Introduction: My Apps Kept Crashing
A few weeks ago, I started noticing a very frustrating issue on my OnePlus Nord 3 running Android 13:
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Apps like Instagram, TikTok, and even Spotify kept crashing unexpectedly.
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Sometimes, they would freeze for a few seconds before closing automatically.
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Reinstalling apps temporarily helped, but crashes returned after a day or two.
At first, I thought my phone was defective, but after observing patterns, I realized the problem was software-related, not hardware. I decided to troubleshoot systematically to stop these crashes once and for all.
After testing several fixes, I found real solutions that permanently improved app stability without rooting my phone or factory resetting unnecessarily.
Step 1: Restart Your Phone
Many app crashes are caused by temporary system glitches.
Steps:
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Press and hold Power → Restart
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Reopen the problematic apps
For my Nord 3, a simple restart fixed minor glitches that caused apps to crash after long usage.
Step 2: Clear App Cache
Corrupted cache files can cause apps to freeze or crash.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Apps → See All Apps → [App Name] → Storage → Clear Cache
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Reopen the app
I noticed Instagram and TikTok worked smoothly again after clearing cache, especially apps that handle large media files.
Step 3: Update Apps
Outdated apps often contain bugs that lead to crashes.
Steps:
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Open Google Play Store → My Apps & Games → Update All
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Restart the apps after updating
After updating all apps, crashes became far less frequent on my Nord 3.
Step 4: Check Device Storage
Apps crash if the device is low on storage or RAM.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Storage
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Ensure at least 10–15% free space
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Delete old files or uninstall unused apps
After freeing up storage on my phone, apps ran more smoothly and stopped crashing mid-use.
Step 5: Update Android System
System updates often fix bugs that affect app stability.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → System → System Update → Download and Install
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Restart the phone after updating
After updating Android 13 to the latest patch on my OnePlus Nord 3, app stability improved significantly.
Step 6: Check for Conflicting Apps
Some apps can interfere with others, causing crashes.
Steps:
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Recall recently installed apps before crashes started
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Uninstall suspicious apps one by one
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Test app stability after each uninstall
I found that a recently installed optimization app was causing background conflicts with Instagram and TikTok. Removing it resolved repeated crashes.
Step 7: Clear System Cache (Optional)
Old system cache may affect app performance.
Steps:
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Turn off the phone
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Press Volume Up + Power to enter recovery
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Select Wipe Cache Partition → Reboot
Clearing system cache helped apps load faster and reduced freezing on my Nord 3.
Step 8: Reset App Preferences
Disabled apps or revoked permissions can make apps unstable.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Apps → Reset App Preferences
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Confirm the reset
This restored disabled services and permissions, allowing apps like Gmail and WhatsApp to function without crashing.
Step 9: Check Permissions
Apps need proper permissions to run correctly.
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Permissions
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Ensure necessary permissions like Storage, Camera, Microphone, or Location are granted
Granting proper permissions fixed crashes in apps that needed constant access to media or location.
Step 10: Uninstall and Reinstall Problematic Apps
If specific apps keep crashing, reinstalling can fix corrupt installations.
Steps:
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Backup any app data if needed
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Uninstall the app
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Reinstall from Google Play Store
For me, Spotify and TikTok stopped crashing permanently after reinstalling the latest versions.
Step 11: Avoid Beta or Unstable Versions
Beta apps or modded versions can be buggy.
Steps:
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Stick to the official version on Google Play Store
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Avoid APKs from untrusted sources
Switching back to official apps resolved crashes in a few third-party tools I had tested.
Step 12: Optional — Factory Reset
If apps still crash after all steps:
Steps:
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Backup important data
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Go to Settings → System → Reset Options → Factory Data Reset
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Restore apps and data carefully
This is a last resort, but it eliminates hidden software conflicts causing repeated crashes.
What Changed for Me
Before fixing:
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Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify would crash multiple times per day
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Media files failed to load properly
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Background freezing caused apps to stop unexpectedly
After applying these steps on OnePlus Nord 3, Android 13:
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Apps became stable and smooth
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Crashes dropped to nearly zero
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Media and streaming apps worked without interruptions
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No additional hardware changes were needed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do apps keep crashing?
Common causes include low storage, outdated apps, corrupted cache, conflicting apps, or system bugs.
2. Does clearing app cache help?
Yes. Corrupted cache is a major cause of app crashes.
3. Can permissions affect app stability?
Absolutely. Apps need proper permissions to run without errors.
4. Will updating Android system fix crashes?
Yes, system updates fix bugs affecting app performance and stability.
5. Is factory reset always necessary?
No. Most crashes are resolved by cache clearing, updates, and app management.
Wrap-Up
Apps crashing repeatedly can be annoying and disruptive, but most issues are software-related. On my OnePlus Nord 3, Android 13, the main causes were:
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Corrupted app or system cache
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Outdated apps or Android version
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Insufficient storage
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Conflicting apps or permissions
The solutions that fixed my apps:
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Restart phone and clear app cache
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Update apps and Android system
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Free up storage
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Reinstall problematic apps
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Reset app preferences and check permissions
After following these steps, apps on my OnePlus Nord 3 now run smoothly without crashes, allowing me to browse, stream, and use social media without interruptions.