An app that crashes on a Galaxy S20 does so for three main reasons: the app has outgrown the phone, the phone is short of memory or storage, or something in the app's data is corrupt. The S20 is a 2020 phone on its final software, so a growing number of apps now expect a newer Android and fail on it. Check first whether one app crashes or many do. If only one does, open the Play Store and look for an update, because developers often fix crashes within days;
The checks in more detail
if the app has no update and the Play Store says it is not compatible with your device, it is time to use the website or another app. Open Settings, Apps, choose the app, Storage and tap Clear cache, then, if it still crashes, Clear data, which resets the app and signs you out, so check that your information is backed up. If many apps crash, memory or storage is the likelier cause. The S20 has 8 or 12 gigabytes of memory, and several heavy apps running in the background push it.
Close apps from the recents screen and restart the phone. Check free storage in Settings, Battery and device care, Storage, because a phone with very little free space cannot run apps reliably; clear media and caches until a few gigabytes are free. Update Android System WebView and Chrome from the Play Store, since many app crashes come from an outdated WebView, and update Google Play services. Safe mode helps to find a culprit. Hold the power and volume down buttons, touch and hold Power off and choose Safe mode; if the crashes stop, a downloaded app is the cause, so uninstall recent ones.
A cache partition wipe from the recovery menu, found by turning the phone off and holding Volume up and Power, can clear the leftovers of the final update. A factory reset after a full backup is the last resort. If a banking or work app refuses to run, check whether it needs a newer Android than the S20 can have; the maker will say which models it supports. If everything crashes after a reset, the phone's storage may be failing, so talk to Samsung.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy S20 family app keeps crashing, freezing or will not open”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An app that needs a newer Android
What separates it It crashes or says it is not compatible
How to confirm Update it or use the website
- 2
A corrupt app cache
What separates it One app crashes at launch
How to confirm Clear cache, then data
- 3
Low memory or storage
What separates it Many apps crash
How to confirm Close apps, restart and free storage
- 4
An old WebView or Play services
What separates it Apps crash on web content
How to confirm Update them in the Play Store
- 5
A leftover cache from the last update
What separates it Odd behavior after updating
How to confirm Wipe the cache partition
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which apps crash
- Whether Safe mode stops it
- The free storage
- The Android version
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedUpdate the app
ReversibleAnd WebView.
Clear the app's cache
ReversibleThen data.
Free storage
ReversibleSeveral gigabytes.
Try Safe mode
ReversibleTo find a culprit.
Wipe the cache partition
ReversibleFrom recovery.
Back up and reset
ReversibleAs a last step.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Final software
- The S20 will not get newer Android versions.
- WebView
- An old one causes crashes.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If every app crashes after a factory reset, the phone may be failing
- !If an app no longer supports the S20, use another app
- !Back up first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why do apps crash on my S20?+
They may need a newer Android, or memory is short.
What does Safe mode show?+
Whether a downloaded app is the cause.
Is the S20 still supported?+
It is on its final software.
Will clearing data erase my files?+
It resets the app and can erase local data.