Last Updated on December 16, 2022
Is your device running slower than usual? Are you experiencing a lot of buffering? If so, the problem may lie with your FireStick. More specifically, opened apps on your FireStick could be the source of the issues you are experiencing.
Believe it or not, many FireStick users have loads of opened apps running at all times and they don’t even realize it! Some readers have discovered that they had 20 or more apps opened on their FireStick, and they had absolutely no idea.
Pretty crazy, right? So it comes as no surprise that turning off those background apps will not only help to speed up your device. But doing so will also help ensure smoother playback when you are using Streaming Apps and much more.
If you have a FireStick and are experiencing issues with your device, speeding up and increasing its performance by closing opened apps probably sounds appealing to you.
While closing down those opened apps might sound simple enough, it’s actually a bit more challenging than it seems. So how do you go about doing so? You’ve come to the right place, because this guide will answer that question for you.
Below, you’ll find some simple tips that you can implement to close down open apps that are running on your FireStick so that you can enjoy faster speeds, less buffering, and a better experience overall. So, without further ado, let’s jump in and discover how you can shut down those open apps on your FireStick and restore the performance of your device.
Contents
Method 1 – Close Apps One at a Time
The easiest method that you can use to close the open apps on your FireStick is the following:
- Simply press and hold the “home” button on your remote control.
- Within a few moments of holding the “home” button, a menu of all of the apps that are installed on your device should appear.
- When it does, scroll through to find any apps that you want to close.
- Use the directional buttons on the remote to highlight the apps you would like to close down.
- Hit the “select” button, and your selected app will close.
Repeat the above process until you have closed all of the apps on your FireStick that you don’t want to keep open. You should notice that your device will start running faster and smoother immediately.
Method 2 – Close Multiple Apps
The first method we discussed is intended for closing individual apps one at a time. A good method to use if you don’t want to close all of the opened apps. However, these methods can take time – especially if many apps are opened on your FireStick.
That said, if you want faster results and you don’t want to deal with selecting and closing individual apps one at a time, this method may be the right one for you. It’s important to note, however, that this method will close down all of the open apps at once.
If closing all of the apps that are opened on your FireStick at one time is the option that you want to try:
- Press and hold the “home” button on your remote control.
- Within a few seconds of holding the “home” button, a menu of all of the apps that are installed on your device should pop up.
- When it does, press the “menu” button on your remote control.
- Use the directional buttons to select “close all.”
- After selecting “close all,” all of the apps that are currently open on your FireStick will instantly close.
Method 3 – Background Apps and Process List
A third method that you could use to close down the apps that are running on your FireStick involves using an app called the “Background Apps and Process List.” If you’re using a FireStick or a Fire TV, you can find this application on the Amazon App Store. If the device you are using is an Android, head to the Google Play Store to search for and install the application.
Once you’ve installed the Background App and Process List, open it up, and you’ll see a list of all of the apps that are currently running in the background of your FireStick, Fire TV, or Android device. You can also stop those apps with ease right from the app.
To ensure that you fully understand how to access and use the Background App and Process List, we’re going to give you a more detailed, step-by-step rundown.
- Install the app. Head to the home screen on your Firestick or Fire TV and hover over the search icon, which is located on the left side of the menu. If you’re using an Android device, open up the Google Play Store. Whichever device you are using, do a quick search for the Select Background Apps and Process List. Once you find the app, select it, click “download,” and in a few seconds, the app will be installed on your device.
- Launch the app. When you receive a notification that the Background Apps and Process List has successfully downloaded, you will need to launch the app. A “ready to launch” message should appear on your screen. Click on the message, and voila! – The installation of the app onto your device will be complete.
- Close open apps. Once you’ve successfully launched the Background Apps and Process List on your FireStick, Fire TV, or Android device, you will be directed to the app’s home screen. To use the app to force close any of the apps that are currently running on your device but that you aren’t using, click on “close all apps.” Doing so will open up the “app settings” of any of the apps that are currently open and running on your device. Next, you’re going to want to click on “force close” and then click “back.” You will be directed to the next app that is currently open and running. Click “force close” on that app. Continue this process until all of the apps on your FireStick, Fire TV, or Android device that were opened and running are closed. After completing the process, head back to the Background Apps and Process List app. You should see that there are no more running applications.
Frequently Asked Questions about FireStick Apps
Whichever method you choose, once you have successfully closed all of the apps that were opened and running but that you weren’t using, you should notice an immediate and marked difference in the speed and functionality of your device.
While closing down any apps that you aren’t using on your FireStick, Fire TV, or Android device is certainly a great way to speed up and improve performance, there’s no doubt that you have a few questions. To ensure that you are well-informed, below, we’ve highlighted some of the most common questions that our readers ask about this process. We provide our answers to these questions.
Q: What does force stopping an app mean?
A: When you “force stop” an application on your device, the app will be completely shut down. That means that any of the activities that were happening within the application will be lost. The app will automatically return to its original state the next time you open it. Force stopping can be useful when an app is acting up; for instance, if it is running slowly, it isn’t displaying properly, or you can’t access some of the features, force stopping can alleviate the problem. Another benefit of force stopping an app is that it can free up some space on your device.
It is important to understand that force stopping an app will not uninstall it. The app that you forced stop will remain on your device and you will still be able to access it.
Q: How do you restart an application?
A: After force stopping an app, there are a few ways that you can restart it. These options include the following:
- Head to the “settings” app and click on “apps.” Once there, you can tap on the application that you would like to restart. Next, tap on the “force stop” button.
- Another way that you can restart an application is by heading to the app drawer on your device. Once there, tap on the application that you would like to restart and tap on the “force stop” button.
- A third way to restart an app is by simply uninstalling the app from your device and then reinstalling it.
Q: Which is better: force stopping or disabling an app?
A: The majority of apps on FireStick, Fire TV, and Android devices are specifically designed so that they will automatically stop themselves from running. Developers can do this in several ways; for example, some developers use the Android activity manager, while other developers use more advanced code.
That said, force stopping is the ideal way to handle an app that isn’t behaving the way that it’s supposed to. Force stopping will essentially kill (for lack of a better word) the application and remove it from your device’s memory. While we admit that this isn’t the perfect way to resolve app issues, typically, it’s the most effective way to deal with problematic applications.
Q: Can you refresh YouTube on your Amazon Fire Stick?
A: Why, yes; yes you can! The easiest way to refresh the YouTube app on your Amazon Fire Stick is by simply exiting the app and then relaunching it. To do this, just hit the “home” button on your remote control, scroll down to the App Store icon, and then choose the YouTube app.
Another way that you can refresh the YouTube app on your Amazon Fire Stick is by using the search function. Access the search function on your search for the YouTube app. Once you find the app, launch it. After you have relaunched the app, you should be able to see the most updated content that has been posted to the app.
Q: Will restarting FireStick clear my cache?
A: When FireStick is restarted, the system cache will be cleared. This can help to enhance the performance of your device. Furthermore, restarting your FireStick can also help to clear out any residual data or any data that has been corrupted. This data may be the root cause of the issues you are experiencing with your device.
