Why does my music app keep closing Android?
It can be frustrating when music apps like Spotify or Apple Music unexpectedly close or crash on Android devices. This issue seems to be common and affects users across various Android devices and versions. When a music app closes unexpectedly, it interrupts the listening experience and any playlists or streams being played at that moment.
There are a few potential causes for music apps closing unexpectedly on Android. Insufficient storage, too many apps running simultaneously, compatibility issues, outdated software, and device overheating are some reasons an Android music app may crash or force close. Troubleshooting why the app closes and how to prevent crashes can help provide a seamless music listening experience.
Possible Causes
There are several common reasons why a music app may keep crashing on an Android device:
Insufficient Device Storage
If your Android is low on storage space, it may not have enough room for the music app to run properly, leading to frequent crashes. Try freeing up space by deleting unused apps, photos, videos, and other files. Most experts recommend having at least 500MB of free space on your device for apps to function smoothly.
Too Many Apps Running
Having many apps open and running in the background can drain your device’s RAM (memory), causing the music app to crash or freeze. Try closing out of apps you aren’t using to free up RAM and prevent the music player from crashing.
App Compatibility Issues
Sometimes a music app may not be fully compatible with your specific Android OS version or device model. Check with the app developer to see if your Android version is supported. If not, you may need to uninstall updates and revert to the original version of the app that is compatible.
Outdated App/OS
An outdated music app that hasn’t been updated for your version of Android can become unstable and crash frequently. Go to the Play Store and check for any available updates to the app. Also make sure your Android OS is updated to the latest version available for your device.
Overheating
Excessive processing demands from a music app can cause an Android device to overheat, leading to app crashes. Make sure to close any unneeded apps running in the background. Also try adjusting your device’s display brightness, turning off Bluetooth or WiFi when not needed, and cleaning out dust buildup in your device’s ports to prevent overheating.
Insufficient Storage
One of the most common reasons for apps crashing frequently on Android devices is insufficient storage space. When your device starts to run low on storage, it can cause instability and lead apps to crash or close unexpectedly 1. This happens because Android requires a certain amount of free space to run smoothly and manage all the apps and data on your device.
As you install more apps and save more files like photos, videos, and music, it eats into the free storage on your device. If storage falls below roughly 500MB on newer Android versions, you may start noticing performance issues and apps not working properly. With insufficient storage, the OS struggles to load app data and code from storage into memory when needed. This can cause errors, lag, freezing, and outright crashes.
Checking your free storage space and clearing unnecessary files can help. You may need to uninstall unused apps, delete old files you don’t need, or transfer photos/videos to cloud storage or a computer. Upgrading to a device with more internal storage may also resolve storage-related crashing if you use your device heavily for apps, media, and files.
Too Many Apps Running
Having too many apps open and running in the background can overload the phone’s CPU (central processing unit) and RAM (random access memory). Android only allocates a certain amount of resources for active apps. When you exceed that limit, the OS may start force closing apps to free up resources. This can lead to frequent crashes and lagging.
According to Samsung (1), it’s normal for devices to have 5-20 apps running in the background depending on how you use your phone. But heavy multitaskers with 30+ background apps will experience issues. Visit Settings > Device care (or Device maintenance) > Memory to view and close apps not in use. Only keep essential apps active.
App Compatibility Issues
One reason a music app may keep closing on Android is compatibility issues between the app and your device’s operating system. Android has frequent OS updates that can sometimes cause apps designed for older versions to crash or close unexpectedly on newer versions.
For example, if you are running Android 12 and have an app designed for Android 10, you may experience crashes or instability. This is because the app’s code is not optimized for the newer OS features and APIs in Android 12. Apps need to be updated by developers to support the latest Android OS.
You can check which Android OS version your device is running in the Settings app. Then check the app store listing or developer website to see if the app specifically says it supports your Android version. If not, it may need an update to become compatible.
According to this Samsung troubleshooting guide, app compatibility issues are one of the potential causes of problems with music apps on Galaxy devices.
Outdated App/OS
An outdated app or operating system version can frequently cause crashes on Android devices. As apps are updated, they may begin utilizing features only found in newer OS versions. Similarly, older OS versions may not have the proper frameworks to smoothly run the latest app updates. Using apps designed for newer platforms on an outdated OS leads to instability and crashing.
For example, if you are running Android 9 Pie but have the latest version of Spotify which requires Android 11, incompatibilities will likely occur leading to crashes. Updating to the latest OS version your device supports would resolve this mismatch. You can find your current Android version in Settings > About Phone.
Likewise, apps may not have been updated in awhile and still target old OS versions. Opening an app stuck on a years old version while your phone runs a modern OS can also create conflicts. Checking the app’s changelog and updating to the latest release can eliminate outdated code and crashing. If issues persist across multiple apps, updating your Android OS version may be the comprehensive solution.
According to https://www.lifewire.com/fix-when-apps-keep-crashing-on-android-5075435, “upgrading to the latest OS version can clear up instability and compatibility issues that lead to constant app crashes.”
Overheating
Overheating is a common cause of apps crashing or closing on Android devices. When the device gets too hot, Android will automatically close apps to try and cool the processor down. This is a safety mechanism to prevent damage to the hardware.
According to a post on the Android Central forums, overheating can cause an “application closed due to device overheating” message to appear before the app is shut down (Source). On Reddit, users report the S20 FE showing a similar warning before closing apps when overheated (Source).
When the CPU and other internal components get too hot, they can start to throttle performance and eventually shut down apps entirely to prevent damage. Apps that use more resources like games, streaming video, or music apps are often the first to be closed when overheating occurs.
Keeping the device cool, closing background apps, and avoiding resource intensive apps when temperatures are high can help prevent overheating app crashes.
Fixes
There are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix an app that keeps crashing on Android:
Free up storage
If your device is running low on storage space, it can cause apps to crash or freeze. Try deleting unused apps, photos, videos and files to free up internal storage. You may also want to move files to external SD card storage if available. Having at least 500MB of free space is recommended.
Close background apps
Too many apps running in the background can use up RAM and cause other apps to crash. Double tap the Recent Apps button to see what’s open, then swipe up to close any apps you don’t need. Restarting your device can also clear out any memory issues.
Update app and Android OS
Make sure you have the latest versions of the app and Android operating system. Developers often release updates to fix bugs and crashes. Go to the Play Store, tap the profile icon, then My Apps & Games to check for pending updates. You can also check for Android OS updates in Settings.
Reset app preferences
Resetting app preferences clears any corrupted data that could be causing crashes. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps, choose the app, tap Storage, then Clear Cache and Clear Data. Be aware this will delete any saved settings and login details too.
Factory reset device
As a last resort, doing a factory reset will wipe your device back to default settings, which should eliminate any software issues causing frequent crashes. Back up your data first, then go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data. You’ll have to reinstall apps and reset preferences afterwards.[1]
Prevent Crashes
There are some steps you can take to prevent your music app from crashing frequently on your Android device:
- Don’t overfill storage – Make sure you have adequate free storage space on your device. Overfilling storage can lead to performance issues and app crashes. Aim to keep at least 500MB of free space.
- Close unused background apps – Apps running in the background can use up RAM and resources leading to crashes. Periodically close out apps you aren’t using by swiping them away in the recents screen.
- Keep app and OS updated – Make sure you have the latest version of the music app and Android OS installed. Updates often fix bugs and improve stability.[1]
- Avoid overheating device – Overheating can cause apps to crash. Don’t leave your phone in direct sunlight and give it breaks during prolonged intensive use.
Following these tips should help minimize the frequency of your music app crashing.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several potential reasons why your music app may be closing unexpectedly on your Android device. The most common causes are insufficient storage space, too many apps running simultaneously, compatibility issues between the app and your Android OS version, an outdated app that needs updating, and device overheating.
To prevent music app crashes, try closing unused apps, clearing app cache and data, uninstalling and reinstalling the app, updating your OS, allowing the phone to cool down between music listening sessions, and upgrading to a device with more storage if needed. With some troubleshooting and preventative measures, you should be able to minimize unexpected music app shutdowns.
Overall, be mindful of your device’s storage capacity, operating temperature, and system resource demands. Proactively managing these factors can help provide a smooth, uninterrupted mobile music experience.