Closing apps on your Android phone might seem simple, but there are several methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these differences will help you optimize your phone's performance and battery life. This guide will cover all the common ways, addressing frequently asked questions along the way.
What's the Best Way to Close Apps on Android?
There isn't a single "best" way, as the optimal method depends on your priorities. Force-closing apps frees up resources immediately, while simply navigating away often suffices. Let's explore each option in detail.
Navigating Away from an App
The simplest method is to simply navigate away from the app you're using. This doesn't technically "close" the app in the traditional sense; it puts the app in the background. Android's efficient memory management usually handles background apps effectively. They might use minimal resources or even pause completely until needed again. This is the most energy-efficient way to "close" apps in most situations.
Using the Recent Apps Menu
Most Android phones have a recent apps button (often a square or a vertical stack of lines). Tapping this button shows a list of recently used apps. You can then swipe up on each app to close it, or swipe left or right to cycle through them. This method is quick and convenient for clearing out several apps at once. Keep in mind that closing apps this way still doesn't guarantee they'll immediately stop using resources—Android might keep some in a low-power state.
Force-Stopping Apps
This method closes an app completely, freeing up all its resources. However, it's generally not necessary unless an app is misbehaving (freezing, crashing, or excessively draining battery). To force-stop an app:
- Open your phone's Settings.
- Navigate to Apps or Applications.
- Find the app you want to close and tap on it.
- Tap Force Stop.
Be cautious with force-stopping apps. While it can resolve issues, it might also disrupt ongoing processes, such as downloads or background tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to some common questions about closing apps on Android:
Does closing apps save battery life?
Closing apps might offer minor battery improvements in some cases, especially with resource-hungry apps. However, Android's modern memory management is quite efficient, and constantly closing apps is usually unnecessary and can even be counterproductive. Focusing on battery-saving settings and well-optimized apps will generally have a larger impact on battery life.
How do I close apps in the background?
The recent apps menu (swiping up on each app) is the most direct way to close background apps. However, remember that Android's system manages background processes efficiently; completely closing them isn't usually required.
Will closing apps improve phone performance?
Closing apps will only noticeably improve performance if you have many apps running simultaneously, leading to noticeable lag or slowdowns. In most cases, Android's management handles this well, making frequent app closing largely redundant.
Why do apps keep reopening?
Some apps might automatically restart if they're designed to run in the background (e.g., messaging apps, email apps). This is a common behavior and isn't necessarily a problem. Check the app's settings to see if there are options to control its background activity.
Conclusion
Choosing the right method for closing apps on your Android phone depends on your specific needs. For everyday use, simply navigating away from an app is sufficient. Use the recent apps menu for quick cleanup, and reserve force-stopping for when an app is malfunctioning. Remember that Android's operating system is designed to manage background processes efficiently. Overdoing it by constantly closing apps might not provide significant benefits and could even create unnecessary interruptions.
