How to close a frozen app on Android and avoid performance issues

Have you ever had an app on your Android phone freeze up completely and couldn't respond? You're not alone. Closing locked apps can become a real headache. And while Android is designed to handle these issues automatically, sometimes manual intervention is necessary to regain control of the device and prevent the system from slowing down or draining the battery.

In this article you will find A complete and detailed guide to closing problematic apps on AndroidI'll explain how to do it step by step, exploring everything from the simplest and most intuitive methods to advanced solutions for users who want to go a little further. The important thing here is that each user, regardless of their skill level, can find the solution that best suits their situation.

Why do some apps crash on Android?

The Android ecosystem is home to thousands of apps, and while the vast majority work perfectly, they're not without their share of glitches. Sometimes an app crashes because it's consuming more resources than it should; other times, it's due to incompatibilities, system crashes, poorly implemented updates, or simply because it's poorly optimized.

As a general rule, Android is responsible for managing your device's resources efficiently., closing background processes when necessary. However, there are situations in which an app gets stuck and consumes excessive battery and memory, preventing the system or other apps from functioning normally.

Identifying blocked or problematic apps

Before you rush to close applications, it is important correctly identify which app is problematicThe main symptoms of an app being blocked are:

• Does not respond when trying to interact with her.
• The phone turns abnormally slow after opening it.
• Excessive battery consumption without using the mobile phone intensively.
• Shows error messages such as “The application is not responding” or “The application has stopped.”

If you experience any of these symptoms, you'll likely need to take action and force close the app.

Quick methods to close blocked apps on Android

Android offers several manual and automatic methods for closing malfunctioning apps. Here are the most effective and recommended ones:

Close locked apps from the recents view

The easiest method is to access the recent apps screen:

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on devices with gesture navigation) or press the square button (on phones with the typical three buttons).
• Locate the blocked application among those that appear in multitasking.
• Swipe the app up to close it.

This method stops the app in the foreground, although it sometimes fails to stop all of its background processes, especially in highly problematic or poorly designed apps.

Force stop from system settings

When the app resists and continues to consume resources, it is best to resort to a more forceful shutdown:

1. Go to Settings of the telephone.
2. Access the section Applications o Applications and notifications.
3. Press on See all applications or browse until you find the one that is causing problems.
4. Select the app and tap on Force stop.
5. Confirm the action if you see a warning.

Force stopping is the most effective way to close a blocked app., as it stops all related processes, including those running in the background.

Solutions for apps that keep running in the background

Some apps persist in running in the background even after closing them from multitasking. If you want to stop them from running and consuming battery or resources, you can use these methods:

Limit background processes from developer options

1. Accede to Settings > About of the phone.
2. Press several times on Build Number until unlocking the Developer Options.
3. Go back to Settings and enter Developer Options.
4. Look for the option called Limit background processes and select No background processes if you want to go to the extreme, or limit the number as you prefer.

This option is quite radical and only recommended if you have serious battery or slowness issues. Some apps may not perform properly if you don't allow any background processes.

Selectively close blocked or problematic apps

If you prefer more control, you can close only the apps you're interested in:

1. Sign in Settings and navigate to Applications.
2. Find the app you want to close.
3. Press on Force stop.
4. If the app is impossible to uninstall, you can disable it so that it does not consume resources.

This method allows you to manage applications individually and avoid closing processes that the system needs to function properly.

Optimize battery consumption of apps

With modern versions of Android, you can optimize battery usage and prevent certain applications from running in the background without your consent:

1. Go to Settings > Applications.
2. Click on the gear icon and enter Special access > Battery optimization.
3. Select the application you want to optimize and check Optimize so that the system limits its background activity.

Depending on the model of your phone, you may also find features of Hibernating apps o Energy saving with customizable options.

Radical solutions if nothing works

If an app continues to cause problems and you can't close it or optimize its usage, you can resort to more robust solutions:

• Uninstall the app: From Settings > Applications, select the app and choose uninstallIf you can't, disable it.
• Clear cache and data: In the same app menu, click on Storage and then in Clear cache y Delete data. This can fix many crash issues.

Note that Deleting data will result in the loss of settings and files saved in the app., so make a backup if necessary.

What if the app resists even the above solutions?

In very extreme cases, where even force-stopping or uninstalling an app doesn't work, you can resort to specialized applications or other actions:

Use third-party apps to close blocked apps

There are utilities on Google Play like Greenify, which allows Automatically hibernate apps when you don't use them, preventing them from running in the background and consuming resources. Another option is Close App, which locates all open apps and can close them at once, although closing background processes usually requires accessibility permissions.

These tools can be very useful, but Avoid installing generic task killers or dubious applications, as they often create more problems than they solve and can affect the overall performance of the system.

Enable developer controls: Running services

1. Go to Settings > Developer Options.
2. Sign in Running services o Process statistics.
3. Here you can see all active apps and services, your RAM and resource usage.
4. Tap on the problematic app and select Stop.

Note: If you don't know what the process is, Do not close system processes or Google services, as this could cause serious failures or malfunctions in the device.

Other useful steps if an app is experiencing serious problems

Sometimes, the cause of crashes is a temporary glitch or bug. Here are some other steps that may help:

• Restart the phone: Press and hold the power button and select RestartA simple restart can restore the functioning of frozen applications.
• Update the app and operating system: Go to the Google Play Store, search for the app, and if an update is available, install it. Do the same to update Android from Settings > System > Software update.
• Synchronize the time and date: go to Settings > System > Date and Time, disable and re-enable automatic options to force synchronization, which sometimes prevents unexpected failures.

What to do if everything fails and I can't close blocked apps

If after following all these steps the app still crashes, you have two final options:

• Contact the developer: Within Google Play, on the app's page, there is usually contact information to consult the developer, especially useful if the error persists after several updates.
• Restore the device: Extreme solution and not recommended unless the mobile is unusable, consists of restoring the factory data from Settings > System > Recovery options or similar. Back up your data first.

Additional actions to prevent apps from being blocked in the future

To minimize the likelihood of apps crashing frequently, follow these tips:

• Always update the system and apps as soon as there is news.
• Check the permissions that have the applications since Settings > Privacy > Permissions managerNot all apps require location, background access, or calls, for example.
• Avoid installing apps from unknown sources or apps that promise to miraculously “speed up your phone.”
• Control background data usage from Settings > Network and Internet > Use of data to prevent problematic apps from using the connection uncontrollably.

By following these steps and tips, you'll have complete control over the apps on your Android device, preventing them from crashing, consuming more resources than necessary, or hindering normal use of your phone.

The Android system has evolved a lot in the management of processes and applications, but it is always useful to know the options to Close problematic apps, optimize performance, and prevent crashesTaking a few minutes to review your settings, learn the ways to force stop or disable apps, and use proven tools is enough to keep your phone running like new. And if an app is struggling, now you know what to do in each case. Share this information so more users know how to close a blocked app on Android.