Ever had one of those moments when an app just freezes or refuses to behave on your Android? Yeah, I’ve been there too! That’s when force stopping comes to the rescue. For me, it’s like hitting a reset button for a misbehaving app—terminating its process and starting fresh. So, let me share my approach and tips on how to force stop an app, and why it’s sometimes your best troubleshooting option.
What Happens When You Force Stop an App?
First, it’s important to know that force stopping is different from just closing an app. When I close an app, it usually keeps running in the background. Force stopping completely kills its process, ensuring it’s not running at all until I choose to open it again. But learn morehere.
How to Force Stop An Applications on Any Android
Method 1: Using the Settings Menu
Sometimes, I prefer using the settings option, especially if the app is really stuck or invisible in the recent apps menu. Here’s what I do:
- Go to Settings: I open my phone’s settings (the gear icon) and scroll to find “Apps” or “Applications.”
- Locate the App: After that, I look for the app in the list of installed apps, which sometimes takes a little scrolling.
- Force Stop the App: Once I tap on the app, I see the “Force stop” option. A quick tap, and boom, the app is fully terminated.
Method 1: Using the Recent Apps Menu
Here’s how I do it quickly:
- Open the Recent Apps Menu: I either swipe up from the bottom or hit the square button (depending on my phone model) to see all the apps I’ve recently used.
- Find the App: I scroll through the open apps until I see the one that’s causing trouble.
- Swipe Up or Force Stop: Swiping the app up usually closes it. If I want to ensure it’s fully force-stopped, I hold it until a menu pops up and tap on “Force stop.”
Extra Tips Before Force Stopping
From my experience, force stopping should be my last option. Why? Because it can sometimes lead to issues like unexpected behavior or even data loss (depending on the app). Here are some things I like to try first:
- Close the App: I often start by simply closing the app and reopening it to see if that fixes the issue.
- Restart My Phone: I’ve found that restarting the phone solves a lot of problems without needing to force stop anything.
- Clear Cache or Data: Sometimes, clearing an app’s cache or even its data can resolve glitches without having to force stop it.
Watch Out for Side Effects of Forcestopping
| Fact | Explanation | Why It Matters (From My Perspective) |
| Force Stopping Can Interrupt Background Services | When I force stop an app, I’ve noticed that it can disrupt shared services, like notifications or location data, especially when the app is tied to Google Play or other system features. | In my experience, force stopping an app doesn’t just affect that specific app. Sometimes, it can briefly interrupt background services shared with other apps, causing things like location-based features or notifications to go haywire for a moment. If I use apps that need continuous syncing or location access, I try to avoid force stopping those for smoother performance across all my apps. |
| Force Stopping Temporarily Clears Cached Data | I’ve found that force stopping gives the app a fresh start by “freezing” certain processes, but it doesn’t completely clear all cached data. This helps the app reload faster later. | For me, this is a quick fix when I’m dealing with glitches. The app restarts without clearing all the cached data, so the content loads quicker the next time I open it. However, if I need a more thorough clean-up, clearing the cache manually might be the better option. |
| Force Stopping System Apps May Not Be Permanent | I’ve learned that force stopping system apps (like settings or background services) doesn’t work like it does with regular apps. Android often restarts these apps on its own because they’re essential for the system’s operations. | In my case, when I’ve tried to force stop system apps to save battery or reduce background activity, I’ve noticed they automatically restart. It’s helpful to remember that Android relies on these apps, so force stopping them won’t always be effective in the long run. I now use this trick only when absolutely necessary for troubleshooting. |
| Force Stopping Can Interfere with Battery Optimization | Force stopping can prevent apps from being optimized by Android’s battery-saving tools, as it marks them inactive. This can result in higher battery consumption. | Personally, I’ve found that force stopping can mess with my battery optimization settings. Apps that usually run in the background under optimized conditions might use more battery once they’re restarted. If I’m forced to stop apps to save battery, I try to be cautious and track how it affects overall battery life. |
| Force Stopping Doesn’t Always Free Up Memory Completely | Even though I force stop apps to free up memory, sometimes traces of the app remain in RAM, especially if it’s one I frequently use. | From what I’ve noticed, force stopping doesn’t always do the full trick when I’m trying to clear memory. If my phone still feels sluggish, a full restart might be a better way to clear everything out of memory, giving the system a more significant reset. |
| Persistent Notifications May Reappear After Force Stopping | Sometimes, even after force stopping apps like messaging or email, the notifications pop back up once the app syncs in the background again. | This one can be frustrating for me. I’ve tried to force stop apps like my email or chat apps to avoid notifications for a while, only to have them reappear later when the app syncs back up. It’s a reminder that for apps that depend on real-time data, force stopping won’t necessarily keep them quiet. |
| Force Stopping Can Disrupt Data Synchronization | If I force stop an app that’s in the middle of syncing data (like cloud storage or messaging apps), I might interrupt that process, leading to outdated data or incomplete updates. | I’ve had this happen before—force stopping an app while it’s syncing data, and then I’m stuck with incomplete or outdated information until it resyncs. If I need to force stop an app that relies on real-time data, I now make sure it’s not in the middle of a sync, so I don’t run into missing or delayed data issues. |
Force stopping an app can have some downsides. For example, if I force stop an app that’s critical for background processes (like a fitness tracker or messaging app), it might stop working correctly until I manually open it again. I always weigh this before taking action.
Apps That Most People Trend to ForceStop (as per general reviews)
| Category | App Examples | Why I Force Stop Them |
| Social Media Apps | Facebook, Instagram, TikTok | I’ve noticed these apps running in the background, constantly consuming my phone’s resources and battery life. Force stopping them gives my device a break, especially when I’m not using them. |
| Messaging Apps | WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger | These apps are notorious for overactive background syncing, which drains my battery quickly. Force stopping them keeps my battery in check, especially when I don’t need them running in the background. |
| Streaming Apps | YouTube, Spotify, Netflix | Streaming apps tend to use data and resources even when they’re not actively playing. I force them to avoid unnecessary data usage and resource consumption in the background. |
| Games | PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Clash of Clans | Games consume a lot of CPU and RAM, and even when I think they’re closed, they often keep running in the background. Force stopping them helps my device run smoother when I’m done playing. |
| Bloatware/Pre-installed Apps | Samsung Galaxy Store, Google Play Movies | These pre-installed apps are usually unnecessary for me, and they consume resources without offering much value. Force stopping them prevents them from wasting battery and memory. |
| Weather Apps | Weather Channel, AccuWeather | Weather apps constantly update my location, using background data and draining my battery. When I don’t need real-time updates, I force stop them to preserve battery life. |
| Shopping Apps | Amazon, eBay | I often get excessive notifications from shopping apps, along with background processes running unnecessarily. I force stop them when I’m not actively shopping to keep my phone running smoothly. |
| Health and Fitness Apps | Samsung Health, Google Fit | Health and fitness apps continuously sync data and use sensors like GPS, which drains my battery quickly. I force stop them when I’m not tracking my activity to prevent unnecessary battery consumption. |
| Location-based Apps | Google Maps, Waze | These apps run in the background, using GPS and battery, even when I’m not navigating. I force stop them after I’m done using them to save battery and avoid unnecessary background activity. |
| Background Service Apps | Google Play Services, Backup Apps | These apps perform background tasks that often slow down my phone’s performance. I force stop them occasionally to improve my device’s speed and responsiveness. |
Wrapping Up
Force stopping apps is a handy trick in my troubleshooting toolkit, but I try to use it sparingly. It’s a great way to handle stubborn crashes or glitches, but it’s important to consider other options first, like clearing cache or restarting the device. When used carefully, it helps keep my Android running smoothly without any major disruptions. If you ever find yourself stuck with an app that’s giving you a hard time, now you know exactly what to do!
