Force Quit App: Smartphone, Computer & Tablet Guide

Restarting Frozen Apps on Mobile Devices

The need to force a restart of a malfunctioning application isn't limited to traditional desktop operating systems like Windows. Modern smartphones and tablets, including iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, can also experience situations where apps become unresponsive or enter undesirable states.

Addressing Application Freezes

All operating systems provide a mechanism for terminating applications that are not functioning correctly. This forceful termination allows users to close problematic apps.

Following a forced closure, relaunching the application is generally recommended. This often resolves the initial issue and restores normal functionality.

How to Force Quit Apps

• On iOS (iPhone and iPad), swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
• This will display recently used apps. Swipe left or right to find the frozen app.
• Swipe up on the app preview to close it.

Android devices may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, but generally involve accessing the recent apps screen and swiping the app away, or using a dedicated "force stop" option in the settings.

Successfully terminating a frozen app and restarting it can frequently resolve performance issues and restore a smooth user experience.

iPhone and iPad

Related: Contrary to popular belief, closing background apps on your iPhone or iPad does not necessarily improve performance.

Force-quitting an application on an iPhone or iPad involves a specific process. Begin by double-pressing the Home button to reveal the App Switcher, displaying recently used applications.

Within the App Switcher, navigate through the displayed thumbnails by swiping left or right. Locate the app you wish to terminate.

To close the selected app, tap its thumbnail and then swipe it upwards and off the screen. This action completely restarts the application upon its next launch.

It’s important to understand that this action doesn’t contribute to saving system resources. Allowing apps to manage themselves in the background is generally more efficient.

However, force-closing an app is beneficial when it becomes unresponsive or encounters an error. This method ensures a fresh start for the application.

If an app is frozen or behaving erratically, this technique provides a way to terminate it and initiate a restart from a clean state.

This process effectively resolves issues caused by a malfunctioning application.

Android

Android offers a straightforward method for completely closing applications. This is particularly useful when an app is malfunctioning or consuming excessive resources. Related information can be found regarding app management and the unnecessary use of task killers.

The most accessible way to force-close apps is through the recent apps switcher. Activating this switcher typically involves tapping a dedicated multitasking button.

However, on certain devices, accessing the recent apps list may require a long press of the Home button or an alternative gesture, depending on the device manufacturer’s customization.

Force Quitting Apps

Once the recent apps list is displayed, locate the thumbnail or card representing the app you wish to close. Then, swipe this card either to the left or to the right, effectively removing it from the screen.

This action will terminate the app, ensuring that when it is next launched, it will start in a fresh, clean state.

System Management

Similar to iOS, it’s generally not recommended to routinely force-close apps. Allowing Android to manage processes automatically is usually the most efficient approach.

Employing manual task killing or automatic task killer applications is often counterproductive, as the system is designed to handle resource allocation effectively.

Letting the operating system manage running applications optimizes performance and battery life.

Windows

Windows operating systems provide several methods for managing running applications. A helpful resource for Windows users is the "Beginner Geek" guide focusing on the Windows Task Manager.

To access the Task Manager, users aren't limited to the traditional Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination. A more direct shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+Escape.

Alternatively, a right-click on the taskbar presents a shortcut to launch the Task Manager directly.

Force Quitting Applications

Both Windows 7 and Windows 8 feature functional Task Managers, with Windows 8 offering a visually updated interface.

To forcibly close an application, locate it within the Task Manager and select the "End task" option.

Closing Store Apps

Windows 8 allows users to force-quit "Store apps" through the Task Manager as well.

Another method for closing Store apps involves a gesture: place your finger at the top of the screen and swipe downwards until the app appears as a thumbnail.

Continue dragging the thumbnail to the bottom of the screen. Release it when the thumbnail transitions from the live application view to the app's tile image. This action will close the Store app.

Mac OS X

Mac OS X provides several methods for terminating unresponsive applications. This is particularly useful when an application has frozen or is otherwise not responding to normal closure attempts.

A quick way to access the Force Quit Applications dialog is by simultaneously pressing Command+Option+Escape. Alternatively, the Apple menu, located in the menu bar, offers a Force Quit option as well.

Another method involves Option-clicking an application’s icon within the Dock. This will reveal a contextual menu containing the Force Quit command.

Utilizing Activity Monitor

For users requiring more granular control, the Activity Monitor application is available. It displays both foreground applications and background processes.

Activity Monitor allows for the identification and termination of processes that may be consuming excessive system resources or causing instability. This provides a more comprehensive approach to managing application behavior.

This tool is especially helpful when dealing with processes that aren't visible through the standard Force Quit dialog.

Linux

Linux provides a variety of methods for forcibly terminating unresponsive desktop applications and managing processes. Different desktop environments offer their own dedicated process management tools.

For instance, Ubuntu systems utilizing Unity or GNOME feature the Activity Monitor. Additionally, the xkill command offers a direct way to close windows by simply clicking on them.

Process Management Tools

Because of the inherent flexibility of Linux, numerous terminal commands are available for efficient process control.

These tools allow users to identify and terminate processes that are consuming excessive resources or have become frozen.

The availability of multiple options ensures that users can choose the method best suited to their needs and technical expertise.

Here's a breakdown of common approaches:

• Graphical Tools: Like Activity Monitor, these provide a user-friendly interface.
• xkill: A quick, visual method for immediate window closure.
• Terminal Commands: Offer powerful and precise control over processes.

Ultimately, Linux empowers users with comprehensive control over their system's processes, ensuring stability and responsiveness.

Chrome OS (and Chrome)

The Chrome OS operating system leverages the task manager found within the Chrome browser itself. Access is achieved by clicking the menu button, navigating to "More tools," and then selecting "Task Manager." Alternatively, a Chromebook user can directly invoke the Task Manager by pressing Shift+Esc.

Within the Task Manager, individual processes can be selected and terminated by clicking the "End Process" button. This functionality extends beyond Chrome OS.

When Chrome is running on operating systems like Windows, macOS, or Linux, its Task Manager also provides control over the various processes associated with web pages, applications, and browser extensions.

Should a web page or application become unresponsive, Chrome’s integrated Task Manager can be utilized to pinpoint the problematic process and subsequently terminate it.

Alternative Process Management

More advanced methods for process management are also available. Operating systems such as macOS and Linux offer robust command-line tools for controlling processes.

Windows users can employ PowerShell cmdlets to achieve similar results, allowing for precise process termination.

On the Android platform, third-party applications provide process management capabilities. Furthermore, Android’s settings menu includes options for forcibly closing applications from the recent apps list.

Image Credit: Jennifer 8. Lee on Flickr