Fix – IPhone app won’t start/launch/open
A friend of mine’s IPhone would not launch apps that previously worked for him, which appeared to be 3rd party applications. Here’s a few potential fixes with notes:
- Download a new free app (like google earth) and once you enter your itunes password, all is fixed
Reason:
“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.”
-
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 ).
- 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 ).
- 1. Authorize, de-authorize and authorize again your computer in Itunes.
2. Sync all apps – chose ’specified apps’ and check them all for sync (the third party apps still won’t work at this point).
3. After syncing, with the IPhone still connected, delete one third party app (you’ll notice this app will lose its check).
4. Recheck this app in Itunes and (with all the other apps checked as well) sync again.
5. With the Iphone still connected, try opening the app you just restored. It should work fine, no saved data lost.
6. Test your other apps. If still not working, try repeating steps 3 – 5 with other third party apps until it fixes the problem. It took me 3 deletes/restores to get everything running again.
Hopefully one of these solutions works for you. I hear there’s good success with the install a new app solution.
–Ben
Source: Iphone App Ratings Forum
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about 5 months ago
Thanks for this Ben. I had this situation happen to me. We lost 3G coverage around here for a little bit. And when I tried to use my 3rd party apps, they just closed. I then found this and so I delete facebook and then reinstalled it. And now all my apps work. Which is great so I didn’t have to go home to fix this problem.
Thanks again!!!!
Also I see your a fellow Utahan…rock on!
about 3 months ago
Dear Ben,
May I ask how do I do this prticular step:
1. Authorize, de-authorize and authorize again your computer in Itunes.
Tried the first 2 solutions but failed. Hope this last step would work!
Thanks,
Prax
about 3 months ago
Good Luck Prax.
Here’s the apple help on deauthorizing your computer in iTunes:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1420
You’re actually deauthorizing your computer, not your phone. So you’ll have to do this step on your computer and then sync your phone again.
Let me know how it works!
–Ben
about 5 months ago
Glad I could help out. Its fun to cross paths with other Utahns on the virtual side. I’ll look out for a McThomas on the real side.
–Ben
about 5 months ago
Thank you, simple explanation for the less technical amoungst us!!
about 4 months ago
I had the same thing happen to me. I plugged in my phone to my work computer, and I guess it tried to associate it with that machine. I’ve done this many times before without any issues, so why this happened this time is beyond me. My fix was to update an app that was ready for an update, once I entered my password all the 3rd party apps started working…Thanks for the article!
about 4 months ago
No problem. So far this month, this article has been viewed about 1,500 times. I think there are a lot of people with this issue.
–Ben
about 2 months ago
Great tips – i followed the authorize , deauthorize route and re synced – worked first time.
Thanke so much – saved me a trip to the ever so busy apple store in town !
about 2 months ago
Glad it worked.
about 1 month ago
omg i was freaking out !!! thanks so much !! solved my problem in 2 seconds and ive been stressing since yesterday!
about 1 month ago
No problem. Glad I could help.
about 1 month ago
Downloaded one free app. (Dropzap – cool game by the way) Now all my apps are working again. Great tip! Thanks.