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Why Does My Phone Keep Freezing?

Your iPhone or Android is a mini computer; all kinds of geeky problems can occur

By Andy Wolber Andy Wolber Freelance Contributor Southern Methodist University Spring Arbor University Andy Wolber is a former Lifewire writer who has been writing about technology for 15+ years. His focus is G Suite, iOS, and nonprofit sector apps. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 29, 2022 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

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Expand Jump to a Section What Causes a Phone to Freeze Step-by-Step: How to Fix It Frequently Asked Questions Like any computer, a smartphone may sometimes stop responding. An app or an operating system glitch may prevent your phone from working. A slow or disconnected internet connection can do the same.

What Causes a Phone to Freeze

There are several reasons why an iPhone, Android, or another smartphone might freeze. The culprit may be a slow processor, insufficient memory, or a lack of storage space. There may be a glitch or a problem with the software or a particular app. Often, the cause will reveal itself with the corresponding fix. Other times, a basic troubleshooting step may fix the problem without revealing the cause.

How to Fix a Frozen Phone

Follow these steps, in order, to get your smartphone working properly again. Reboot the iPhone or Android. As with most electronic devices, the first troubleshooting step is to turn the device off and on. Your phone is no different. A restart or reboot may resolve a number of problems. Update iOS or Android. A flaw in the system software can cause sporadic and unpredictable problems. Updating to the current version of iOS or Android resolves any systemic problems identified by the developers. Update iOS or Android apps. A bug in an app can affect a device's available memory or performance. The best software developers maintain their software and publish periodic updates. Configure your iPhone to automatically check for app updates or update apps on your Android smartphone. Force the iOS or Android app to close. This procedure works when an app is stuck in an unusable state—you tap it, and it doesn't open or doesn't respond. Much like on a computer, forcing an app to close stops the app so you can start it again. On iOS, you shouldn't need to quit apps often. iOS pays attention to which apps should be running and stops apps that don't require as much of the device's resources. Use Android storage manager or free up your iPhone's storage space by deleting apps, photos, or videos. Store videos and photos somewhere other than on the device. Videos take up the most storage space. A lack of storage space can cause a phone to pause or appear to stop working, while full (or almost full) storage may slow the device. Delete problem iOS or Android apps. If the phone frequently freezes after you open an app, remove the app. Some apps are flawed or prone to crashes. Reset the iPhone or Android device. If you tried all the above steps and your phone still freezes, reset the device. After a reset, go through the standard setup process, like you did when you first got the phone. On both iOS and Android, you can restore from a previously made backup. Back up the phone before you perform a reset. Backing up on an Android is fairly straightforward and can be done in several ways. On iOS, the process involves either backing up to iTunes or using iCloud. Visit a licensed repair facility. If you tried all the above steps and your phone still freezes, seek a specialist to figure out if there's a hardware problem with the device. If you have an iPhone, take the device to an Apple store or contact Apple Support. If you have an Android device, contact either the phone manufacturer or contact your carrier for support. FAQ Why is my phone lagging? If your phone is slow, it could be due to a bad data or Wi-Fi connection, out-of-date software, power-hungry apps, or low storage space. How do I close a frozen Android app? To close a frozen Android app, reboot your device. If that doesn't work, force the Google Play Store to close.
Why does YouTube keep freezing on my phone? If YouTube isn't working, force close the app and then restart it, reboot your device, and check your network connection. Higher resolution videos require faster internet speeds. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire 10 Ways to Speed Up a Phone That's Running Too Slowly How to Fix It When 'Move to iOS' Isn't Working How to Fix It When Facebook Keeps Crashing How to Clear Your iPhone Cache How to Fix It When Snapchat Is Not Working on an iPhone How to Delete Apps From Your iPhone 8 Solutions for When Your iPhone Says No SIM 8 Ways to Fix It When an iPhone Speaker Is Not Working How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Any Phone How to Fix It When Mobile Data Is Not Working How to Fix It When Your iPhone Microphone Isn't Working How to Fix It When Discovery Plus Is Not Working How to Fix It When WhatsApp Images and Videos Are Not Showing in Gallery How to Set Up a New Android From an Old Phone How to Fix a Missing AirPlay Icon on iPhone and Mac How to Fix It When an Android Tablet Is Running Slow or Freezing Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies