You installed iOS 10 and now half your apps refuse to open, crash instantly, or freeze on the launch screen. This was not unusual: iOS 10 dropped support for 32-bit apps entirely, so older app builds broke on day one. Work through these steps from the easiest fix to the most drastic.
Step 1: Update all your apps first
This is the single most important step. Because iOS 10 only runs 64-bit code, apps built with the old 32-bit architecture stopped working after the upgrade. Open the App Store, tap the Updates tab, and install every pending update — developers rushed out compatible builds in the weeks after iOS 10 shipped. Apple documented the transition in its support resources, and MacRumors covered which apps broke and why. Turn on automatic updates while you are there so this never catches you again.
Step 2: Force-close and relaunch the app
Double-press the Home button to open the app switcher, swipe the misbehaving app away, then reopen it. Post-update glitches often live in a corrupted in-memory state, and a clean relaunch clears it without touching your data.
Step 3: Restart the iPhone
Hold the Sleep/Wake button until “slide to power off” appears, power down, wait a few seconds, and turn the phone back on. A restart clears temporary system caches the update may have left in a bad state.
Step 4: Delete and reinstall the app
If the fresh update still misbehaves, touch and hold the app icon, tap the x, and confirm deletion — then download it again from the App Store. Reinstalling wipes corrupted post-update caches that an update alone cannot always fix. Note that some of Apple’s own apps cannot be removed at all; see our guide on which built-in iPhone apps you can delete to know what is fair game.
Step 5: Free up storage space
Go to Settings, then General, then Storage. When free space gets very low, apps start crashing because they cannot write temporary data. Delete old videos, offload apps you rarely open, or move your photo library to iCloud.
Step 6: Reset All Settings
If crashes are widespread across many apps, go to Settings, then General, then Reset, and choose Reset All Settings. This resets system preferences without deleting your photos, messages, or other data. After resetting, many users found that previously broken apps started working again. Considering future updates? Read how to completely block iOS 26 updates on iPhone before installing anything else.
If it still doesn’t work
The nuclear option is a DFU restore: back up the iPhone to iCloud or a computer first, then use a computer to wipe the device and install a fresh copy of the firmware. This erases everything, so treat it as a last resort. Most people never need to go this far — one of the steps above fixes the vast majority of broken-app cases.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my apps break right after installing iOS 10?
iOS 10 was the first iOS release to run only 64-bit apps, so any app whose developer had not yet released an updated build stopped working overnight. Updating the apps to their latest versions fixes this in nearly every case.
Will deleting and reinstalling an app lose my data?
Sometimes. Deleting an app removes its local data, such as saved game progress or downloaded content. Check whether the app syncs to iCloud before deleting — many do. You can also revisit how system settings interact with updates in our guide on bringing back the alarm Stop button in iOS 26.
Conclusion
Apps that stopped working after the iOS 10 update almost always just need an update themselves — the 32-bit purge was the culprit. Update your apps, restart, reinstall the stubborn ones, free up space, and reset settings only as a last resort, and your Home screen will be back to normal.
