Samsung App Crashes on EE/Three 5G
Samsung App Crashes on EE/Three 5G – First-Hand Observations
Initial Experience on 5G Networks
When I first noticed crashes on my Samsung device while using apps over EE and Three 5G in London, the issue seemed sporadic. I was checking live transport updates on Citymapper and attempting a bank login on Monzo, and the apps froze for a few seconds before closing unexpectedly. At first, I assumed it was a one-off, but repeating the sequence revealed a consistent pattern related to network transitions.
Real-World Scenario: EE Coverage in Central London
During peak commuting hours, EE’s 5G signal fluctuates considerably between buildings. While navigating the Tube, I observed that apps like TfL Oyster and Google Maps would suddenly crash when moving from strong to weaker coverage zones. It appeared that the apps struggled to maintain secure connections while the device was handling network handover.
Three 5G Observation in Manchester
In Manchester city centre, Three 5G showed a different behaviour. When switching from outdoor 5G zones to indoor areas with poorer reception, Samsung apps such as banking, transport, and ticketing frequently froze. I noticed that restarting the app sometimes allowed it to reconnect, but this often resulted in repeated crashes if I immediately reopened the app.
Steps Taken to Diagnose the Problem
To understand the cause, I tried the following:
- Restarting the phone after each crash
- Clearing cache for affected apps
- Monitoring network transitions from 5G to 4G
- Recording instances of battery temperature spikes during crashes
This process revealed that crashes were not random—they correlated with network handovers and brief latency spikes. Apps attempting background token refreshes would sometimes timeout, triggering a forced close.
Common Mistakes That Made the Issue Worse
I observed a few patterns that aggravated the problem:
- Reopening apps immediately after a crash rather than waiting a few seconds
- Running multiple data-intensive apps while in low-signal areas
- Attempting payments or transport check-ins during brief network outages
Adjusting behaviour reduced the frequency of crashes noticeably.
Technical Observations During Crashes
Monitoring CPU and memory usage via Samsung’s Device Care revealed that:
- Memory spikes occurred when apps attempted multiple authentication requests simultaneously
- Background network retries caused brief CPU overloads
- GPU rendering was affected for apps with dynamic map or ticketing displays
These resource conflicts triggered the operating system to terminate the affected apps to prevent wider instability.
Preventive Actions Taken
From personal testing, the following adjustments proved effective:
1. Clearing App Cache
Clearing cache for Monzo, Citymapper, and TfL reduced crashes during network transitions. For example, Monzo stopped closing mid-login in central Manchester after cache refresh.
2. Avoiding Immediate Reopen
Waiting a few seconds after a crash allowed the phone to stabilise background processes, improving success rates for subsequent app launches.
3. Restricting Background Refresh Temporarily
Disabling background refresh for banking apps and transport apps during 5G commutes reduced memory contention and prevented repeated crashes.
4. Monitoring Signal Quality
By observing 5G signal strength, I could anticipate network handovers and delay high-demand tasks until the device was in a stronger coverage zone.
Unexpected Behaviours Noticed
While conducting these tests, I noticed:
- Some apps maintained partial functionality despite crashing (e.g., Monzo would allow viewing recent transactions after a restart)
- Crashes were more frequent in indoor areas of older buildings with thick walls, even in central city zones
- Battery temperature remained stable, suggesting the crashes were not thermally induced
Patterns Observed Across UK Cities
The following city-specific patterns emerged:
- London: Peak-hour commuting on EE 5G caused app freezes during Tube entry and exit points
- Manchester: Three 5G indoor coverage fluctuations triggered crashes with mapping apps
- Birmingham: Bank login crashes occurred sporadically in heritage buildings with poor 5G penetration
Lessons Learned
From these experiences, a few clear takeaways were apparent:
- Samsung app crashes are frequently tied to network transitions rather than hardware faults
- Behaviour modification, cache management, and monitoring signal strength can prevent repeated crashes
- Understanding the correlation between operator coverage and app load is critical for avoiding unexpected terminations
Conclusion
Experiencing Samsung app crashes firsthand across EE and Three 5G in multiple UK cities highlighted that these events are predominantly network and resource-related. Adjusting usage behaviour, clearing cache, and recognising early warning signs significantly reduces the likelihood of repeated crashes. Personal observation confirms that these issues are temporary, predictable, and manageable with informed preventative steps. Monitoring the interactions between apps, network transitions, and system resource allocation remains the most effective strategy for UK 5G users on Samsung devices.
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