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 window shows a menu with options. Then swipe down and select Close. Wait a few seconds, then open the app again from the home screen.
This method works on all Apple TV models with the Siri Remote. The app fully closes and clears from memory, which fixes most freezing, crashing, or performance problems. You do not need to restart the entire Apple TV device—just the single app.
Key Takeaways
- Hold the Select button (center of the touchpad) on your Siri Remote for three seconds to open the app menu.
- Swipe down and choose Close to shut down the app completely.
- Reopen the app from your home screen after waiting a few seconds.
- This method clears the app's memory and fixes most crashes, freezes, and buffering without restarting your entire Apple TV.
- If an app still does not work after closing and reopening, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.
Step-by-step: closing and reopening an app
Start by opening the app you want to restart. Once it is running, pick up your Siri Remote and locate the Select button—it is the circular touchpad in the center of the remote. Press and hold this button for about three seconds. Do not press it quickly; hold it down until you see a menu appear at the bottom of the screen.
The menu will show options including Close, Settings, and sometimes Uninstall. Use your thumb to swipe down on the touchpad until Close is highlighted, then press the Select button to choose it. The app will shut down when ready. Wait five to ten seconds—this gives the app time to fully clear from your Apple TV's memory.
Return to the home screen by pressing the Menu button on your remote. Find the app icon and select it to open it again. The app will launch fresh, and most performance issues will be resolved.
When to restart an app instead of the whole device
Restarting a single app is faster and solves most problems without disrupting what else you are doing. Use this method when an app freezes, crashes, stops responding, buffers constantly, or displays an error message. You can restart an app in seconds and get back to watching.
Restarting your entire Apple TV device takes longer and is only necessary if multiple apps are misbehaving, the remote is not responding, or the device itself is sluggish. For a single app problem, closing and reopening is the right first step.
What to do if closing the app does not fix the problem
If an app still crashes or freezes after you close and reopen it, the next step is to uninstall and reinstall it. Hold the Select button on the app icon from your home screen (not while the app is running), swipe down, and choose Uninstall. Wait a few seconds, then go to the App Store, search for the app by name, and select it to reinstall.
Reinstalling clears out corrupted files or settings that a straightforward restart cannot fix. This usually takes one to two minutes. After reinstalling, open the app and sign in again if needed. Most apps will work normally after a fresh install.
Restarting apps on different Apple TV remote types
The Siri Remote (the newer aluminum remote with a touchpad) uses the Select button method described above. If you have an older Apple TV Remote (the smaller black remote with a circular click pad), the process is identical—hold the Select button in the center for three seconds, then choose Close from the menu.
Both remotes work the same way for this task. If you are unsure which remote you have, look at its shape: the Siri Remote is longer and has a flat touchpad at the top, while the older remote is smaller and more compact. Either way, holding the center button for three seconds will bring up the app menu.
Common mistakes when restarting apps
The most common mistake is pressing the Select button too quickly instead of holding it. A quick press will just pause or play the app—you need to hold it for the full three seconds until the menu appears. If no menu shows up, try again and count to three slowly.
Another mistake is choosing Settings instead of Close. Settings opens the app's preferences and does not restart it. Make sure you swipe down to highlight Close before pressing Select. Also, do not when ready reopen the app—wait a few seconds so it has time to fully shut down and clear from memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting an app delete my saved data or login information?
No. Closing an app does not erase your account login, watch history, or saved preferences. When you reopen the app, you will be logged in and everything will be where you left it. The app straightforward stops running and clears temporary files that may be causing problems.
How long should I wait before reopening an app after closing it?
Wait five to ten seconds. This gives your Apple TV time to fully release the app from memory. If you reopen it too quickly, it may still be partially loaded and the problem might not be fixed. A short pause ensures a completely fresh start.
Can I restart multiple apps at once?
You can close multiple apps one at a time, but you have to do each one separately. There is no option to close all apps at once. Close one app, wait a few seconds, return to the home screen, and repeat for the next app if needed.
What if the app menu does not appear when I hold the Select button?
Make sure you are holding the button for the full three seconds—a quick press will not work. If the menu still does not appear, try pressing the Menu button to return to the home screen and try again. If the remote is not responding at all, restart your Apple TV device by going to Settings > System > Restart.
Is restarting an app the same as force-quitting it?
Yes. Closing an app through the menu is Apple TV's version of force-quitting. It stops the app completely and clears it from memory, which is the same result as a force-quit on other devices. This is a normal troubleshooting step and will not harm your Apple TV.