How to Close Apps Running in The Background on Android?

Having too many apps open at the same time can sometimes slow down your device. Navigating away from an app might allow it to keep running in the background, so the only way to close applications for real is to do so manually.

Also Read: Google Announces July Edition of Android Excellence Apps and Games Download

Do You Need to Close Apps Manually?
In case you were wondering, Google doesn't really recommend closing your apps manually on an Android phone or tablet. The operating system, which is built for flexibility and versatility, knows how to manage its resources in a sufficient way even with multiple apps running in the background. However, there are situations where you might be forced to shut down apps manually after all. On devices with lower storage and internal memory, having too many applications open at the same time can cause the device to lag. Moreover, apps downloaded from the Play Store are often known to freeze or crash, but continue running in the background. In these cases, closing them off manually is the only remaining option.

How to Close Apps via Overview
Android smartphones generally come with a dedicated Overview button located at the bottom of the screen. On Pixel, LG and Nokia devices, this is a small square icon located at the bottom-right. On Samsung phones, it's a physical button in the appearance of two overlapping rectangles, and it's located on the bottom-left. Tap this button and you will be taken to the Recent Apps menu, a screen which showcases every single app that you have currently running in the background. Swipe left (or right) on every application that you wish to close. This will quit any running applications, although it may not stop any processes certain apps may have running in the background.

How to Close Apps via Apps Manager
In order to force close apps so that it also stops any and all background processes it has got running, use the Apps Manager. Go to Settings > Apps and Notifications or Settings > General > Apps in older Androids. Next appears a list of all apps currently running in the background. Choose an app from the list that you'd like to close and tap on Stop or Force Stop. Do note that while closing an app via the Overview button is generally safe, doing so via the Apps Manager may often cause the app to misbehave the next time you turn it on.