What happens when you stop an app on Android and when to do it

Last update: 17/02/2025

  • Force stop completely stops an app and its background processes.
  • It may improve performance and save battery in certain cases.
  • It doesn't delete app data, but it stops its notifications and updates.
  • It should be used with caution in essential apps such as messaging.
What happens when you stop an app on Android-0

On Android devices, apps can remain active in background consuming resources such as RAM, battery and mobile data. Many people believe that closing these apps improves the performance of the mobile, but is this really the case? What happens when you completely stop an app on Android? When is it really advisable to do so?

In this article, we'll explore in depth what happens when you stop an app, when and why to do so, and the effects this has on your device. We'll also look at the differences between force stop, close from recent y uninstall, so that you can make the best decision for each case.

What does it mean to force stop an application?

Force stopping an app on Android involves completely close all your processes, preventing it from continuing to run in the background until the user opens it manually. Unlike simply swiping the app from the recents menu, this method interrupts any ongoing activity, freeing up system resources.

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Apps in the background can continue consuming resources such as battery and memory, even if they are not visible. This consumption can be due to processes such as data synchronization, content updates, or running scheduled tasks. Stopping an app on Android removes any associated activity, which can be useful if the app is causing performance issues.

stop an app on android

Reasons to force stop an app

There are several reasons why you might consider stopping an app on Android, i.e. force stopping an app on your Android device:

  • Excessive battery consumption: Some applications continue to run processes in the background, which can significantly reduce the autonomy of the mobile phone battery.
  • Performance issues: Some apps can slow down your phone if they are using too much RAM or CPU.
  • Crashing or crashing apps: If an app freezes or stops responding, force stopping it may fix the problem.
  • Avoid notifications and updates: Some apps continue to send notifications or update information even when you're not using them.

What happens after I force stop an app?

When an application is force stopped, its execution is completely interruptedThe immediate consequences of stopping an application on Android are these:

  • You will not be able to perform any background tasks.
  • It will stop consuming resources such as RAM and battery.
  • Your automatic notifications and updates will stop.
  • All associated processes will be closed until the application is manually reopened.
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However, it is important to clarify that stop an app on android does not imply the deletion of any dataThat is, your credentials, settings, and files within the app will remain intact.

Differences between force stop, close recent apps and uninstall

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There are different ways to manage the apps on Android, each with different effects in the system. Let's see what those differences are:

  • Swipe from recent: This action removes the app from the list of open applications, but does not stop its background processes.
  • Force stop: Completely stops the application and its active processes until the user opens it again.
  • Uninstall: Completely delete the app, along with all its data and settings.

How to reactivate a stopped application

In case, after stopping an application on Android, you have decided to use it again, all you have to do is Open it again from the apps menu. Android will boot it as if it were the first time after a system reboot.

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If you still have problems opening it, you can try clear cache o reboot the phoneIf the errors persist, the best option might be uninstall and reinstall the application.

Impacts and risks of forcing an app to stop

While stopping an app on Android can be useful in some cases, doing so constantly and indiscriminately presents some problems. risks:

  • Loss of functionality in essential apps: Messaging or sync apps may stop sending notifications or updating correctly.
  • Increased battery consumption over time: If you constantly stop an app and reopen it, Android will need to reload it from scratch each time, which can consume more battery.
  • Failure in certain system processes: Some system apps need to run in the background to ensure proper functioning of the device.

 

Properly managing background apps can improve the efficiency of your device. It is true that stopping an app on Android is a useful option in certain situations, but closing them unnecessarily can affect system performance. It is best to Finding a balance between which apps to close and which to leave running so that your Android performs at its best without any setbacks.