Why does my phone open apps by itself? [+ Easy Fixes!]

If you’re wondering if your smartphone is haunted as you’ve noticed apps taking screenshots and acting on their own, you need to rest easy. Software glitches can often lead apps to be unhinged, but it’s not without a remedy. 

In this guide, we’ll answer in earnest the question: “Why does my phone keep opening random apps?” Plus, we’ll reveal proven-and-tested troubleshooting techniques to always keep apps on iPhone or Android phones doing your bidding.

Malware Infection or Faulty Apps Settings

Malware is an invasive software that is destructive to computer systems, mobile devices, networks, etc., and will be installed without permission. This causes various software issues (e.g., unwanted programs, apps running, or malfunctioning).

However, your phone may also open random apps due to minor errors and faulty settings, so malware attacks aren’t always the root cause of this problem.

Problematic Touchscreen 

Oftentimes, random apps opening on your phone are caused by a problematic touchscreen. In most cases, this can result from dirt sticking into the touchscreen, which may register as touch inputs and open your phone’s apps.

If you’re unlucky, it might also mean your phone has a broken touchscreen and needs immediate repair or replacement.

Software Glitches 

Software glitches are the usual culprits to most errors that occur on mobile devices. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising if your phone is experiencing a software glitch or bug causing its apps to start up independently.

They often emerge over time, so there’s no guaranteed way to prevent a phone from encountering these glitches. The best thing you can do is troubleshoot when they emerge on your phone.

How can I stop my phone’s apps from opening by themselves? 

Depending on the phone, various troubleshooting tricks can be used to stop apps from starting up on your device. You can refer to the solutions we’ve compiled below for the complete instructions for addressing this issue on iPhones and Android phones.

For iPhone Users 

Below are the troubleshooting tricks you can perform on iOS devices to stop the issues causing your iPhone to keep opening random apps.

FIX 1. Install iOS update

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	9
Time to Perform Fix	5 minutes
Things Needed	• An iPhone • A working internet connection

If you’re an iPhone user, the essential solution you can try to fix software-related errors is to download and install the latest iOS update on your device. This way, you can correct the errors on your iPhone that are causing it to keep opening random apps.

An OS update is the best way to improve your iPhone’s performance and prevent further software errors from emerging. Thus, you’re less likely to encounter the same problems on your iPhone in the future.

Step 1: Open the iPhone Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll down and navigate to General.

Step 3: Click Software Update.

Step 4: Click Download and Install.

Step 5: Enter your passcode.

Step 6: Agree to the set terms and conditions.

Step 7: Click Agree again.

Step 8: Click the option to Use Cellular Data and start the download process.

Step 9: Click the option to Install Now and apply the software update.

FIX 2. Clean the touchscreen

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	1
Time to Perform Fix	20 to 40 seconds
Things Needed	• A microfiber cleaning cloth • An iPhone

When an iPhone keeps opening random apps due to a ghost touch issue, it’s always good to consider the possibility of touchscreen damage. In such cases, sending your iPhone to your local service center for consultation and repair is the best solution.

However, dirt can also cause a ghost touch issue on your iPhone, which tricks the touchscreen into thinking there’s a touch input. When this happens, your iPhone may open an app by itself from the spot on the touchscreen where the dirt is sticking to.

As such, instead of defaulting to a visit to your local service center, it won’t hurt to try cleaning your iPhone’s touchscreen with a cleaning cloth first. Doing so may prevent you from wasting your money and time with an unnecessary consultation.

Please note that this solution isn’t exclusive to iPhones, as dirt can also affect the touchscreen of Android phones in the same way. Thus, you should also try performing this solution if you have an Android phone with the same issue. 

FIX 3. Reset your iPhone

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	6
Time to Perform Fix	3 minutes
Things Needed	• An iPhone

Finally, we recommend resetting your iPhone to eliminate any malware infection that might be causing the problem at hand. However, since this action deletes the device’s saved data, you should only consider this solution as your last resort.

You have the option to back up your iPhone’s saved data beforehand but it’s not recommended when malware is involved as it will carry over to the backup data.

Thus, your best recourse is to wipe your iPhone clean and start from scratch.

Step 1: Open the iPhone Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll down and navigate to General.

Step 3: Scroll down and select the option to Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 4: Select “Erase All Content and Settings.”

Step 5: Click Continue and begin the reset process.

Step 6: Follow the device’s on-screen instructions to complete the data reset so you can set up the iPhone afterward.

For Android Users

Here are the different ways to stop an Android phone that keeps opening random apps by itself. We recommend checking your device’s user manual for inapplicable steps on your phone, as Android devices vary depending on their manufacturers.

FIX 1. Set a background process limit

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	7
Time to Perform Fix	40 seconds
Things Needed	• An Android phone

One way to restrict bad and misbehaving apps on your Android device is to access its secret developer options and set a background process limitation. Access to these advanced device configurations is an advantage that Android users enjoy.

Setting a background process limit on your Android phone means its unused apps won’t run their programs and functions past your preferred value. As such, this action is effective against an Android phone that keeps opening random apps by itself.

For this method, you can set your preferred limitation on your device’s background processes. Since Android devices have many differences, it’s up to you to determine the best configuration that works for your phone.

Step 1: Open the Android Settings app.

Step 2: Open About Phone.

Step 3: Click All Specs.

Step 4: Click your device’s UI version tile multiple times to unlock its developer mode.

Step 5: Return to the Android settings menu and scroll down to access the Additional settings.

Step 6: Scroll down and click Background process limit.

Step 7: Set your preferred background process limitation for your Android phone.

FIX 2. Put apps to sleep

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	7
Time to Perform Fix	30 seconds
Things Needed	• An Android phone

Putting your active and unused apps to sleep allows you to stop them from running in your phone’s background. It’s a solution you can try to prevent your misbehaving apps from running wild on your phone without any restrictions.

After all, leaving them to their own devices could be why your phone keeps opening random apps without your permission. Since prevention is better than cure, sometimes it’s best to stop the culprit before the act whenever possible.

In this case, you’re simply preventing your apps from inflicting unnecessary harm on your device. You see, your apps can only cause issues on your device if you allow them to do so.

Step 1: Open the Android Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll down and go to the Battery option.

Step 3: Click the Battery tab to check the device’s battery status.

Step 4: Open the App battery saver menu.

Step 5: Select an active application.

Step 6: Select “Put apps to sleep.”

Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 – 6 until all your phone’s active apps are asleep.

FIX 3. Enable your phone’s battery-saver or adaptive battery feature

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	6
Time to Perform Fix	30 seconds
Things Needed	• An Android phone

Enabling the built-in battery-saver or adaptive battery feature on your Android phone is another way to troubleshoot this issue. This method works because features that improve battery efficiency prevent your device from performing unnecessary tasks.

It means that your phone won’t be able to open random apps by itself since background activities are limited when the battery-saver or adaptive battery is on. Plus, it’s good to use power-saving features to extend your device’s lifespan. 

Step 1: Open the Android Settings menu.

Step 2: Scroll down and go to the Apps option.

Step 3: Open the System app settings menu.

Step 4: Select your phone’s system app that’s in charge of battery optimization.

Step 5: Scroll down and open its Battery Optimization settings.

Step 6: Enable the device’s battery-saver/ultra battery-saver or adaptive battery feature.

FIX 4. Disable startup apps

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	6
Time to Perform Fix	30 seconds
Things Needed	• An Android phone

Sometimes, the reason your phone keeps opening random apps is due to its startup feature. As its name suggests, this feature gives the apps on your phone permission to start their programs and functions without any input from you.

In such cases, removing the startup permission from these apps should resolve the issue on your phone. Every once in a while, a straightforward solution is all you need to fix a simple problem caused by one feature on your Android phone.

Step 1: Open the Android Settings menu.

Step 2: Scroll down and go to the Apps option.

Step 3: Open the Manage apps menu.

Step 4: Go to the Permissions tab.

Step 5: Click the Autostart option.

Step 6: Toggle off the switches beside the apps that can autostart to revoke their permission.

FIX 5. Optimize your apps

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	6
Time to Perform Fix	30 seconds
Things Needed	• An Android phone

Aside from relying on your Android phone’s battery-saver or adaptive battery feature, you can enable optimization for each installed app to achieve similar results. Doing so will prevent apps from running unnecessary programs in the battery.

It makes this method an ideal solution to use when your phone keeps opening random apps by itself. This action allows you to control the background activity of your apps even without enabling the power-saving features on your Android device.

Step 1: Open the Android Settings menu.

Step 2: Scroll down and go to the Apps option.

Step 3: Select any application.

Step 4: Click Battery.

Step 5: Select the option to Optimize battery usage.

Step 6: Toggle on the switches beside each app to optimize them.

FIX 6. Perform a factory reset

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	5
Time to Perform Fix	3 minutes
Things Needed	• An Android phone

A factory reset is the best solution we can recommend if you want to address the reasons why your phone keeps opening random apps. After all, this method works against malware, glitches, bugs, and other software-related errors.

Unfortunately, one caveat is that your Android phone will delete all of its stored data during the factory reset, which may not be ideal for some users. You can back up your device’s saved data if you want to restore them once the reset is complete.

Please note that a data backup may not be the best idea when you suspect your Android phone to be infected with malware. In such cases, it’s much better to wipe everything and redownload your apps afterward.

Step 1: Open the Android Settings menu.

Step 2: Scroll down and go to the System Settings option.

Step 3: Scroll down and select the option to Back up and Reset your device.

Step 4: Click Reset Phone.

Step 5: Click the option to Erase all data and for the factory reset to conclude so you can set up your Android phone once it reboots.