Closing an app on Android prevents it from running in the background, which can improve battery life, device speed, and performance. If standard closing doesn’t resolve issues, you can close apps on Android using force stop or by managing running services. This guide covers three effective methods that work on most Android devices, including Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets.
How to close apps on Android
Follow these three methods to close apps, starting with the simplest recent apps list.
Method 1: Using the recent apps list
- Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen and hold, or tap the recent apps icon (such as three vertical lines, a square, or cascading rectangles) to open the recent apps list. This works on Android 10 and above.
- Scroll left, right, up, or down to find the app you want to close.
- Swipe the app up and off the screen, or left/right if the list scrolls vertically. Alternatively, tap the X in the top corner if available.
- To close all apps, tap “Close all” or “Clear all”.
Method 2: Force stopping an app
- Open the Settings app by tapping the gear icon in your app drawer, or swipe down from the top of the screen (use two fingers if needed) and tap the gear icon. Use this if the app persists after using the recent apps list.
- Scroll down and tap “Apps” or “Apps & notifications”.
- Tap the app you want to close. If needed, tap the three-dot menu and select “Show system apps” or “Show all apps”.
- Tap “Stop” or “Force stop”. Warning: This may cause the app to misbehave or prevent saving data.
- Confirm by tapping “OK” or “Force stop” to halt all background processes.
Method 3: Stopping a running service
- Open the Settings app by tapping the gear icon.
- Scroll down and tap “About phone” or “About tablet”. You may need to tap “System” first.
- Scroll to the “Build number” (under “Software information” if hidden) and tap it 7 to 10 times until you see “You are now a developer!”
- Tap the back button, then select “Developer options” near the bottom.
- Tap “Running services” (or “Processes” or “Process stats”).
- Select the service to stop, listed by RAM usage. Warning: Avoid Google or Android services to prevent crashes or reboots.
- Tap “Stop” and confirm if prompted. Note that services may restart on app reopen or reboot.
Why this matters
Properly closing apps frees up RAM and CPU resources, leading to smoother multitasking and faster device performance. This is especially useful on older Android devices or when running many apps.
By reducing background processes, you extend battery life significantly—often noticing quicker charging and longer usage between charges. It also helps troubleshoot freezes or slowdowns without restarts. Regularly applying these methods keeps your Android running efficiently over time.
