The fastest way to close an app on Samsung tablets
To close an app on a Samsung tablet, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment until the recent apps panel appears. Find the app you want to close, then swipe it up and off the top of the screen. The app closes when ready. On some older Samsung models, you may see an X button in the corner of each app card instead — tap that to close it.
If an app is frozen or not responding, you can force it closed through Settings instead. Open Settings, tap Apps, find the app name, and tap Force Stop. This stops the app completely but does not uninstall it — the app remains on your tablet and you can open it again later.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to open the recent apps panel, then swipe the app upward to close it.
- Older Samsung tablets may show an X button on each app card instead of requiring a swipe gesture.
- Use Force Stop in Settings only when an app is frozen or not responding, because it stops the app without closing it normally.
- Closing an app removes it from memory but does not uninstall it from your tablet.
Opening the recent apps panel on different Samsung models
The gesture to open recent apps changed between Samsung tablet generations. On newer models (2020 and later), swipe up from the very bottom edge of the screen and pause for about half a second. You should see a row of app cards appear at the bottom, then expand to fill the screen.
On older Samsung tablets running Android 8 or 9, you may have a dedicated recent apps button — a square icon on the navigation bar at the bottom. Tap that button to see your recent apps instead of swiping. If you are not sure which method your tablet uses, try the swipe first, since that is the current standard.
Closing a single app versus clearing all recent apps
Once the recent apps panel is open, you have two choices. To close just one app, swipe that app card upward and off the top of the screen. The app closes and disappears from the list. To close all open apps at once, look for a Close All button, usually at the bottom right of the recent apps panel. Tap it and every app closes.
Closing all apps at once can help if your tablet is running slowly or if you want a fresh start. However, you do not need to close apps regularly — Samsung tablets manage memory automatically, and closing apps does not save battery in the way it did on older devices.
What to do when an app will not close normally
If swiping does not work or the app does not respond, the app may be frozen. Open Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen twice to open the quick settings panel, then tap the gear icon. Scroll down and tap Apps or Applications (the exact name varies by model).
Find the app that is not responding in the list and tap its name. You will see an Info or App Info button — tap that. On the next screen, tap Force Stop. The app stops running when ready. This does not uninstall the app; it straightforward stops it from running in the background. You can open the app again whenever you want.
The difference between closing and uninstalling an app
Closing an app removes it from memory and stops it from running, but the app stays installed on your tablet. The next time you tap the app icon, it opens fresh. Uninstalling an app removes it completely from your tablet, including all its files and data.
You do not need to close apps to free up space — uninstalling is what removes storage. Closing an app is useful only when an app is misbehaving or you want to stop it from running in the background. If you want to remove an app permanently, long-press its icon on the home screen and select Uninstall, or go to Settings > Apps, find the app, and tap Uninstall.
Closing apps without using the recent apps panel
If you prefer not to use the recent apps panel, you can close an app by pressing the back button repeatedly until you exit the app completely. On Samsung tablets, the back button is usually a left-pointing arrow on the navigation bar at the bottom. Keep tapping it until you return to the home screen.
You can also close an app by opening a different app. When you tap a new app icon, the previous app closes automatically in the background. This is the least direct method, but it works if the recent apps panel is not responding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps save battery on my Samsung tablet?
No. Modern Samsung tablets manage memory and power automatically. Closing apps does not meaningfully extend battery life. You only need to close an app if it is misbehaving or using excessive resources, which you can check in Settings > Device Care > Battery.
What happens if I force stop an app?
Force Stop halts the app when ready and clears it from memory. The app remains installed on your tablet. You can open it again by tapping its icon. Use Force Stop only when an app is frozen or not responding, because some apps may not work correctly until you restart your tablet.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
Yes. Open the recent apps panel, look for the Close All button (usually at the bottom right), and tap it. Every open app closes at once. You can also close apps individually by swiping each one upward.
Why does my app keep reopening after I close it?
Some apps are set to start automatically when you turn on your tablet, or they may restart if another app launches them. If an app keeps reopening, open Settings > Apps, find the app, tap App Info, and look for a Disable or Force Stop option. You can also check Settings > Device Care > Battery and move the app to the Sleep Apps list.
Is there a way to close an app without swiping?
Yes. Press the back button on the navigation bar repeatedly until you exit the app and return to the home screen. This method works on all Samsung tablets, though it takes longer than swiping. You can also open a different app, which automatically closes the previous one.