The fastest way to restart a Samsung TV app
Most Samsung TV apps restart the same way: press the back button on your remote, wait a few seconds, then open the app again. This clears the app from memory and reloads it fresh. If that does not work, you can force-close the app through your TV's settings menu, which is more thorough and fixes most freezing, crashing, or loading problems.
The method you use depends on which Samsung TV model you own and what the app is doing wrong. A straightforward back-button restart works for minor glitches. A forced close works when an app is completely stuck or will not respond to remote commands.
Key Takeaways
- Pressing the back button and reopening an app restarts it without entering settings, and solves most temporary freezing or loading issues.
- Force-closing an app through Settings > Apps stops a frozen app that will not respond to your remote and clears all its stored data from memory.
- The path to force-close differs between Tizen OS (2015–2022 models) and Google TV (2023 and newer), so check your TV's system under Settings > About TV.
- Restarting the entire TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds fixes problems that affect multiple apps at once.
- Clearing an app's cache through Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Storage removes temporary files without deleting your login information.
Restarting an app with the back button
This is the quickest restart and works for most apps. Press the back button on your Samsung remote once. The app closes and returns you to the home screen. Wait three to five seconds, then select the app again to open it. The app loads fresh from your TV's storage.
Use this method first when an app is slow, frozen, or shows a blank screen. It does not erase any of your settings or login information. If the app still does not work after a back-button restart, move to force-closing the app instead.
Force-closing an app on Tizen OS (2015–2022 models)
If an app will not respond to your remote or the back button does not work, force-close it through the settings menu. Press the Home button on your remote to go to the home screen. Navigate to Settings (the gear icon), then select Apps.
Scroll down and find the app you want to restart. Select it, then choose the option labeled "Force Stop" or "Close". Your TV removes the app from memory completely. Wait a few seconds, then go back to the home screen and open the app again. It will load as if you had just installed it.
Force-closing erases any temporary files the app stored while it was running, but does not delete your saved passwords or account information. If you were logged into the app before you force-closed it, you will still be logged in when you reopen it.
Force-closing an app on Google TV (2023 and newer models)
Samsung's newer TVs run Google TV instead of Tizen OS, and the path to force-close an app is slightly different. Press the Home button, then go to Settings. Select Apps or Applications, then select See All Apps or Manage Apps.
Find the app in the list and select it. Choose "Force Stop" from the menu that appears. Your TV closes the app completely. Return to the home screen and open the app again to restart it.
If you are not sure whether your TV runs Tizen or Google TV, go to Settings > About TV. The system name appears near the top of the screen.
Clearing an app's cache without uninstalling it
If an app keeps crashing or loading slowly even after a force-close, clearing its cache often fixes the problem. The cache is temporary data the app stores on your TV — clearing it removes that data but keeps your login information and settings intact.
On Tizen OS, go to Settings > Apps, select the app, then choose Storage > Clear Cache. On Google TV, go to Settings > Apps > See All Apps, select the app, then choose Storage > Clear Cache. Your TV removes the temporary files. Open the app again — it will take slightly longer to load the first time as it rebuilds its cache, but it usually runs faster afterward.
Restarting your entire Samsung TV
If multiple apps are freezing, crashing, or running slowly at the same time, restart the entire TV instead of individual apps. Press the power button on your remote to turn the TV off. Unplug the power cable from the back of the TV and wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in and press the power button to turn it on.
A full TV restart clears the TV's memory, closes all running apps, and resets temporary system files. This fixes problems that affect the whole TV rather than a single app. It takes about two to three minutes for your TV to fully restart and be ready to use.
When to restart versus reinstall an app
Restart an app first when it is freezing, loading slowly, or showing an error message. Restarting fixes almost all temporary problems and takes less than a minute. Force-close the app, wait a few seconds, and open it again.
Uninstall and reinstall an app only if restarting does not work and the problem keeps happening. Uninstalling removes the app completely, including all your saved data and login information. Go to Settings > Apps, select the app, and choose Uninstall. Then go to the Samsung TV App Store or Google Play Store, search for the app, and install it again. You will need to log back in, but a fresh install sometimes fixes problems that restarting cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting an app delete my login information?
No. Restarting or force-closing an app does not erase your passwords or account information. You will still be logged in when you open the app again. Only uninstalling the app removes your login data.
How long does it take to restart an app?
A back-button restart takes about 10 to 15 seconds total. A force-close restart takes 20 to 30 seconds because you have to navigate through the settings menu. A full TV restart takes two to three minutes.
What is the difference between force-closing and uninstalling?
Force-closing stops the app and clears it from memory, but the app stays installed on your TV. Uninstalling removes the app completely, and you have to reinstall it from the app store to use it again. Force-close first; uninstall only if restarting does not fix the problem.
Why does my app keep crashing even after I restart it?
If an app crashes repeatedly, try clearing its cache through Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Storage > Clear Cache. If that does not work, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the app store. Repeated crashes usually mean the app's files are corrupted and need to be replaced.
Can I restart multiple apps at once?
No. You have to restart each app individually by force-closing it and reopening it. If many apps are having problems at the same time, restart your entire TV instead by unplugging it for 30 seconds.