The fastest way to restart an app on Apple TV

To restart an app on Apple TV, press and hold the Select button (the center touchpad button) on your Siri Remote for about three seconds until the app preview shrinks and a menu appears. Then swipe down to highlight the close icon (an X in a circle) and press Select. Wait a few seconds, then open the app again from the home screen.

This method works on all current Apple TV models and is the standard way to force-close an app that is frozen, crashing, or behaving oddly. The app will fully shut down and clear from memory, so when you reopen it, it starts fresh.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the Select button on your Siri Remote for three seconds to bring up the app menu, then swipe down and press Select on the close icon.
  • Force-closing an app clears it from memory completely, which fixes most freezing, crashing, or performance problems.
  • If an app still misbehaves after restarting, try restarting your Apple TV itself by going to Settings > System > Restart.
  • Uninstalling and reinstalling an app from the App Store is the next step if restarting does not solve the problem.

When you should restart an app instead of just closing it

Closing an app by swiping up from the dock or pressing the Menu button puts it in the background, but it stays in memory. Restarting (force-closing) removes it from memory entirely, which is why it fixes problems that a straightforward close does not.

Restart an app when it is frozen and will not respond to remote input, when it crashes and returns you to the home screen, when video or audio is stuck or stuttering, or when it is running slowly. You should also restart an app if you have just signed in or out and want to make sure the change takes effect.

Step-by-step: force-closing an app on Apple TV

Step 1: From the home screen, highlight the app you want to restart by moving the focus to it with your remote.

Step 2: Press and hold the Select button (the center of the touchpad) for about three seconds. Do not press Menu or the back button — it must be Select.

Step 3: A menu will appear with the app preview shrinking in the background. You will see options including a close icon (an X in a circle).

Step 4: Swipe down on the remote touchpad to highlight the close icon, then press Select to close the app.

Step 5: Wait three to five seconds for the app to fully shut down, then open it again by selecting it from the home screen.

What to do if the app still does not work after restarting

If restarting the app does not fix the problem, the next step is to restart your Apple TV itself. Go to Settings > System > Restart and wait for the device to power down and back up. This clears the entire system memory and often solves issues that affect multiple apps.

If the app still misbehaves after restarting your Apple TV, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Press and hold Select on the app icon, swipe down to the delete option, and press Select. Then go to the App Store, search for the app, and read it again. This gives you a fresh copy of the app with all its settings reset to default.

Restarting apps on older Apple TV models

If you have an Apple TV (4th generation) or earlier, the process is slightly different. Hold the Select button until the app preview shrinks and a menu appears, then swipe down to highlight the close icon and press Select. The timing and menu layout are the same, but the remote itself may feel different if you are using an older aluminum remote instead of the Siri Remote.

For Apple TV HD (4th generation), you can also go to Settings > Apps, highlight the app, press Select, and choose to close it. This method works but is slower than using the remote menu, so most people prefer the hold-Select approach.

Why apps freeze or crash on Apple TV

Apps freeze or crash when they run out of available memory, when a network connection drops mid-operation, or when the app code itself has a bug. Apple TV has limited RAM compared to a computer or phone, so apps that use a lot of memory can become unstable if other apps are also running in the background.

Restarting the app clears its memory use and stops any stuck processes. If an app crashes repeatedly, it usually means the app needs an update from the developer, or your Apple TV needs more free storage space. Check the App Store to see if an update is available, and if your storage is low, delete apps or content you no longer use.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Closing an app (swiping up or pressing Menu) puts it in the background but leaves it in memory. Restarting (force-closing with the Select button menu) removes it from memory completely. Restarting is more thorough and fixes problems that closing alone does not.

Will restarting an app delete my saved data or sign me out?

Restarting an app does not delete saved data or sign you out. Your login information and any data stored on the app's servers will remain. However, if the app was in the middle of an action when you closed it, that unsaved action will be lost.

How long should I wait before opening the app again?

Wait three to five seconds after closing the app before opening it again. This gives the system time to fully release the app from memory. If you open it too quickly, you may catch the tail end of the old process still shutting down.

Can I restart multiple apps at once?

No, you can only restart one app at a time using the Select button menu. If you want to clear memory for multiple apps, restart your Apple TV itself, which closes all running apps at once.

What if the Select button menu does not appear when I hold the button?

Make sure you are holding the center of the touchpad (Select), not the Menu button. If the menu still does not appear, your remote may need new batteries or a restart. Try restarting your Apple TV and remote by unplugging both for 10 seconds, then plugging them back in.