How do I turn off apps running in the background on Android?

Answered by Michael Wilson

To turn off apps running in the background on Android, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings: Open the Settings app on your Android device. You can usually find it in your app drawer or by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon.

2. Select Apps: In the Settings menu, scroll down and select the “Apps” or “Applications” option. This will vary slightly depending on your device and Android version.

3. Choose the app you want to stop: From the list of apps, find the one you want to stop running in the background. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top to quickly find the app.

4. Force Stop the app: Once you’ve selected the app, you’ll be taken to its App Info page. Here, you’ll find various details about the app’s usage and permissions. To stop the app from running in the background, simply tap on the “Force Stop” button.

5. Confirm the action: A pop-up message will appear asking if you want to force stop the app. Tap on “OK” or “Force Stop” to confirm. Keep in mind that force stopping an app may cause it to lose any unsaved data or progress.

6. Restart your phone: After force stopping the app, you can either close the Settings app and continue using your device, or you can restart your phone to ensure the app is fully closed. Restarting your phone will also clear any temporary memory or cache issues that may be affecting the app’s performance.

It’s important to note that force stopping an app will only temporarily prevent it from running in the background. The app will relaunch when you restart your phone or open it manually. If you want to permanently disable an app from running in the background, you may need to consider uninstalling it or disabling any related background services or notifications.

By managing which apps are allowed to run in the background, you can optimize your device’s performance, save battery life, and potentially reduce data usage. It’s a good practice to periodically review and adjust the background app settings on your Android device to ensure it’s running smoothly and efficiently.