How to Fix the Gemini App Crashing on Android and iPhone (2026)

Nothing is more annoying than an app that closes the second you open it. If the Gemini app keeps crashing on your Android phone or iPhone, you are not alone — app crashes are one of the most common Gemini complaints. The good news is that most crashes have a simple cause: a buggy update, a corrupt cache file, or a phone running low on memory. Work through the fixes below in order, and test the app after each one.

Before you start, one quick check saves a lot of wasted effort. If Gemini is not working at all right now — not just crashing, but failing everywhere including the website — the problem may be on Google’s side. Our guide to Gemini not working explains how to check Google’s status page first. If the website works fine and only the app crashes, the problem is on your phone, and the steps below apply.

1. Force Close and Reopen the App

Start with the simplest fix. A crash often leaves the app in a broken state in memory, and reopening it normally just resumes that broken state.

On Android, open the recent apps screen and swipe Gemini away. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom (or double-press the Home button on older models) and swipe the Gemini card away. Wait a few seconds, then open the app fresh. If it crashes again right away, move on — but do not skip this step, because it rules out a one-time glitch.

2. Restart Your Phone

A restart clears temporary system files and frees up memory that other apps have been holding. It fixes a surprising number of crashes, especially if your phone has been running for days without a reboot.

Power the phone fully off, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Open Gemini before opening anything else, so you can tell whether the crash is about Gemini or about memory pressure from other apps.

3. Update the Gemini App and the Google App

On Android, Gemini depends on the main Google app as well as its own app, so update both. Open the Play Store, search for Gemini, and tap Update if one is available. Then do the same for the Google app. On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and check for a Gemini update under available updates.

Google ships crash fixes in app updates regularly — for example, a June 2026 update fixed a widely reported calling bug. If your app version is even a few weeks old, an update is the most likely fix. Turn on automatic updates afterwards so you do not fall behind again.

4. Check Your Phone Meets the Requirements

Gemini needs a reasonably current phone. On Android, the app requires Android 9 or later with at least 2 GB of RAM, and it does not run on Android Go edition phones or inside a work profile. On iPhone, the app requires iOS 18.2 or later.

If your phone is below these minimums, the app may crash on launch no matter what you try. In that case, use Gemini in your phone’s browser at gemini.google.com instead — the website needs no app at all and works on older devices.

5. Clear the App Cache (Android)

Cached files speed the app up, but a corrupt cache file is a classic crash cause. Clearing the cache is safe: it deletes temporary files, not your chats or your account.

Go to Settings, then Apps, then Gemini, then Storage, and tap Clear Cache. Do not tap Clear Data yet — that signs you out and deletes local settings, and it is a later step. Reopen the app and test it. If it still crashes, also clear the cache of the Google app the same way, since Gemini leans on it.

On iPhone there is no cache-clearing button. Instead, offload the app: go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage, tap Gemini, and choose Offload App. This removes the app but keeps your data. Then tap Reinstall App.

6. Free Up Storage and Memory

Apps crash when the phone runs out of room to work. If your storage is nearly full, Gemini may not be able to save temporary files, and it closes instead.

Check your free space in Settings. If you have less than about 1 GB free, delete unused apps, old videos, or downloaded files until you have breathing room. Also close apps running in the background before opening Gemini, especially heavy ones like games or video editors.

7. Turn Off Your VPN and Check Your Connection

A VPN can interfere with how Gemini reaches Google’s servers, and a weak or switching connection can crash the app mid-response. Turn off any VPN, then test Gemini on Wi-Fi. If it works on Wi-Fi but crashes on mobile data (or the other way round), the connection is part of the problem, not the app itself.

Try toggling airplane mode on for ten seconds and then off again. That forces the phone to reconnect cleanly, which fixes crashes tied to a stuck network session.

8. Sign Out and Back In

An expired or half-broken sign-in session can crash the app at launch. In the Gemini app, open your profile and sign out, then sign back in with the same Google account. If you have a second Google account, try that one first as a test: if Gemini works on the second account, the problem is tied to your main account’s settings, not the app.

One account-related cause is worth knowing: some users have found that switching their phone’s default assistant from Gemini to Google Assistant, restarting, and switching back to Gemini clears a stuck assistant state that was crashing the app. It costs nothing to try.

9. Reinstall the App

If nothing above worked, a clean reinstall removes any corrupt installation files. Uninstall Gemini completely, restart your phone, then install it fresh from the Play Store or App Store. Your chats are tied to your Google account, not the app install, so they will still be there when you sign back in.

On Android, also check that the Google app itself is up to date after reinstalling, since Gemini depends on it. Reinstall the Google app too if crashes continue after a Gemini reinstall.

10. Report It and Use the Website Meanwhile

If the app still crashes after a clean reinstall on a supported phone, you have likely hit a bug Google needs to fix. Report it inside the app if you can open it at all, or through the Play Store or App Store listing. Include your phone model, your Android or iOS version, and whether the crash happens on open or during a chat.

Meanwhile, gemini.google.com in your browser gives you the full Gemini experience with no app needed. It is the fastest workaround, and for many people it ends up being the permanent answer.

When Crashes Are Not Your Fault

Sometimes crashes hit thousands of users at once after a bad update or during a Google outage. The signs are easy to spot: the app worked yesterday, you changed nothing, and the website or other Google apps act strangely too. In that case, no amount of reinstalling will help. Wait for Google’s fix, watch for an app update, and use the website until it lands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Gemini app keep crashing on Android?

The most common causes are an outdated app, a corrupt cache, low storage, or a phone below the minimum requirements. Update both the Gemini and Google apps, clear the cache, and free up storage first.

Why does Gemini crash on my iPhone?

Usually an old iOS version, a bad app update, or low free storage. Update iOS to 18.2 or later, update the Gemini app, and offload and reinstall it if the crashes continue.

Will reinstalling Gemini delete my chats?

No. Your chats are stored with your Google account, not on the phone. They return when you sign back in after reinstalling.

Does clearing cache delete anything important?

No. Clearing cache removes temporary files only. Clearing data is different — that signs you out and resets local settings, so only use it as a later step.

Is the Gemini website as good as the app?

For text chats, yes — it has the same models and features. The app adds voice, camera, and assistant shortcuts, but the website is a full backup whenever the app misbehaves.

Last updated: November 2026