Yesterday I ran into this problem for about the 50th time since I got my iPhone 3G about a month ago… 3rd party apps open and immediately close, but the default apps that came with the phone (Safari, Mail, Maps, etc.) all work just fine.
Here’s how I’ve fixed it in the past:
- Erase and reset. Pain in the ass.
- Erase and, per the instructions of someone at Apple support, login as a different user on my computer (PC) and reinstall the iPhone software. Apparently the change in user forces iTunes to do a fresh install as if it’s a brand new iPhone. Then after installation of the software, install all of my 3rd party apps one at a time. UGH.
That’s great, but erasing and resetting sucks. Yesterday when I ran into this problem again, I uninstalled Facebook and the problem persisted (all of my other apps were still on the phone).
Today, I updated my iPhone software to 2.0.2, apps still didn’t work. Then I reinstalled Facebook and VOILA everything works again!
I’ve always had an inkling that the Facebook app was causing a problem, but I’ve never had any hard evidence. I still don’t know if this is a definitive indictment of Facebook’s iPhone app, but it’s quite a coincidence.
edit: See the comments below. It seems that selecting Store > Authorize Computer in iTunes also works at least some of the time.
This very same post is syndicated at iPhone App Reviews.net
on Aug 25th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
reinstall iTunes 7.7 and it works perfectly, I did that and haven’t had a problem since
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mike reply on October 22, 2008 12:29 pm:
I have also have had a problem with my apps not launching. After several restarts, I installed a new app from the app store and magically all my other apps launch now. Give it a try.
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admin reply on October 22, 2008 3:43 pm:
I’ve done that, too! Not a very reliable fix, though, as it doesn’t always solve the problem. But hey if it works it works.
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Arrowwebtech reply on December 13, 2008 9:24 am:
It works! I had same problem: only default apps works, 3rd parties won’t start. After install a new app, everything back to normal.
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Nate reply on January 30, 2009 8:52 pm:
Thank you i tried that and it worked awesome i was getting so tired of that crap. thanks again!
naomi reply on March 26, 2009 10:26 am:
just had a panic attack….but then i read this and installed a new app and it worked!!! yaaay!!! thank you!! so glad i didnt have to go through all that!!!
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Amanda reply on May 9, 2009 11:34 am:
I tried this and it worked. I installed Google Earth, which I’m not really interested in using, but it’s totally free (vs. a “lite” version of an app) so I don’t mind.
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Todd reply on May 20, 2009 7:13 pm:
Thank you Thank you! That is the solution: install any free app from the app store on the phone and voila!
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James reply on June 3, 2009 5:04 pm:
Thanks for the tip! I got my iphone 3 days ago and have been madly filling it with software and setting things up. Anyway, I tried opening an app this morning and the screen just went black and then went back to the normal ‘dashboard’ with all my app icons. The app failed to load.
After checking a few different apps, I noticed that the problem was affecting all 3rd party apps. I tried turning the phone off and on a couple of times, reconnecting it to itunes, swearing at it whilst waving my arms around etc… Nothing.
I stumbled across this page and tried what you suggested. It worked! Install a new free app from the store and everything comes back to life again! (And I get another app!!)
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CHEESE reply on June 10, 2009 7:21 am:
Good work Mike… new app fixed the problem.
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scott reply on June 17, 2009 2:41 am:
Hit this today for the first time after having the phone for about 9 months. Power cycle, reset, nothing worked.
I deauthorized and reauthorized my computer via iTunes to no avail.
Not ALL of the 3rd parties apps failed. I made note of the ones that did. I synced, went to the apps folder in iTunes for the phone and picked one of the “failing” apps at random and unchecked it. I synced, removing the app, then re-selected the app and synced again. Voila’… all of them started working again.
Note that you lose any data associated with the app when it is deinstalled, so I was sure to pick one that didn’t have any stored data that I cared about.
Hope this helps someone else.
Ray reply on June 11, 2009 12:09 am:
Oh, your good!!!! I did NOT want to have to reinstall anything like a couple of treads ahead of this one recommended.
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James reply on June 21, 2009 12:04 am:
“I synced, went to the apps folder in iTunes for the phone and picked one of the “failing” apps at random and unchecked it. I synced, removing the app, then re-selected the app and synced again”
This worked for me. Thanks
on Aug 26th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Thanks for the tip Marc… but it didn’t work. I just ran into the same problem again, and I’m getting very tired of this shit!! I uninstalled iTunes, redownloaded 7.7 from Apple, and did a fresh install on my PC. After that I did a full sync. No luck.
I tried the uninstall/reinstall Facebook thing I did before and that didn’t work either. This time, I had to un/reinstall Puppyo, and I was back in business immediately.
On my iPhone, it now seems like a certain app will get corrupted (first Facebook, now Puppyo) and a reinstall is the fastest way to recovery - just gotta figure out which app is causing the problem.
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on Aug 27th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
were you deleting all the preference files and everything from 7.7.1 before installing 7.7 again. i was having the same exact issues. since doing that with facebook and those apps on my phone, i have an occasional app crash but it doesn’t take the whole phone down with it. Here are the steps that I followed:
1) went into the phone and do a reset and erase
2) deleted the following support files:
System/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DeviceLink.framework
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework
/Library/Receipts/AppleMobileDeviceSupport.pkg
/Library/Receipts/iTunesAccess.pkg
/Library/Receipts/iTunesX.pkg
(user)/Library/iTunes/Device Suport (the entire folder)
3) deleted the itunes app itself.
allowed phone to restore to 2.0.1 (this may take a loooooong time).
4) restarted computer
5) emptied trash
6) installed iTunes 7.7
7) attached iphone and when prompted to set up the phone, i forced the phone into DFU mode (not recovery mode - slightly different)
9) set up phone as a new phone. down with the backups!
10) installed some apps, and some music. the installations were a little clumsy but worked alright.
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admin reply on August 28, 2008 3:17 am:
Marc, thanks again but I’m on WinXP and I’m guessing your instructions are for a Mac? I searched for DeviceLink.framework and came up with nothing.
Anyway, once again I found a different way to fix my latest app crash problem - I just connected iPhone to comp, opened iTunes, and reauthorized my computer.
Regardless of my ability to fix the problems, it sucks that I (and others) even have to deal with it!
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David reply on September 1, 2008 12:09 pm:
Thanks guys, I had the same problem and just authorized my computer in iTunes, syncd and problem solved. I am glad I didn’t have to go to the extreme and delete and restore everything.
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on Sep 5th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Hi Guys
What exactly is meant by ” reauthorized my computer ” and ” authorized my computer in iTunes ” from the above fixes ?
Running XP with iTunes 7.7 and firmware 2.0.1 and today noticed all 3rd party applications try to run but return back to the ‘ home ‘ menu. Would anyone know what is causing this?
Unsure if this is related to the problem but this is the first time this has happened which coincidently was right after syncing music and video with iTunes for the first time . While the phone was still plugged into iTunes the application ‘ backup ‘ ( automatically ) ran. Would the the mix between apple, 3rd party and jb application be what is causing this?
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admin reply on September 5, 2008 2:52 pm:
With your iPhone connected to your computer and showing under Devices in iTunes, go to the top iTunes menu bar and select Store > Authorize Computer. Hope it works for you! I have no idea what causes this problem.
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Aaron reply on January 26, 2009 1:52 pm:
Thank you.. this worked for me. Finally!
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Timmy reply on March 11, 2009 5:08 am:
I noticed on my sync application setting I didn’t have select all checked and I think it wasn’t syncing all and the ones it didn’t sync wouldn’t open!
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on Sep 6th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I also have had this problem. I just turn the phone off by holding the top power button down for the required 5-8 seconds. Wait a few seconds and power back up (apple logo appears as a sort of reboot I guess). That solved the problem for me.
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on Sep 7th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Thanks for the help guys. The ‘ Authorize ‘ fix and the ‘ reboot ‘ fix did not work for me. In fact a full ‘ restore ‘ to firmware 2.0.1 did not resolve this.
The solution for this situation was the Application setting tab at top when the iPhone is plugged in and iTunes is running. It seems when an iPhone ( the same may apply for iTouch also ) with 3rd party apps is plugged into iTunes , iTunes runs a backup to restore the 3rd party applications if needed. If the ‘ sync ‘ box ( for applications ) is unchecked and the sync is run , the apps are ‘ removed ‘ from your iPhone although they still appear on the iPhone ( similar to deleting a program but leaving the shortcut to it ). When starting the 3rd party app , it begins to run but then just exits.
The fix for this was simply running iTunes , plugging in the iPhone and going to the Application tab and ensuring the ‘ sync ‘ applications box was checked ( along with all the applications it backed up under it ).
Fault on my part but something to watch for if you run into this problem as it will save a lot of time.
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LMS reply on October 17, 2008 12:44 am:
THANK YOU!!
After searching for hours, this is the first solution that worked!!
I have my apps back!!
YAY!!!
LMS
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on Sep 8th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
What GS says above worked for me when I had this problem. I had checked “backup selected applications,” and that’s when all the problems began. I just went back, and synced by iPhone with “backup all applications” in the Applications Tab and the problem was resolved immediately.
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on Jan 2nd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hey mate, you’re a genius, I had exactly the same problem, deleted facebook, reinstalled….and VOILA working fine now. Thanks for the hot tip!
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on Feb 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am
Thanks,
this worked:
“Thanks for the help guys. The ‘ Authorize ‘ fix and the ‘ reboot ‘ fix did not work for me. In fact a full ‘ restore ‘ to firmware 2.0.1 did not resolve this.
The solution for this situation was the Application setting tab at top when the iPhone is plugged in and iTunes is running. It seems when an iPhone ( the same may apply for iTouch also ) with 3rd party apps is plugged into iTunes , iTunes runs a backup to restore the 3rd party applications if needed. If the ‘ sync ‘ box ( for applications ) is unchecked and the sync is run , the apps are ‘ removed ‘ from your iPhone although they still appear on the iPhone ( similar to deleting a program but leaving the shortcut to it ). When starting the 3rd party app , it begins to run but then just exits.
The fix for this was simply running iTunes , plugging in the iPhone and going to the Application tab and ensuring the ‘ sync ‘ applications box was checked ( along with all the applications it backed up under it ).
Fault on my part but something to watch for if you run into this problem as it will save a lot of time.”
I didn’t want to delete my applications because I had one that was storing data for me. But once I tried “sync all apps” I could open all fo them.
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on Feb 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
My GF had this problem and tried all of the above to no avail. Finally we tried downloading a new 3rd party app…any random, disposable app (I might suggest a free one)…that did the trick. It sort of “reminded” the iPhone what belonged where and to whom.
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on Feb 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
The “install a random app” approach worked for me …. pretty crap i reckon!
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on Feb 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Downloading a random free app worked for me as well…hmmm. Hope it doesn’t happen again. What a PITA.
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on Feb 25th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hey everyone,
I am facing the same problem and am inclined to what GS said about the cause of this problem.. I can try that fix but am really worried if it will delete the application and its contents from the iphone ? I have some very very important data in the iphone application which I dont want to lose (if I have not already)
Can you please advise and clarify..none of the other solutions mentioned above worked for me
Is there any other method of getting inside the phone somehow and recover the data from the application ?
Please help me as I will be in dire straits if I lose the data !!
Thanks so much
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on Feb 25th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Forgot to mention that when I plug the phone to itunes, it does show me the space taken by the application. I have deleted everything, all the songs and other apps that I dont need, and still the app data is around 1gb so that means I have the stuff in the phone, just need to know how to take it out from there.
Thanks guys
Vik
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on Mar 16th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
The apps on my 3G 16GB wouldn’t launch. I deleted Facebook application, then re-installed it and everything is back to normal.
Just wanted to give everyone a heads up.
Igor
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on Mar 24th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
NOTE: *Installation* (and not an un/reinstall) seems to be the common thread in most of these fixes. Seeing that it doesn’t matter which application you install, I’d be curious to find out what exactly is being refreshed…a shared library? mapping?
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on Mar 29th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I have this problem twice since I got my iphone 3G a month ago. Both times I have just reinstalled facebook and it fixed the problem.
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on Apr 27th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Yes - About the Facebook thing. I took your advice and deleted it and re-installed it. Every other app works now.
Just Making That Clear.
Thank You !
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on Apr 28th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Hi everyone, it was the Facebook app for me too!
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on Apr 28th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Wow - I had the same problem with a 1 week-old iphone and had the same problem. I didn’t even HAVE the facebook app, and I just loaded it and now all the other apps work. Loading the F/B app did something that fixed the problem. Hilarious. This is my first experience with an Apple product since 1991 and it seems they have all the same bugs and bullshit that PC’s have had for 20 years. I still love Windows.
-DK
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on Apr 29th, 2009 at 2:44 am
Same problem just now… yes, I have the Facebook app… but didn’t come accross this thread til after I deleted at random 1 app (happened to be Lightsaber) and re-downloaded. Now everything works again, including the Facebook app… didn’t need to get involved with iTunes authorisations to fix the problem.
Speaking of which, does anyone else have problems with iTunes hanging when syncing music to their iPhone? Using WinXP, latest iTunes and latest iPhone software…
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on May 16th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Facebook for me too … thanks!
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on May 18th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Interesting Apple - install a NEW app to get your old apps back up and running again? Why not the FREE apps that can do this?
Screw Apple, am jail breaking mine today and bugger the consequences!! Not paying another penny to Apple for the crap they put us through!
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on May 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 am
Had the exact same problem. Uninstalled Facebook and reinstalled. Apps launch perfectly now. Thanks!
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on May 23rd, 2009 at 12:47 am
Well i had the same problem,and reinstalled facebook,and that’s the only 3rd party app that worked.Am I going to have to reinstall all the other ones?
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on May 27th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I ran across this note on another forum. It appears to work for me, and it is much easier than deleting, rebooting, resyncing, etc. Just download a new free app and once you enter your itunes password, all is fixed for the other apps.
Taken from another forum:
The reason this happens is because every time a downloaded app is opened it checks for your itunes password for validation that you are authorized to open that app (as it may contain personal info). From time to time the iphone “forgets” your itunes password. You can fix the missing password by syncing the iphone with itunes or downloading an app from the app store and entering your password that way.
I found that out during a call to Apple tech support.
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on Jun 18th, 2009 at 9:14 am
this happened to me a week or two ago, and fixed by downloading a random app. i then updated to OS 3.0 last night and the issue came back. i thought at first it was because of incompatible apps, but i then downloaded a random apps and all my other ones started working again. i really would like a way to fix this permanently.
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on Jun 26th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I have had an iPhone 3G S (using v3.0 software) for 1 week and already all my dowloaded Apps have stopped working. They load briefly but then just returns to the home screen. I downloaded GoogleEarth and magically all my apps work again.
Looks like Apple haven’t fixed this long running problem yet!
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on Jul 1st, 2009 at 7:29 am
Thanks to others for sharing solutions to this annoying problem. It started for me when I upgraded to OS 3.0. A power off and on fixed it initially, then when I later powered off due to low battery and subsequently powered on again, the App store apps wouldn’t run.
I tried the “Authorize” fix without success. I eventually succeeded by removing and reinstalling an App store application. Here are the steps I followed:
1. Connect iPhone to itunes (I’m running under Vista)
2. Select the iPhone once it appears in the navigation bar, then choose the Applications tab
3. I had “Sync All Applications” selected, change to “Sync Selected Applications”
4. Check all but one application. Leave out one that doesn’t have associated data, or has unimportant data. I used “Flashlight”.
5. Sync the iPhone to iTunes
6. Change back to “Sync All Applications”
7. Sync the iPhone again
All apps should now work. Good luck.
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