The quickest way to close an app on Apple TV

To close an app on Apple TV, press and hold the Menu button on your remote while the app is open, then swipe up on the touchpad and release. The app will slide off the screen and close. This works on all Apple TV models running tvOS 12 and later.

If you're using an older Apple TV remote without a touchpad, press the Menu button twice quickly instead. The app will close and return you to the home screen.

You can also close an app by pressing the Home button to return to the home screen, though this leaves the app running in the background. Fully closing an app using the Menu button method stops it from using memory and battery power.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold Menu, then swipe up on the touchpad to close any app on Apple TV with tvOS 12 or later.
  • On older remotes without a touchpad, press Menu twice to close the app.
  • Pressing Home returns you to the home screen but leaves the app running in the background.
  • Fully closing apps frees up memory and can improve your Apple TV's performance if multiple apps are open.

Closing apps on the Siri Remote (2nd generation and newer)

The Siri Remote that comes with newer Apple TV models has a clickpad at the top. To close an app, hold down the Menu button (the one with three horizontal lines) until the app preview appears on screen. Then swipe up on the clickpad with one finger and release.

The app will animate upward and close. You'll return to the home screen automatically. This method works reliably and is the standard way Apple designed app closing to work on current Apple TV hardware.

Closing apps on older Apple TV remotes

If you have an Apple TV with the older aluminum remote (used on Apple TV 4K first generation and earlier), the process is different because there's no touchpad. Instead, press the Menu button twice in quick succession while the app is open.

The app will close and you'll return to the home screen. This double-press method is less intuitive than the swipe gesture on newer remotes, but it accomplishes the same result. If a double-press doesn't work, try holding Menu for a few seconds instead.

What happens when you close an app versus pressing Home

When you close an app using the Menu-and-swipe method, the app stops running entirely. It no longer uses memory, processing power, or battery. If you open it again later, it will start fresh from the beginning.

When you press Home, the app stays running in the background. Apple TV can manage several apps this way without slowing down noticeably, but if you have many apps open at once, your Apple TV may become sluggish. Closing apps you're done with is a straightforward way to keep performance smooth, especially on older Apple TV models.

Closing multiple apps at once

Apple TV doesn't have a built-in "close all apps" button, so you'll need to close each app individually using the Menu-and-swipe method. Start with the app you're currently viewing, close it, then open the next app and repeat.

If your Apple TV feels slow or unresponsive, closing the three or four most recently used apps often restores normal speed. You can see which apps are running by pressing Home and looking at the app switcher row at the top of the screen — these are your active apps.

Troubleshooting when an app won't close

If an app is frozen or won't respond to the Menu button, try holding Menu for longer — up to 10 seconds. Some apps take a moment to register the command. If the app still won't close, press Home to exit it, then restart your Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Restart.

Restarting clears the app from memory and usually solves freezing problems. You don't lose any saved data or settings — restarting just refreshes the system. After restart, avoid opening too many apps at once, as this is often what causes slowdowns in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing an app delete my saved progress or settings?

No. Closing an app only stops it from running. Your saved games, watch history, login information, and all other data remain on your Apple TV. When you open the app again, everything will be exactly as you left it.

What's the difference between closing an app and uninstalling it?

Closing an app temporarily stops it from running but leaves it installed on your Apple TV. Uninstalling removes the app entirely from your device. To uninstall, press and hold the app icon on the home screen, select "Remove", then choose "Delete". Closing is temporary; uninstalling is permanent.

Will closing apps make my Apple TV faster?

Yes, if you have many apps open at once. Closing unused apps frees up memory and processing power. However, Apple TV is designed to manage multiple running apps, so you'll only notice a real speed improvement if you have five or more apps open simultaneously.

Can I close an app while it's playing video?

Yes. Video will stop playing when ready when you close the app. If you want to pause and resume later, press Home instead — this keeps the app running and remembers where you were in the video. Closing the app will require you to start over or navigate back to where you were.