lekker
Level 1 (8 points)
iCloud

Q: Some apps won't open or just open then immedialy disappear

This is for an iPhone 4, 13.5 GB, version 7.1.2, using iTunes 12.2.1.16 (although the problems have happened with some earlier versions of iTunes).

 

For some months, some apps won't open or else open then immediately close down, yet if I double tap the bottom button on the phone, it indicates that the apps are running even though I can't access/use them. I've tried rebooting many times, but it does not help. I do not use many apps (only 2 screens that include the basic apps plus some others I downloaded).

 

Another problem (possibly related) is that the storage always displays in red, even though I don't have a lot of email, photos or video on the phone. My partner has the same phone with a lot more data (photos and video), yet all his apps work, his storage indicator is green and indicates he has a lot of storage space left.

 

Someone suggested I restore the phone. If I have to resort to this, how is it done, and what will happen? I heard that all my settings will be change to factory settings, so I'd prefer to avoid this.

 

Thanks for any tips.

Windows 7

Posted on Aug 13, 2015 11:02 AM

by Demo,Solvedanswer
Demo Demo
Level 10 (95,665 points)
iPad
A:

I Read recently that closing apps the way that you described actually uses resources and battery power needlessly. Having said that, I close apps that way on occasion myself. This should give some insight about multitasking.

Understand multitasking and background activity on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

 

Thanks for cleaning up the red bar issue question. You can connect your phone to iTunes in order to see where the storage is used as well. You can also go to Settings>General>Usage>Storage>Manage Storage and see what each app is suing in terms of device space.

 

You do not have to purchase apps again if you delete and then download them again. You have to use the same Apple ID that you used to purchase them and the apps must still be available in the App Store or you will not be able to download them again. Sometimes developers pull apps or Apple will pull them and while that is pretty rare, it happens. That is why backing up to iCloud or transferring purchases into iTunes on your computer is a good idea.

Redownload or transfer your iTunes Store purchases from an iPhone, iPad or iPod to a computer - Apple Support

.

 

WHen you delete an app you also delete all of the data in the app so that is why backing up the iPhone is a good idea before you delete the apps. The article about restoring to factory settings has a link in it that will take you to an article explaining backups.

Posted on Aug 13, 2015 3:28 PM

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lekker

Q: Some apps won't open or just open then immedialy disappear

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Demo,Helpful

    Demo Demo Aug 13, 2015 11:51 AM in response to lekker
    Level 10 (95,665 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2015 11:51 AM in response to lekker

    lekker wrote:

     

    For some months, some apps won't open or else open then immediately close down, yet if I double tap the bottom button on the phone, it indicates that the apps are running even though I can't access/use them.

    When you see the apps in the multitasking display (double tapping the home button) that merely indicates that they were launched or recently used. It doesn't mean that they are running.

     

    Another problem (possibly related) is that the storage always displays in red, even though I don't have a lot of email, photos or video on the phone. My partner has the same phone with a lot more data (photos and video), yet all his apps work, his storage indicator is green and indicates he has a lot of storage space left.

    Where are you seeing this storage indicator in red? I'm unfamiliar with that on the phone.

     

    Someone suggested I restore the phone. If I have to resort to this, how is it done, and what will happen? I heard that all my settings will be change to factory settings, so I'd prefer to avoid this.

    Have you tried any of the troubleshooting steps here for third party apps? It's pretty basis stuff, but some of it might help.

    If an app you installed unexpectedly quits, stops responding, or won’t open - Apple Support

     

    Restoring your phone to factory settings would involve taking a backup first so that after you restore to factory settings, you can restore the backup and everything should still be on your phone - as long as you do it correctly. Take a look at this first.

    Use iTunes to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

  • by lekker,

    lekker lekker Aug 13, 2015 12:08 PM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 13, 2015 12:08 PM in response to Demo

    When you see the apps in the multitasking display (double tapping the home button) that merely indicates that they were launched or recently used. It doesn't mean that they are running.

    Someone once told me that if apps display in the multitasking display, this means they are running in the background and are using up data. Is this correct?  I was advised to always close down apps that aren't being used, to save data use so have been doing this by swiping up on each open app.

     

    Where are you seeing this storage indicator in red?

    Sorry that I wasn't clear about this. It's the level of internal storage, accessible when connecting the phone to a computer USB drive, then clicking on "Open device to view files," there is an indicator of how many GB have been used and how many are free on the phone.

     

    Have you tried any of the troubleshooting steps here for third party apps? It's pretty basis stuff, but some of it might help.

    If an app you installed unexpectedly quits, stops responding, or won’t open - Apple Support

    I have not yet tried to delete and reinstall the apps. If I do that with an app I purchased, will I be able to re-download it without having to purchase it again (when logged in, of course)?

     

    Appreciate the link to info about restoring the phone. I may try that as a last resort.

     

    Thanks!

  • by Demo,Solvedanswer

    Demo Demo Aug 13, 2015 3:28 PM in response to lekker
    Level 10 (95,665 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2015 3:28 PM in response to lekker

    I Read recently that closing apps the way that you described actually uses resources and battery power needlessly. Having said that, I close apps that way on occasion myself. This should give some insight about multitasking.

    Understand multitasking and background activity on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

     

    Thanks for cleaning up the red bar issue question. You can connect your phone to iTunes in order to see where the storage is used as well. You can also go to Settings>General>Usage>Storage>Manage Storage and see what each app is suing in terms of device space.

     

    You do not have to purchase apps again if you delete and then download them again. You have to use the same Apple ID that you used to purchase them and the apps must still be available in the App Store or you will not be able to download them again. Sometimes developers pull apps or Apple will pull them and while that is pretty rare, it happens. That is why backing up to iCloud or transferring purchases into iTunes on your computer is a good idea.

    Redownload or transfer your iTunes Store purchases from an iPhone, iPad or iPod to a computer - Apple Support

    .

     

    WHen you delete an app you also delete all of the data in the app so that is why backing up the iPhone is a good idea before you delete the apps. The article about restoring to factory settings has a link in it that will take you to an article explaining backups.

  • by lekker,

    lekker lekker Aug 13, 2015 6:42 PM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 13, 2015 6:42 PM in response to Demo

    Thanks for the useful info and tips!