The fastest way to close an app

To close an app on an Android tablet, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment. A list of your open apps will appear. Find the app you want to close and swipe it upward off the screen. The app will shut down when ready.

This method works on most Android tablets running version 9 or newer. If your tablet is older, you may see a different screen layout, but the principle is the same — you are telling Android to remove the app from memory.

You can also close an app by straightforward opening a different app or pressing the home button. Android will keep the closed app in the background for a moment, but it will stop running and free up your tablet's memory.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to see all open apps, then swipe the app you want to close upward off the screen.
  • Closing an app this way stops it from running and frees up your tablet's memory and battery.
  • You can also close an app by opening a different app or pressing the home button, though the app may stay in memory briefly.
  • Closing apps regularly can help your tablet run faster if you notice it slowing down.
  • Some apps, like messaging or email, may continue to receive notifications even after you close them if background activity is turned on.

Using the recent apps menu on older Android tablets

If your tablet is running Android 8 or earlier, the gesture to close apps is different. Press and hold the button in the bottom right corner of your screen — this is the "recent apps" or "overview" button. A list of open apps will appear, and you can swipe each one upward to close it.

On some very old tablets, you may see an X button in the corner of each app card instead of a swipe gesture. Tap the X to close that app. The exact appearance depends on your tablet's Android version and manufacturer.

Closing an app from the settings menu

If an app is frozen or not responding to the normal close gesture, you can force it to close through settings. Open the Settings app and look for "Apps" or "process Manager." Tap it, then find the app you want to close in the list.

Tap the app name, then look for a button that says "Force Stop" or "Stop." Tap it. This tells Android to shut down the app when ready, even if it is stuck or frozen. Be aware that force-stopping an app may cause you to lose unsaved work inside that app.

When closing apps actually helps your tablet

Closing apps frees up your tablet's RAM, which is the memory your tablet uses to run programs. If you notice your tablet is slow, sluggish, or apps are crashing, closing unused apps can help. Open the recent apps menu and close everything you are not using right now.

However, closing apps does not save much battery on modern Android tablets. Android is designed to manage apps in the background efficiently, so closing an app uses almost as much power as leaving it open. If your battery is draining fast, the problem is usually a single app using too much power, not the number of open apps.

Closing apps without using gestures

If the swipe gesture is not working on your tablet, check whether your screen is dirty or wet. Wipe the screen with a dry cloth and try again. Sometimes a fingerprint or water droplet blocks the gesture from registering.

You can also use voice commands if your tablet has Google Assistant. Say "Hey Google, close [app name]" and the app will shut down. This works on most Android tablets made in the last five years.

What happens when you close an app

When you close an app, Android stops running it and removes it from the recent apps list. However, the app's data and settings are saved on your tablet, so when you open it again, it will be exactly where you left it.

Some apps, like email or messaging, may continue to work in the background even after you close them. This is because you have given them permission to run background tasks. If you want to stop an app from running in the background, go to Settings, find the app, and turn off "Background activity" or "Background restriction."

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps make my tablet faster?

Closing unused apps frees up RAM, which can help if your tablet is running many programs at once. If your tablet feels slow, close apps you are not using. However, if only one app is causing the slowdown, closing others will not help much.

Will I lose my work if I close an app?

Most apps save your work automatically, so closing them is safe. However, if you close an app without saving, you may lose recent changes. If an app asks you to save before closing, do so before you swipe it away.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

Yes. Open the recent apps menu, then swipe up on each app you want to close. You can close them one at a time, or on some tablets you can tap "Close all" to shut down everything at once.

What is the difference between closing an app and uninstalling it?

Closing an app stops it from running but keeps it on your tablet. Uninstalling removes the app completely from your tablet. You can close an app and open it again later. If you uninstall an app, you have to read it again to use it.

Why does an app keep opening after I close it?

Some apps are set to start automatically when you turn on your tablet, or they may restart themselves if they have background tasks enabled. If an app keeps reopening, go to Settings, find the app, and turn off "Autostart" or "Background activity."