How To Clear Open Apps On Samsung Tablet

This wikiHow teaches you how to close any app that's running on your Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet. The quickest way to close apps is to tap the Recent Apps button at the bottom-left corner of the screen, scroll through the list, and then swipe the desired app off the screen. If you're having trouble closing an app, you can use the force-stop option in your settings.

1
Tap the Recent Apps icon. You'll find it at the bottom-left corner of the home screen. On newer models, it'll look like three vertical lines. On other models, it'll look like two sideways L's resting on top of one another. A list of open apps will appear.^[1]
- If you're using an older model, such as a Galaxy S4 or earlier, with a physical Home button at the bottom of the screen, tap and hold the Home button while the screen is unlocked to see the list of apps.
2
Swipe left or right to scroll through open apps. If the app is still open and running in the background, you will find it in this list. Stop swiping once the app you want to close is at the center of the screen.
- Depending on your model of Galaxy phone or tablet, you may have to swipe up or down to scroll through the open apps instead of left or right.
- If you don't see the app you want to close, try this method.
3
Swipe an app up to close it. Simply drag the app upward off the screen and then release your finger to close it. Once the app is closed, you'll return to the list of open apps.
- Continue swiping through the apps to close the ones you don't need to use.
- To close all apps at once, tap CLOSE ALL at the bottom-center part of the screen. On older models, this option is called REMOVE ALL.

1
Open your Galaxy's Settings . You can do this by tapping the gear icon in your Apps list, or by swiping down from the top of the home screen and tapping the gear at the top-right corner.
- Use this method if you are having trouble closing an app using the steps in this method.
2

Scroll down and tap Apps . It'll be toward the bottom of the menu.
3

Tap the three-dot menu ⋮ . It's at the top-right corner of the screen.
4

Tap Show system apps . This ensures that all apps appear in the Apps list, including those that came pre-installed on your phone or tablet.^[2]
5

Tap the app you want to close. Information about the app will appear.
6

Tap the Force Stop button. It's near the top-right corner of the screen. A confirmation message will appear.
7

Tap Force Stop or OK to confirm. The confirmation option varies depending on your model and Android version. The app will stop running immediately.

Add New Question

Question

How do I close all the icons at the top of my Nook?

Hit the bottom left "Menu" button that looks like a stack of papers. It will pull up all active applications. Hit the "Close All" option at the bottom of the screen.
Question

What if I can still see the apps running under settings/more/application manager when I have closed them using RAM manager?

Hold your finger on the home button and it will come up with all the apps you have running. Then, swipe up on each one to stop them.
Question

How can I get back to my home screen after opening an app?

Simply click on the home button, generally the bottom middle button on the phone.
Question

How do I close icons at the top of the screen?

Click cancel, then press the "X" at the top.

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Video

Before closing or ending certain applications, make sure that you save any important data, otherwise, any unsaved changes will be discarded as soon as the application is closed.

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Article SummaryX

1. Tap the Recent Apps icon at the bottom-left corner.
2. Scroll through the apps.
3. Swipe an app off the screen to close it.

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