Top 15 Ways to Fix Apps Not Opening on iPhone

While the out-of-box Apple apps are good enough for the majority out there, the real treasure lies with the App Store app. But what’s the point of downloading hundreds of third-party apps when they fail to open on the iPhone in the first place? If you frequently face the same, read along to learn to fix apps not opening on your iPhone.

There are various reasons behind apps not opening on iPhone. Maybe the app is updating in the background, or you have reached the screen time limit for the app. Nevertheless, we will discuss all the scenarios and fix the issue for you.

Why Some Apps Are Not Working on My iPhone

Here are the top factors affecting apps performance and functionality on iPhone.

• Issues with network connection on iPhone.
• Lack of storage on iPhone.
• Outdated apps.
• Incorrect network settings on iPhone.
• Service-side issues on iPhone.
• Problems with beta builds.
• Incorrect date and time on iPhone.
• High temperatures on your iPhone.
• Screen time limit for specific apps.
• Outdated iOS build.
• Beta iOS software on iPhone.

How to Fix iPhone Apps Not Working

Apps not opening on iPhone can break your workflow. Let’s start with some of the basics and move to advanced tricks to fix the problem.

1. Restart iPhone

Rebooting is the first thing you can do to fix small iPhone issues such as iPhone not receiving calls, texts, or opening an app. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to the General menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and select Shut Down.

Step 4: Swipe the toggle, and your device will turn off completely.

After a couple of minutes, keep pressing the power key and turn on the iPhone.

2. Updating the Apps

There can be times when you try to update dozens of apps simultaneously on the iPhone. When you hit the Update All button in the App Store, all the apps in the update pipeline become inactive. If they are getting updated in the background, you can’t open the app on the iPhone.

You have no option but to wait for iOS to complete the update process in the background. In the meantime, you can connect your iPhone to a faster Wi-Fi connection and complete the update process quickly. You can also long-tap on an app and prioritize the download process for it.

3. Remove the App from Screen Time

With so many apps and games on iPhone, users often get addicted to them. Apple offers a Screen Time function to let you put a time limit to apps on iPhone and iPad.

If you have already used the daily time limit for a specific app on your iPhone, it greys out the app and you won’t be able to open it. You can either extend the time limit or remove apps or games from the Screen Time menu. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to the Screen Time menu.

Step 3: Select App Limits, and you can see the apps with a daily time limit.

Step 4: Go to each menu, and you can extend the time limit or tap on the Delete Limit option at the bottom.

4. Update App

Are you facing an issue with a specific app? If there is an update available to the app, you can go to the App Store and install the latest app build on the iPhone.

Try opening the app again on your iPhone.

5. Force Quit Apps from Background

Most users don’t force quit apps on iPhone. They keep the app open in the multitasking menu. You need to completely close the app from the multitasking menu and then reopen the app on your iPhone.

You can swipe up and hold from the bottom part for iPhone X and higher. That reveals the multitasking menu. Use a swipe-up gesture on the app card and remove the app from the background.

iPhone users with a home button can double-click on the home button and access the multitasking menu.

6. Offload App

Sometimes, a massive app size with lots of documents and data may interfere with an app on the iPhone. You need to offload the app from the Settings menu.

This will free up the storage used by the app but keep its documents and data. Reinstalling the app will reinstate the data.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > iPhone Storage menu.

Step 2: You will see a detailed breakdown of app data on the iPhone.

Step 3: Open the troubling app and select the Offload App option from the following menu.

7. Check iPhone Storage

If your iPhone runs low on device storage, you may face issues with opening apps. You can check which apps are consuming space on your phone and take the necessary steps.

Step 1: Open iPhone Storage in the General menu (check the steps above).

Step 2: Glance over a detailed storage breakdown.

You can delete unnecessary apps, media, and files from your phone. You can also check our dedicated post to free up space on iPhone without deleting apps.

8. Keep iPhone Temperatures in Check

iPhone temperatures can go abnormally high when you play games for several hours or record a long video. You may face issues with performing basic tasks when the device temperature is high. You need to wait for the device to cool down and try opening apps again.

9. Reinstall the App

You can reinstall the affected app and try opening it again.

Step 1: Long-tap on an app icon and select Remove App.

Step 2: Tap Delete App.

Head to the App Store and install the app again.

10. Don’t Install Beta App Builds

App developers test the upcoming updates with a small set of beta users. You can download such beta builds from the TestFlight app on iPhone. However, if a specific app is crashing due to a beta version, use the steps below to stop testing it on your Apple account.

Step 1: Open TestFlight on iPhone.

Step 2: Select an app. Tap Stop Testing from the following menu.

Now, delete the testing build and install the same app from the App Store.

11. Check App Outage

If app servers are down, you may face issues with opening it on your phone. You may face server-side issues on apps like Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, YouTube, and more. You can visit Downdetector and search for the service name. If the outage spikes are high, the app or service won’t load on your phone. You need to wait for the company to fix server-side problems and try again.

12. Reset All Settings

Incorrect settings on your iPhone may interfere with app functions. You have the option to reset all settings and try again.

Step 1: Open Settings on iPhone and scroll to General.

Step 2: Tap ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’.

Step 3: Tap Reset and select Reset All Settings.

13. Disable VPN

Some apps are region specific and may not work in other countries. When you activate a VPN connection on your iPhone, it changes the IP address and may create incompatibility with some apps. You should disable a VPN connection and try accessing apps without any issues.

14. Check the Date and Time

Incorrect date and time settings may mess up installed apps on iPhone. After all, some apps rely on date and time settings to showcase relevant content.

Step 1: Open Settings on iPhone and scroll to General.

Step 2: Tap Date & Time. Pick a relevant time zone or set it automatically.

15. Update iOS

Apps not opening on iPhone might be due to an outdated iOS build on the phone. You need to go to Settings > General and open the Software Update menu. Install the latest update on your iPhone and try opening apps again.

Access Apps on iPhone

At last, you can contact the app developer via email or social media and share your iPhone model with the iOS version. In most cases, you should be able to access apps on your iPhone. Which trick worked for you? Share your findings in the comments below.