We've seen it before. You're settling in on the couch to play on your phone, ready to climb the ranks and master some team comps when, suddenly, the game... crashes. Before you get madder than a Molediver, here are some steps you can try to get back in game as soon as possible. It's time to troubleshoot your Apple device. Looking for Android Troubleshooting instead? Head over here.
First off, it's important to analyze what exactly is going wrong. There are three main things that could happen when attempting to play a mobile game: the game's frozen, the app has crashed, or it won't download in the first place. We recommend doing the following regardless of the issue you're experiencing, which could either fix the problem or narrow down the issue.
Step 1: Close All Background Apps
It is important to limit the number of variables that may be interfering with running a particular application (specifically, that Riot game you're trying to enjoy). Therefore, we recommend closing down any apps running in the background, just to make sure none of them are keeping you from a good time.
To close any applications running in the background on an iPhone 10 or later:
- Swipe up from the bottom left corner and pause slightly in the middle of the home screen.
- Swipe up to force-close any active apps.
- Relaunch the application in question.
To close any applications running in the background on an iPhone 8 or earlier:
- Double-click the Home Button to preview your recently used apps.
- Swipe up to close any active apps.
- Press the Home button and relaunch the app
Step 2: Restart Your Device
It's amazing how often turning devices on and off again can help a wide range of technical issues. Remember, it's important to give your phone a rest sometimes.
To restart your Apple device:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake Button until a red slider appears.
- Swipe the slider with your finger to turn the device off.
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake Button to power the device back on.
- If your device does not power on, or displays a red battery icon, you may need to recharge your device.
Step 3: Update and Relaunch
Make Sure Your Phone is Up to Date
Ensuring your operating system is properly updated can often help its ability to interface with other applications.
To update your Apple device:
- Tap Settings -> General -> Software update.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
Make Sure the App is Up to Date
The game itself is the next step in ensuring your troubleshooting on a properly updated playing field. To make sure the app is up to date:
- Open the App Store.
- If you're using iOS 12 or earlier, tap Today at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen.
- Scroll down to see any applications that require an update.
- Be sure to tap Update next to the app in question.
- You can also select Update All to ensure all your apps are functioning properly.
Step 4: Free Up Space on Your Device
Too many cooks in the kitchen? More like too many apps on the Apple. If you're running into continued problems, we recommend trying to free up some space on your device.
Check Your Device's Storage
If you're unsure how much free space exists on your device:
- Open Settings -> General -> Storage.
- Analyze which applications are taking up the most space and determine if they are still used regularly.
If you come across any apps that you no longer use or that are taking up too much room, you can uninstall them to clear up some space on your device.
Manage Your iCloud Storage
Your device will automatically store information on the iCloud as a means of backup for many core applications. You can free up space in your iCloud by deleting files. For more information on managing this storage functionality, go here.
If You Are Still Experiencing Issues
Troubleshooting your mobile device and the application is no guarantee that an issue will be solved. We encourage you to troubleshoot your wifi connection, as well as getting in touch with your service provider. If you believe the issue is on our end, we encourage you to submit a ticket below.