Force closing an app on Apple TV stops it completely without restarting the device
When an app freezes, crashes, or runs slowly, force closing it clears it from memory and stops any background processes. On Apple TV, you do this through the App Switcher—a menu that shows all open apps. You swipe up from the bottom of the screen with your remote, find the frozen app, and swipe up on it to close it. The app shuts down when ready, and you can reopen it fresh.
This is different from just pressing the Home button, which only sends the app to the background. Force closing actually terminates the app's processes, which fixes most performance problems without unplugging your Apple TV or waiting for a restart.
Key Takeaways
- Open the App Switcher by swiping up from the bottom of your remote's touchpad, which shows all currently open apps.
- Navigate to the app you want to close and swipe up on it to force close it completely.
- Force closing stops the app's processes and clears it from memory, which fixes freezing and lag without restarting Apple TV.
- If an app won't respond to the App Switcher, restart Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Restart.
Open the App Switcher with your remote
The App Switcher is the menu that displays all apps currently running on your Apple TV. To open it, hold your remote in one hand and look at the touchpad—the flat, clickable surface at the top of the remote. Swipe your thumb upward from the bottom edge of the touchpad in one smooth motion. You should see a row of app icons appear at the bottom of your screen.
If nothing appears, make sure you are swiping from the very bottom of the touchpad, not from the middle or top. The swipe needs to start low and move upward. On newer Apple TV remotes (Siri Remote 2nd generation and later), this motion is the same whether your remote has a click ring or a flat surface.
Find and select the app you want to close
Once the App Switcher is open, you will see a row of app icons at the bottom of the screen. Use the touchpad to navigate left and right through the list until the app you want to close is highlighted. The highlighted app will appear larger or with a border around it, showing it is selected.
If you have many apps open, you may need to swipe left or right several times to find the one you want. The App Switcher shows apps in the order they were opened, with the most recently used app appearing first on the left.
Swipe up on the app to force close it
Once the app is highlighted in the App Switcher, swipe upward on the touchpad again. This upward swipe tells Apple TV to force close the selected app. The app will disappear from the App Switcher when ready, and its processes will stop running.
You should see the app icon vanish from the row. If the app was frozen or unresponsive, it will no longer be running in the background. You can now return to the home screen by pressing the Home button on your remote, or open the app again if you want to use it fresh.
Return to the home screen after closing
After you force close an app, press the Home button on your remote to exit the App Switcher and return to the main Apple TV home screen. The Home button is the one with a house icon, usually at the top left of your remote.
If you want to open the app again, navigate to it from the home screen and select it. Because you force closed it, the app will start completely fresh with no leftover processes or data from before the crash.
What to do if the App Switcher does not appear
If swiping up from the bottom of the touchpad does not open the App Switcher, the remote may not be paired correctly or the gesture may not be registering. Try the swipe again, starting from the very bottom edge of the touchpad and moving upward in one smooth motion. Avoid hesitating or stopping mid-swipe.
If the App Switcher still does not appear after several attempts, restart your Apple TV. Go to Settings > System > Restart and wait for the device to power down and turn back on. This usually takes one to two minutes. After the restart, try opening the App Switcher again.
Restart Apple TV if an app will not respond
If an app is so frozen that the App Switcher will not open or respond, or if force closing does not fix the problem, restart your entire Apple TV. Go to Settings on the home screen, select System, then select Restart. Apple TV will shut down and turn back on automatically.
A restart clears all apps from memory and resets the system, which fixes most performance issues. The restart usually takes one to three minutes. You do not need to unplug the device—the restart command handles everything. After the restart completes, your Apple TV will return to the home screen and all apps will be closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does force closing an app delete my data or settings?
No. Force closing stops the app's processes but does not delete any saved data, login information, or settings. When you open the app again, it will remember your account and preferences. The app straightforward starts fresh without any leftover processes from the previous session.
Why does an app keep freezing even after I force close it?
Repeated freezing usually means the app itself has a problem or needs an update. Check the App Store on your Apple TV to see if an update is available for that app. If an update exists, install it. If the app continues to freeze after updating, the app may have a bug that the developer needs to fix.
Can I force close multiple apps at once?
No. The App Switcher lets you close one app at a time. If you want to close multiple apps, open the App Switcher, close the first app, then open it again and close the next one. Alternatively, restart your Apple TV to close all open apps at once.
What is the difference between force closing and just pressing Home?
Pressing Home sends the app to the background but leaves it running in memory. Force closing terminates the app's processes completely. If an app is frozen, pressing Home will not fix it—you need to force close it to stop the frozen processes.
Will force closing slow down my Apple TV?
No. Force closing actually improves performance by freeing up memory and stopping unnecessary background processes. If your Apple TV feels slow, force closing unused apps can help it run faster.