How to close apps on your Android phone

Like most Android™ users, you probably spend a lot of time bouncing between apps. One minute, you're checking out your best friend's Instagram Reel; the next, you're practicing French on Duolingo. Oh, and your text and email apps are constantly working in the background as new messages roll in. If you don't close these apps every now and then, it can become difficult to find what you need. 

At Asurion, we know how much you rely on your phone. Whether you need help deleting those pesky pre-installed Android apps or shopping for tech care, we've got answers. 

So, how do you close an app on Android? This guide walks through how to exit apps so they don't bog down your phone. 

View and close apps using gesture navigation

There's nothing more annoying than sifting through two dozen open apps as you try to find that PDF viewer or photo editing software. You can easily swipe away apps on Android with a few swooshes of your finger. Here's how: 

1. Swipe one finger up from the bottom of your screen. This opens a carousel that displays all your running apps on Android. 
2. To close an app, touch it lightly with your finger and swipe upwards. On some models, you can also tap a small X in the right-hand corner to close them. 

This option works best when you only want to close a few apps at a time. For instance, you might shut down TikTok and Facebook while you're studying, but leave Google Chrome open so you can do research for your class. 

View and close apps using button navigation

Depending on the model, you can also close an app on an Android phone by pressing a button at the bottom of the screen. On some versions, this looks like a square; on others, it's three lines. 

Press this button to open a carousel of currently running and background apps. You can swipe away apps one at a time by dragging them to the top of the screen, just like you would with gesture navigation. Or, stop all apps running on Android by tapping Close All below the carousel. 

Force close an app from Settings

Force stopping is a simple way to fix a frozen app on Android, but be cautious. This method can erase your data, so use it only as a last resort to shut down the app. 

If you have to go into your Android settings to force stop an app more than once, there's probably something wrong with it. Check with the app's developer to see if they've released a new update or bug patch. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the entire app. 

Sometimes, an app won’t respond to swipes—or it crashes and disappears, but you can tell it’s still running in the background. Some Android™ apps even stay hidden, quietly draining your battery and slowing things down.

Here’s how to force close an app using Settings:

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
2. Find and select the app you want to close.
3. Tap Force stop > OK to shut it down.

Force stopping an app can fix freezes or crashes, but use it sparingly—it may erase unsaved data. If you need to force stop the same app more than once, there may be an issue with something else. Check for app updates or bug fixes from the developer. If that doesn’t help, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app to start fresh.

What not to do when closing apps

As you manage apps on your Android phone, avoid these common mistakes: 

• Don't obsessively swipe away apps: Constantly closing them may stop background processes that your Android needs to function. For example, your alarm clock app might not go off if you shut it down. 
• Don't assume closing background apps improves Android performance: It doesn't. Really. Android is designed to manage these behind-the-scenes processes efficiently, without wasting energy or consuming memory. If you're trying to extend the time between charges, focus on other battery life tips, such as adjusting your screen's brightness to a lower setting. 
• Avoid force-stopping apps on Android: Forcing an app to close should always be a last resort. If the program is working normally, exit out of it with the button navigation or gestures instead. Otherwise, you might accidentally erase data.
• Don't always blame the app: Sometimes, the issue lies with your phone, not that seemingly buggy app. Try restarting your device or installing the latest update to see if your system works more smoothly.