Is Picsart refusing to open on your device with the frustrating error message "Failed to start several times"? You‘re not alone. According to a survey by The Tool Report, 53% of app users encounter crashes, freezes, or errors on a regular basis. Many users of Picsart, a popular photo and video editing app with over 150 million active creators, have reported this particular issue at some point. But don‘t worry – in most cases, it‘s a fairly simple problem to resolve.
What is Picsart?
Before we dive into troubleshooting, let‘s start with a quick refresher on what Picsart is and why it‘s so widely used. With an extensive suite of AI-powered editing tools, Picsart aims to be an all-in-one solution for creating professional-quality content. Its features include:
- Basic editing functions like cropping, resizing, and filters
- Advanced AI tools for removing backgrounds, upscaling images, and turning text into art
- Extensive library of customizable templates, stickers, and fonts
- Ability to create custom AI avatars
- Sharing and collaboration features for its active creator community
Picsart‘s user base has grown rapidly in recent years, with the app now boasting over 1 billion installs across 180 countries. 43% of its users are between the ages of 18-25, with another 35% in the 25-35 age range. Its popularity is driven in large part by the rise of AI-assisted editing tools, which make professional-level editing techniques accessible to casual users.
Why Won‘t Picsart Open?
So why might such a powerful and popular app suddenly stop working? According to a report by Kumulos, the most common causes of app crashes are:
- Poor memory management (38%)
- Buggy code (24%)
- Unhandled exceptions (19%)
- Inefficient algorithm logic (12%)
In the case of Picsart specifically, there are a few common culprits behind the "Failed to start several times" error:
Overloaded cache: Every time you use Picsart, it saves certain data to help the app run more efficiently in the future. Over time, this cache can become bloated and cause issues. As tech writer Lance Whitney explains, "Cached data can become corrupted or overloaded to the point where it causes problems with the app."
Insufficient storage: Picsart requires a certain amount of free space on your device to function properly – at least 200MB, according to the app‘s support page. If your phone storage is maxed out with photos, videos, and other files, the app may be unable to operate.
Outdated software: As with any app, Picsart performs best when running on the latest version designed for compatibility with your device‘s current operating system. If you‘ve fallen behind on updates, you may encounter glitches. Android Authority notes that "app developers generally optimize their apps for the latest OS versions."
Device limitations: Older phone models with lower amounts of RAM may struggle to run Picsart smoothly, especially as the app rolls out increasingly sophisticated AI features. Certain devices may not be supported at all. Picsart currently requires Android 5.0 or later and iOS 11.0 or later.
Data corruption: In more stubborn cases, the underlying data the app needs to run may have become corrupted, either through a faulty update or another mishap. This can often be resolved by uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
Server downtime: On rare occasions, the problem may have nothing to do with your device at all. If Picsart‘s servers are down for maintenance or experiencing an unexpected issue, the app may be inaccessible to all users for a period of time.
Troubleshooting Steps
The good news is that most of these potential issues have relatively straightforward solutions. Let‘s go through some troubleshooting steps to get Picsart back up and running on your device.
1. Clear App Cache and Data
First, try clearing the app cache and data. This will give Picsart a fresh start and often resolves any minor glitches caused by old data weighing the app down. The exact process for this varies slightly between iOS and Android devices:
On an iPhone:
- Go to your device Settings and scroll down to find Picsart
- Tap the app, then select "Offload App" to clear the cache
- If the issue persists, return here and tap "Delete App", then re-download Picsart from the App Store
On an Android:
- Open your device Settings and go to "Apps & Notifications"
- Find Picsart in the app list and tap on it
- Select "Storage & Cache"
- Tap "Clear Cache", then "Clear Storage"
- Restart your device and re-open Picsart
2. Free Up Device Storage
If clearing the cache and data doesn‘t do the trick, the next step is to check your device‘s storage and free up space if needed. Aim to have at least 1-2GB of storage available for Picsart to function smoothly. Here are some ways to quickly clear out space:
- Backup photos and videos to cloud storage or your computer, then delete them from your device
- Uninstall any apps you no longer use
- Delete old message threads and clear your browser cache
- Move large files to external storage, like an SD card
3. Update Picsart and Device OS
Next, make sure you‘re running the latest version of Picsart, as well as the most recent compatible operating system for your device. Newer versions often contain important bug fixes and performance improvements that can resolve issues found in older versions. To check for updates:
- On iOS, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and scroll down to see if Picsart is listed in available updates
- On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, then "Manage Apps & Device" to see if an update for Picsart is available
4. Uninstall and Reinstall the App
If none of the above steps have resolved the issue, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Picsart app entirely. This can help if the app data has become corrupted in a way that can‘t be fixed through other means. Just be aware that you may lose any unsaved projects in the process.
5. Download an Older Version (Android Only)
In the rare case that your device is incompatible with the current version of Picsart, you may be able to find an older version of the app that still works. Third-party sites like APKMirror offer downloads of previous app versions for Android devices. However, be cautious and only download from reputable sources to avoid accidentally installing malware.
6. Contact Picsart Support
If you‘ve tried all of these troubleshooting methods and are still encountering the "Failed to start several times" error, it‘s worth reaching out to the Picsart support team directly. They may be aware of a widespread issue affecting multiple users or have additional suggestions tailored to your specific case.
Preventing Future Issues
To prevent this problem from cropping up again in the future, keep these tips in mind:
- Regularly clear your Picsart cache, especially after heavy use or updating the app. As tech expert David Nield advises, "You should be clearing a cache every month or two, or whenever an app starts to malfunction."
- Keep at least 1-2GB of storage free on your device at all times
- Enable automatic app updates to ensure you always have the latest bug fixes and performance improvements
- Avoid downloading Picsart (or any apps) from third-party sources that may offer compromised versions
- Regularly clear out old files and data to optimize overall device performance
Alternative Editing Apps
If you simply can‘t find a way to get Picsart working again and need a reliable photo editing alternative in the meantime, check out these similar free apps:
- Snapseed: Developed by Google, Snapseed offers a range of professional-level editing tools and filter presets. It‘s known for its intuitive interface and powerful selective editing capabilities.
- Canva: While primarily a graphic design app, Canva also offers easy-to-use photo editing tools. Its extensive library of templates, graphics, and fonts makes it a popular choice for creating social media content.
- VSCO: VSCO is known for its film-emulation presets that give photos a trendy, vintage look. It also offers standard editing functions and a built-in camera with manual controls.
- Adobe Lightroom: The mobile version of Adobe‘s professional-grade editing software offers many of the same powerful tools as its desktop counterpart. While some features require a Creative Cloud subscription, the app is free to download and use.
While these apps may not have all the same AI capabilities as Picsart, they can certainly help fill the gap until you‘re able to resolve the issues with your preferred editing app.
The Importance of Stability
The ability to consistently access the tools you need is crucial to maintaining a smooth creative workflow. As digital media expert Matt Smith notes, "App stability and reliability are critical factors in user retention. If an app frequently crashes or fails to load, users will quickly abandon it for a competitor."
This is especially true for an app like Picsart, whose core user base consists of young, tech-savvy creators who rely on the app for both personal and professional projects. A survey by The Harris Poll found that nearly 60% of Gen Z users say they would stop using an app entirely if it crashed more than three times.
While no app is completely immune to the occasional outage or malfunction, developers must prioritize stability and performance to maintain user trust and loyalty. By offering detailed troubleshooting guides and responsive customer support, Picsart can minimize the impact of technical issues and keep its creator community engaged.
The Future of AI Editing
Picsart‘s wide array of AI-powered editing tools have made it a go-to resource for casual and professional creatives alike. Its active community offers a constant source of inspiration, education, and feedback for those looking to grow their skills.
As AI continues to advance and integrate with creative tools, apps like Picsart are well-positioned to lead the charge. A report by MarketsandMarkets predicts that the global market for AI in creative workflows will reach $10.1 billion by 2026, up from just $724 million in 2021.
For creatives, this means an ever-expanding toolkit of AI-assisted features to help bring their visions to life more quickly and easily. From automatic background removal to style transfer filters to AI-generated art, the possibilities are endless. As long as developers prioritize stability and performance alongside these cutting-edge capabilities, apps like Picsart will likely remain essential tools for the next generation of creators.
Conclusion
While it‘s always frustrating when a favorite app like Picsart suddenly stops working, a bit of troubleshooting is often all it takes to identify and resolve the problem. By methodically ruling out potential causes, from an overloaded cache to an outdated operating system, you can minimize downtime and keep your projects on track.
Remember, even the most sophisticated AI-powered apps are not infallible. Glitches and bugs are par for the course in our tech-driven world. What matters is how we respond to these challenges – with patience, persistence, and a proactive approach to finding solutions.
So the next time you encounter the dreaded "Failed to start several times" error on Picsart, take a deep breath and work through the steps outlined here. Chances are, you‘ll be back to creating and sharing in no time.