On the Galaxy S25 the apps-keep-closing complaints cluster around two events: the move to One UI 7 and the One UI 8 update that arrived in December 2025. Owners in Samsung's Members forum describe apps that close the moment they open, and Samsung's own guidance is the same short list it gives for any phone: check free space, check memory, clear the app's cache, close background apps, remove third-party apps and switch off power saving. One owner of a different Galaxy model cleared the problem by wiping the cache partition from the recovery menu after One UI 8, and that is a step worth trying on an S25 before any reset because it keeps your data. If the failure is one app only, the app's update is the first fix.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy S25 app keeps crashing, freezing or will not open”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An app version written for the older One UI
What separates it The app began closing after the One UI 8 update
How to confirm Update it in the Play Store or Galaxy Store, then restart
- 2
A cache left behind by the update
What separates it Several apps fail at launch after the upgrade
How to confirm Switch off, hold volume up and the power key into Recovery and choose Wipe cache partition; your files stay
- 3
An app's own cache
What separates it One app closes at once and others are fine
How to confirm Settings, Apps, the app, Storage, Clear cache
- 4
Power saving or Sleeping apps
What separates it The app closes seconds after you leave it
How to confirm Settings, Battery, switch off Power saving and remove the app from Sleeping apps
- 5
Low free space
What separates it Gallery cannot save photos and apps close together
How to confirm Settings, Battery and device care, Storage; clear a tenth of the space
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The name of the app and its version in the Play Store
- Whether it began after the December 2025 One UI 8 update
- Whether one app or many apps close
- Free storage under Device care
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedUpdate the app and the phone
ReversibleUpdate the app in the Play Store or Galaxy Store and install the newest One UI patch under Software update.
Clear the app's cache
ReversibleSettings, Apps, choose the app, Storage, Clear cache, then open it again.
Wipe the cache partition
ReversibleSwitch off, hold volume up and the power key to reach Recovery and choose Wipe cache partition. It clears system caches left by the One UI 8 upgrade and keeps your files.
Free storage and memory
ReversibleSettings, Battery and device care, Storage and Memory: close background apps and clear space.
Test in Safe mode
ReversibleHold the power key, Power off, Safe mode; if apps are stable there, remove recent installs one at a time.
Report it to Samsung
ReversibleSamsung Members, Get help, Error report; Samsung asks for logs to help with One UI problems.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- A pattern with updates
- Samsung updates install over the old system, so caches built for the previous version can conflict with the new one; wiping the cache partition rebuilds them.
- Reporting
- Samsung asks for an error report through Samsung Members with logs for One UI problems, which helps them find a fix.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If every app closes in Safe mode and after a cache partition wipe, back up and book Samsung service
- !If one app fails, report it to the developer with the S25's model SM-S931U and its One UI version
- !If Samsung Members has a known issue notice for the update, wait for the patch
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Samsung's app crash checklist.
S25 owners describing app problems after the December 2025 update.
Cache, updates, storage and background checks for an S25.
Per-model battery, charging, chip, display, glass and storage for the S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why do apps close on my S25 after One UI 8?+
Owners describe apps closing at launch after the December 2025 update. Updating the app, clearing its cache and wiping the cache partition are the steps reported to help.
Does wiping the cache partition delete my photos?+
No. It clears system caches only; your files and apps stay.
What does Samsung say to try first?+
Check free space and memory, clear the app's cache, close background apps, remove third-party apps and switch off power saving.
When should I factory reset the S25?+
Only after the steps above fail and you have a full backup.
app crashing: model differences
Also covered: Samsung Galaxy S23 family; Samsung Galaxy S22 family; Samsung Galaxy S21 family; Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra family.