How to Fix Apps Frozen on iPhone or iPad

Do your iPhone or iPad apps get stuck or frozen? Well, you are not alone out there. This is one of the most frustrating issues many users face with the Apple iPhone and iPad. If you are among those affected users, rest assured that we are here to help.

In this guide, we have gathered all possible fixes for the iPhone or iPad apps frozen issue. Before we begin, try updating your software to see if the issue is fixed. If the problem persists, keep reading to find out more about fixing apps frozen on iPhone or iPad.

How to Fix Apps Frozen on iPhone or iPad

Method 1: Force Close and Re-launch the app

Force closing an app can fix apps that get stuck or frozen on iPhone or iPad. A force close temporarily clears caches or network issues, thus fixing the issue. 

To force close an iPhone app, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen until you see the App Switcher. Select the app you wish to force close and swipe up on it. Once force-closed, re-launch the app and see if it’s working correctly. You repeat the process on your iPad. 

Method 2: Restart your iPhone or iPad

Another solution is to restart your iPhone or iPad. A restart should clear your device’s RAM and help fix unresponsive and crashing apps. The steps to restart an iPhone change depending on the model you use. 

On iPhone XR or newer, 

1. Press and hold the Side button and either Volume Up and Down until you see the slider screen.
2. Drag the slider to power off your device.
3. Wait for 30 seconds and turn your device back on. 

On iPhone SE 2020 or earlier

1. Press and hold the Side button on the right side of your device. Let go of it when you see the Slider.
2. Drag the slider to turn off your device.
3. Wait for 30 seconds and turn your device back on. 

On iPad with Face ID

1. Press and hold the Top button and either of the Volume buttons until you see the slider.
2. Drag the slider to turn it off.
3. Wait for 30 seconds and press and hold the Top button again. Keep it pressed until you see the Apple logo.

Method 3: Free Up Your Device’s Space

If your device runs out of internal space, your iPhone or iPad apps might stop working. If you have been using your device for a long time, it’s time to free up some space lost to heavy videos, photos, and photo files. 

Fortunately, iOS allows you to see how much storage space each app is using on your device. To check the storage on your iPhone, open Settings > General > You should see how much space you have used and got left. Now, you can make further decisions on how much space you need.

From here, you can remove photos and videos you no longer need or delete unnecessary iOS apps to free up storage space. 

• To clear Safari history and cookies on iPhone and iPad, open Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data > Confirm. 
• To turn off cookies in Safari, go to Settings > Safari > turn on the switch for Block All Cookies > Block All. 
• To delete played podcasts, go to Settings > Podcasts > Toggle on Remove Played Downloads.
• Turn on iCloud Photos and Offload Unused Apps: Go to Settings > General > IPhone Storage.

Method 4: Update Your Apps

If your apps are outdated, they may stop working. A new update should fix the issue. Updating an iPhone or iPad app is straightforward. Here are the steps:

• Go to the App Store and then hit the screen’s picture icon at the top right corner.
• Scroll down until you see a list of installed apps.
• Update your apps.

If your app keeps freezing, try deleting it and then reinstalling it. Doing so will give your app a fresh start, thus fixing the issue.

Method 5: Check Your Network

The next step is to check if your internet connection is stable. In fact, poor internet connection may cause your apps to stop working. Make sure you have enabled WiFi connection on your device. Try turning off WiFi and turning it back on if the connection is unstable.

Method 6: Reset Network Settings

If the above step did not help, consider resetting your network settings. This method helps fix many network-related issues on your iPhone. Here are the steps.

1. Go to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Reset and select Reset Network Settings.
3. Enter your passcode and follow the on-screen instructions to complete your action.