps).
If the crashing app is Mail and it happens during account refresh, skip to the next step.
6. If Mail or App Store is crashing: refresh Apple account + time settings
Sign-in and sync components can fail if time, network, or Apple ID session tokens get out of sync.
- Set time automatically: Settings > General > Date & Time > Set Automatically.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds, then off.
- Check Apple ID status: Settings > your name at the top. If you see prompts to re‑enter a password, do that.
Avoid signing out of Apple ID as a first move. It can trigger extra verification steps and doesn’t usually fix simple crash loops.
7. Mobile-first “last resort” before desktops: reinstall the specific non-Apple app
If the crashing app is a third‑party app (but uses Apple sign-in, Apple Pay, or iCloud), reinstalling can clear corrupted caches without touching the rest of your phone.
- Delete the app, restart iPhone, then reinstall from the App Store.
- If the app stores important local data, check whether it’s backed up/synced before deleting.
If the crashing app is an Apple built‑in app, reinstalling isn’t always available—move to desktop checks.
8. Desktop checks (Mac): verify Apple services and your Apple ID session
This is the “confirm the system is healthy” part. It’s especially useful if multiple Apple apps crash, or if the crash seems tied to sign-in/sync.
- Check Apple System Status on a Mac (search “Apple System Status”) and look for outages affecting iCloud, App Store, Apple ID, or specific services.
- On Mac: System Settings > Apple Account and confirm there are no pending security prompts.
- If you recently changed your Apple ID password, make sure your iPhone has accepted the new session (Settings > your name).
If there’s an outage, the best “fix” is often waiting—repeated retries can make apps feel even less stable.
9. Desktop checks (Mac): confirm network/DNS isn’t the hidden cause
If crashes or freezes happen during loading screens (Maps tiles, App Store pages, iCloud sync), it may be your network path—not the app.
- On Mac, try the same service on the same Wi‑Fi (App Store, iCloud.com).
- If it fails on Mac too, reboot the router and consider temporarily switching DNS (or disable custom DNS/ad-blocking at the router level).
- If it works fine on Mac but not iPhone, return to iPhone network settings.
If you suspect it’s iPhone-only network corruption: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings (this removes saved Wi‑Fi passwords).
Final thoughts
Most repeat crash loops on iPhone are fixed by a restart, an iOS update, and freeing enough storage for iOS to breathe.
If multiple Apple apps crash and the issue seems tied to sign-in or syncing, checking service status and your Apple ID session from a Mac can save you from unnecessary resets.