How to Fix Google Photos App Crashing Issue on iOS 16.3.1

Bianca Patrick
2 min readFeb 21, 2023

--

Google Photos is a reliable photo and video app that allows users to manage and share their media. However, the app has recently been experiencing problems on some Apple devices. If you’re an iOS user who recently updated your device to iOS 16.3.1, you may have noticed that the Google Photos app keeps crashing. Here’s what you need to know about the issue and how to fix it.

The Issue with iOS 16.3.1

Several iOS users have reported (1,2,3) that the Google Photos app is crashing on their devices after updating to iOS 16.3.1. This issue is quite widespread, and unfortunately, there isn’t much that affected users can do.

Workaround

You can wait for the fix in the next update but we’ve discovered a workaround that may potentially solve the problem. By sideloading an older version of the Google Photos app onto your affected device, you can still use the app without any crashing issues.

On a sidenote, If the Google Photos app issue is related to files, you can use a files fixer app to repair or restore corrupted files on your device. A files fixer app scans your device for any corrupt or damaged files and fixes them. The app can also restore deleted files that were accidentally removed from your device.

Here’s how you can do it with your Apple account:

Step 1: Download the Sideloadly app on your Windows or Mac computer. You can find the app here.

Step 2: Download an older version of the Google Photos IPA file, which you can find here.

Step 3: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

Step 4: Open the Sideloadly app and follow the steps provided in this tutorial. Make sure to provide any necessary permissions and your Apple account password if prompted.

Once the installation is complete, you should be able to open the downgraded Google Photos app on your iPhone. Keep in mind that the app may not show up correctly in the spotlight search, but it should be accessible in the app library. To avoid confusion, it’s recommended that you delete the original app from your device.

It’s worth noting that Sideloadly may prompt you for multiple permissions and your Apple account password. However, the app is considered reliable, so there’s no need to be afraid to provide this information.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to note that the issue is not with the Google Photos app but with the iOS update. We hope Google and Apple prioritize the issue and fix it as soon as possible. Until then, this workaround will help you continue to use the Google Photos app without any issues.

--

--

Bianca Patrick

Bianca is a content creator & a passionate blogger. She is a professional tech blogger & an avid reader. She loves to explore topics related to tech.