Google Authenticator is a vital app for enhancing the security of online accounts through two-factor authentication. However, if the app starts crashing on your iPhone, it can be a significant inconvenience and may even lock you out of important services. When troubleshooting this issue, it’s essential to follow a systematic approach to identify and solve the problem. This article explores a range of solutions that can help you get Google Authenticator up and running smoothly again. By trying these simple fixes, you can ensure that your accounts remain secure without unnecessary interruptions.
Solution 1: Check Google Authenticator Server Status
Google Authenticator has faced outages before, and there is a good possibility that it might be facing downtimes now. We suggest you check Downdetector to check if Google Authenticator is down.
However, if Google Authenticator is up and running fine, let’s try a few more methods to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.
Solution 2: Restart Your Device
A simple yet effective starting point is to restart your device. This basic troubleshooting step can resolve minor glitches and improve your device’s performance, ensuring a smoother operation of Google Authenticator.
Here’s how you can restart:
- To turn off your device:
- For iPhone X and later models: Press and hold the volume down button along with the side button.
- For iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), 7, and 8: Press and hold the side button.
- For iPhone SE (1st generation), 5s, 5c, or 5: Press and hold the top power button.
- Slide to power off when prompted and wait for about 30 seconds.
- Power your device back on by holding the power button until the logo appears.
Solution 3: Toggle Airplane Mode
Toggling Airplane Mode on and off can refresh your device’s network connections, which might solve the crashing issue:
- Swipe into your iPhone’s Control Center.
- Tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on, wait a few seconds, then tap again to turn it off.
Solution 4: Close Google Authenticator and Background Apps
Another common issue is the lack of sufficient RAM to support both Google Authenticator and other background applications. Closing all apps can free up the iPhone’s memory:
- Double-press the home button or swipe up from the bottom (for devices with Face ID) to access the app switcher.
- Locate Google Authenticator and swipe it up to close.
Solution 5: Update Google Authenticator
Using an outdated version of Google Authenticator can lead to not opening. Ensure you have the latest version installed by checking for updates in the App store. Developers regularly release updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
Solution 6: Update Your Device’s OS
Keeping your device’s operating system up to date is crucial for app compatibility and performance:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, follow the prompts to install the latest version.
Solution 7: Reinstall Google Authenticator
If updating doesn’t work, try reinstalling Google Authenticator:
- Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears.
- Tap “Remove App” or “Delete App” and confirm.
- Reinstall Google Authenticator from the App Store.
In conclusion, experiencing crashes with Google Authenticator on your iPhone can be frustrating, but by following the outlined steps, you should be able to resolve the issue efficiently. Remember to check the server status first, and then proceed with trying to restart your device, toggling airplane mode, and other actions such as updating the app and your device’s operating system, or even reinstalling the app when necessary. With these solutions, you’ll quickly return to enjoying the security benefits of Google Authenticator without any hassles.
