You tap an app and Android immediately shows "[App name] keeps stopping" with only "App info" and "Close app" buttons. Unlike a random crash, this dialog means Android itself terminated the app — usually because its saved data is corrupted or the system is killing it. Here's how to fix the "app keeps stopping" error on Android, step by step.
Quick Answer: Seeing "app keeps stopping" on Android? Force-stop the app and clear its cache: Settings → Apps → [the app] → Force Stop, then Storage → Clear Cache. If the dialog keeps appearing, update the app and your Android version. Works for Google apps and third-party apps alike.
In This Guide:
Why Does "App Keeps Stopping" Appear?
- Corrupted app data — the app's saved state is damaged, so it fails every launch.
- Aggressive battery optimization — the system kills the app in the background and it can't restart properly.
- Outdated app or system bug — a known issue fixed in a newer version.
- Conflicting third-party app — another app (often cleaners, "boosters," or VPNs) interferes.
- Corrupted system cache — rare, but the system cache partition can cause repeated stops.
Fix 1: Clear the App's Cache
Tap App info on the error dialog (or go to Settings → Apps → the app) → Storage & cache → Clear cache. Then reopen the app. This resolves the issue when temporary files are the culprit — and it's completely safe.
Fix 2: Clear the App's Data
If cache-clearing doesn't help, go back to Storage & cache → Clear data (may be called "Clear storage"). Warning: this erases the app's settings and logs you out — treat it like a fresh install. For the "keeps stopping" dialog specifically, this is the most effective fix.
Fix 3: Turn Off Battery Optimization for the App
On many phones (especially Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Samsung), battery savers kill apps aggressively:
- Go to Settings → Apps → tap the app → Battery.
- Set it to Unrestricted (or "Don't optimize").
- On Xiaomi/Oppo/Vivo, also check Autostart permission and enable it for the app, and "lock" the app in the recent-apps screen so the system doesn't swipe-kill it.
Fix 4: Update the App and Your System
Open the Play Store → profile → Manage apps & device → Updates available and update the app. Then check Settings → System → System update for an OS update. "Keeps stopping" loops are sometimes caused by a system-level bug patched in a newer release.
Fix 5: Uninstall and Reinstall
Long-press the app icon → Uninstall, restart the phone, then reinstall from the Play Store. This replaces every app file, including ones that cache/data clearing can't reach.
Fix 6: Test in Safe Mode
Hold the power button → long-press Power off → tap Safe mode. If the app opens fine in Safe Mode, a third-party app is the troublemaker — recently installed "cleaner," antivirus, or VPN apps are the usual suspects. Uninstall them one by one.
Fix 7: Wipe the Cache Partition
If several apps keep stopping, the system cache may be corrupt:
- Power off the phone completely.
- Hold Power + Volume Up until the recovery menu appears.
- Use volume keys to select "Wipe cache partition" → confirm with Power.
- Select "Reboot system now".
This deletes no personal data — only temporary system files.
Battery and app-info menus are named differently across brands (Samsung calls it "Battery → Unrestricted," Pixel says "App battery usage → Unrestricted," Xiaomi buries it under "Battery saver" per-app settings), but the option exists on all Android 9+ phones.
What If Nothing Works?
- Report to the developer via the Play Store listing → Developer contact. Mention your phone model, Android version, and that you see the "keeps stopping" dialog.
- Check for a known issue: search the app's name plus "keeps stopping" — if thousands report it after the same update, only a developer hotfix will solve it.
- Last resort — factory reset: back up via Settings → System → Backup, then Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data.
Covers Android 10 through 14. Fixes 2 and 3 solve most "keeps stopping" cases.
Related guide: How to Fix an App That Keeps Crashing on Android
Watch: "App Keeps Stopping" Fixed Step by Step
Prefer a walkthrough? This video covers fixing apps that keep crashing or stopping on Android step by step:
Video by Lifefacts Hacks — full credit to the creator.
Related Guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my app keep stopping?
Repeated crashes trigger Android's "keep stopping" dialog. Root causes are the same as regular crashes: corrupted cache or data, an outdated app, or a bug in the current Android version.
Is "keeps stopping" different from crashing?
Not really — it is Android's way of telling you an app crashed multiple times in a row. The fixes are identical.
Will force stop delete anything?
No. Force Stop just halts the app's running processes. Your data, logins, and settings are untouched.
By Sameer Zehri | App Fix Guru Editor | Last updated: October 2026
