How to stop apps running in background mode?????

  • Replies:42
Yan Matusevich 17
Yan Matusevich
  • Forum posts: 305

Apr 29, 2010, 9:36:48 PM via Website

So I've noticed that my phone has been slowing down quite a bit....and then I realized that a bunch of applications are running in the background. Some of the apps just don't have an exit button!!!!! How do I quit them all? Last.fm keeps on scrobbeling when I don't want it too and other games are running as well.

Would appreciate any help!

— modified on Sep 16, 2011, 10:56:34 AM by moderator

Teresa Robertson

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Yan Matusevich 17
Yan Matusevich
  • Forum posts: 305

Apr 29, 2010, 10:10:40 PM via Website

Thanks!

OK this may sound stupid, but how can this app "kill' Messages, Phone, Albums, or Camera???? Does that delete the feature? How could they be running in background mode?

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Fabien Röhlinger 72
Fabien Röhlinger
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Apr 29, 2010, 10:18:59 PM via Website

No, apps won't be deleted. The app just ends the processes. There are certain processes which cannot be killed.

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47
Deactivated Account
  • Forum posts: 5,136

Apr 30, 2010, 7:22:21 AM via Website

Yan M.
So I've noticed that my phone has been slowing down quite a bit....and then I realized that a bunch of applications are running in the background. Some of the apps just don't have an exit button!!!!! How do I quit them all? Last.fm keeps on scrobbeling when I don't want it too and other games are running as well.

Would appreciate any help!

In general, applications won't need an "Exit" Button inside Andorid OS. There is a lifecylce for every application where you have certain automatic exit and return or reentry points. This is, onPause, onStop, onDestroy and so on.

If an application is done well, there is no need for an explicit exit button. If it is prgrammed in a way which differs from best practice, chances high that some routines will stay in memory and the OS will encounter problems removing this app from application stack.

This is where "task killers" enter the game ..... Hope that this answers your questions.

— modified on Sep 16, 2011, 10:55:32 AM by moderator

lg Voss

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Fabien Röhlinger 72
Fabien Röhlinger
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Apr 30, 2010, 7:30:41 AM via Website

If you are looking for Advanced Task Killer Free anyways, here is the link: Advanced Task Killer

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Yan Matusevich 17
Yan Matusevich
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Apr 30, 2010, 1:30:01 PM via Website

I got it and it works well!


Thanks everyone for the helpful info!

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1
simone r
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Aug 22, 2011, 8:28:25 PM via Website

......

— modified on Aug 22, 2011, 8:30:06 PM

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1
simone r
  • Forum posts: 3

Aug 22, 2011, 8:29:14 PM via Website

.....

— modified on Aug 22, 2011, 8:30:19 PM

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1
simone r
  • Forum posts: 3

Aug 22, 2011, 8:31:41 PM via Website

Fabien Roehlinger
Yan, try this app. This might help...

com.adao.android.atm
very powerful app
it freed up 166 mb
I also like the auto kill feature on screen lock
I registered to the site to be able to give this feedback because I think it is good advice

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2
Stephen M.
  • Forum posts: 7

Jul 26, 2012, 7:56:31 PM via Website

Hey guys, will installing these two suggested apps help with the battery life on my phone?

This is my first smart phone (Droid 4), and I can't believe how fast the battery drains on it!

Thanks!

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1
DMR1
  • Forum posts: 1

Sep 13, 2012, 2:07:14 PM via Website

Why not just open "apps", then click the menu button on the bottom left, then select "manage apps"? At the top you can select "Running" to find the apps that are running, and they by pressing each app, you can stop it if you don't want it running. This way, you can choose which ones to allow to run and which to stop.

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2
Hydroptere
  • Forum posts: 1

Sep 19, 2012, 10:51:25 PM via Website

nothing helps when killing an app. Apps are initially killed, the app shows how much memory has been saved, but then the same apps would re-load once again.
After the second android phone I start to believe this OS is just crap

Thierry MatteaAnna Chanou

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2
andy miller
  • Forum posts: 1

Jan 20, 2013, 11:54:16 AM via Website

hello dear ,
i installed already 'advanced task manager ' , yes it can stop applications and many of them restart again within 3-4 sec.
How can i stop not to run again without my permission.
Regards

mydh xiiAnna Chanou

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sinkster 23
sinkster
  • Forum posts: 610

Jan 20, 2013, 1:23:36 PM via Website

Use an autostart manager, which stops app starting at boot in the first place. Some apps, such as google maps/latitude, will automatically start as soon as your phone is switched on, then continuously attempt to restart. If you don't use or need them then they can either be disabled via a script or simply uninstalled, although in jellybean(4.1+) they can be disabled in the apps menu. Task killers are generally a compromise: if your phone is slowing down due to limited ram then you need to either uninstall some apps, buy a better phone, or root your current one and use a memory management method like the supercharger script or create an ext 4 partition and move your cache to the sd, or similar options(there are quite a few).

Sinkster

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3
JerryEdison
  • Forum posts: 12

Jan 21, 2013, 5:53:21 PM via Website

This app is helpful

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James G. 3
James G.
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Mar 30, 2013, 12:23:20 PM via Website

Jörg V.


In general, applications won't need an "Exit" Button inside Andorid OS. There is a lifecylce for every application where you have certain automatic exit and return or reentry points. This is, onPause, onStop, onDestroy and so on.

If an application is done well, there is no need for an explicit exit button. If it is prgrammed in a way which differs from best practice, chances high that some routines will stay in memory and the OS will encounter problems removing this app from application stack.

Hello,

I have noticed that if I open the internet on my phone or go to the stock text messaging app, after I close these by hitting on the return back button on bottom right of phone, then when I go into task manager I see that both still show under Active Applications, would you say this is normal so that they start fast when executed? not many other apps seem to be like this and wondered why being curious?

With these not closing in task manager does this have any form of issues to the battery power?

EDIT.

It would be most interesting to know how long the lifetime is for both the Internet App and the Stock Messaging App when there is plenty of memory on the phone.

In other words how long it would be before any of the apps disappear from the active apps on Task Manager

I had both on task manager/active apps, I switched off my phone for 10 or so minutes, after switching back on again the active apps had zero showing, so my question is how long would it take for the apps to disappear from the active apps without the need to switch off the phone?

— modified on Mar 31, 2013, 5:12:56 PM

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James G. 3
James G.
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Mar 31, 2013, 11:21:54 PM via Website

After leaving the phone for a little bit the active apps had gone from task manager, so android does appear to be working as it should. :D

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3
eileen
  • Forum posts: 17

Apr 1, 2013, 11:40:06 AM via Website

the add is useful, thanks

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2
Dimon D
  • Forum posts: 7

Apr 1, 2013, 6:03:12 PM via Website

I'm using Fast Reboot app.One tap and all is die=))

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James G. 3
James G.
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Apr 1, 2013, 6:34:08 PM via Website

Dimon D
I'm using Fast Reboot app.One tap and all is die=))

Is your phone low on memory may I ask?

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Loie Favre 33
Loie Favre
  • Forum posts: 877

Apr 3, 2013, 12:50:09 PM via Website

Hey guys,

If you're interested in getting an app that will help location and get rid of apps, which are running in the background and sucking the life out of your battery, you should take a look at Usage Timelines Free app. It does all of that and is free, not too shabby!

Forum Rules - Recommended for new AndroidPIT members! Important to all community members: please read before posting

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2
oloeleo
  • Forum posts: 1

Apr 5, 2013, 9:11:14 PM via Website

I am confused & can't figure out why andriod does not allow the user to be in charge of all the apps!

I Googled for hours but no one seems to know the answer for the simple question: "how to stop any app that I want to stop, and let it off line until I want it back.". I think it is really stupid that a app is in charge of starting again by itself, after I shut it down. App killers are not the answer as they stop apps for about 5 seconds, I want to stop all apps: period. And I do want to use the apps, so uninstall is not the answer.

A lot of so-called experts say "you do not need to kill the apps in android"... (sorry, but that is crap, I need be able to shut apps down because I want to and it is my tablet/phone. Another issue is the privacy.)

For example: Right know it's impossible to logoff Hotmail and facebook! So when my son or daughter or someone else play with the tab they can see my mail & sent message with my name, simply by clicking the icon!

So where is the app which enables the user to simply block any app, or put a password-shell around every app I want?

Anna Chanou

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rudski 3
rudski
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Apr 12, 2013, 8:45:49 PM via Website

:vader:great advice worth keeping an eye on This topic..:vader:

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1
jay desai
  • Forum posts: 1

Jun 23, 2013, 7:08:39 AM via Website

cant we just press and hold the center menu keys,and when the list of active apps popup we can just swipe across and close them one by one ?!

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Tricia_TD 7
Tricia_TD
  • Forum posts: 8

Jun 27, 2013, 4:00:59 PM via Website

The only app I can't get to stay closed, is Google Play Music. I've tried all of the suggestions here but it still starts up all by itself. It was pre-installed on my phone, but because my phone isn't rooted, I can't uninstall it. Like another poster said, it's my phone and I want to be able to have control over it!

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8
Deactivated Account
  • Forum posts: 5

Aug 18, 2013, 2:07:29 AM via Website

"I Googled for hours but no one seems to know the answer for the simple question...
For example: Right know it's impossible to logoff Hotmail and facebook...
they can see my mail & sent message"

There are a few solutions to the problem.

One is multiple user profiles on the device, so you have to log on with whatever level of security you select to view ANY of your personal profile.

Also, if you have selected for the system to remember a password... it remembers it; not a problem with the system, it's doing what it was told. Change the settings so the browser does not remember the password or login data for the sites you want secret, or log off apps.

Also, if you tell the app to refresh data every X minutes, it will, of course, need to start the app in order to collect that data you told it to collect.
Again, not a problem with the system, you told it to check. It's doing what it was told. change the settings within the app so it does not check for messages or updates as frequently or manually.

Now, finally, if you really want security and to prevent your kids from seeing your secret messages... don't lend them your phone.
I know from experience if you give me your phone for a couple minutes unattended I can install software to collect every GPS fix, email, text message, web page browsed, picture taken, etc... and view it remotely on a web page. On iOS and Windows too, so don't even...!

Oh yeah... use this; Startup Manager (Free)
or this; Autorun Manager
or this; Advanced Task Manager - Killer

Or upgrade to Android 4.3 which will support advanced control of app startup.

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8
Deactivated Account
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Aug 18, 2013, 2:12:05 AM via Website

To take control of your phone you pretty much have to root it. It's not that hard or scary, and after you do you can uninstall Google Play Music, Books, Movies, Weather, Calculator, Partner Setup, etc...
I can understand Google Play Music having frequent activations because it is setup to steam audio to the device and has to respond to queries quickly or have a poor user experience.
The upside is that it doesn't use much resources or data to keep the connection live and in memory, and as many, many, many users have explained over the years, Android will close these apps if there is high demand from a foreground app anyways.

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2
Jone Marshal
  • Forum posts: 9

Aug 22, 2013, 7:40:57 AM via Website

Go to settings --> Application

Select the app you want to Stop and than click on Force stop button.

This method don't require any app to install.

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1
DZ28LS2
  • Forum posts: 1

Aug 28, 2013, 6:23:55 PM via Website

jay desai
cant we just press and hold the center menu keys,and when the list of active apps popup we can just swipe across and close them one by one ?!

Everyone, it's really quite as simple simple as Jay has stated:

1. Select Settings, then Application Manager.
2. Select the app you want to disable, and press Force Stop.
3. On some Android devices, you can also view all your running apps by holding down the Home button. All your running apps will appear. To disable one, simple swipe the app to the right. Or, to deactivate all apps, select the Storage button on the bottom left, and then select Active Applications. Press End All.

I found the above information on a site to make it easier to post.

And I have a Galaxy S4 and before that I had a Samsung Captivate Glide; both Android systems; and I use #3 to disable them. I think this will work with everyone's Android phone.

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5
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Sep 17, 2013, 2:21:58 PM via Website

You may go for some task killer apps from the play store. But as far as I know they don't work good enough they do close the apps for some time but then they just pop back up. The main issue is with the Social media apps, e.g. the Facebook app. They do use lots of you data and even eat up your battery.

— modified on Sep 17, 2013, 4:05:21 PM by moderator

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16
Deactivated Account
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Sep 17, 2013, 2:52:21 PM via App

Friends don't let friends use task killers.

Anna Chanou

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Amy R. 13
Amy R.
  • Forum posts: 238

Sep 17, 2013, 11:36:51 PM via Website

Agreed Henrique. I have one but I never use it. I find it to be redundant. The first task killer I ever installed bugged up my whole system, one very shady app. I learned my lesson since then. I do everything manually now and I seem to have control of my device just fine. It's like slaying a dragon. Well, you know what I mean.

"You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here & So Am I" - FZ

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Vadoliya Milan 2
Vadoliya Milan
  • Forum posts: 1

Apr 13, 2014, 1:52:03 PM via Website

Use Greenify to freeze background applications

Steven

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2
mm007
  • Forum posts: 3

Apr 13, 2014, 2:21:33 PM via Website

Just install Greenify ! Then select the apps that you want to greenify. [Greenify means force stop ;) ]

— modified on Apr 13, 2014, 2:37:32 PM

Steven

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Tooleap 3
Tooleap
  • Forum posts: 13

Apr 23, 2014, 2:13:07 PM via Website

Try using PowerTutor. It has a pretty simple UI, and it tells you exactly which applications are draining your battery. I've found out some surprising results, afterwhich i've uninstalled some power-consuming apps.

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4
carlsmileee
  • Forum posts: 19

May 1, 2014, 10:17:38 AM via Website

In the Setting, enter Application Manager, find the app and force stop the app, it will be stoped entirely.

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3
Steven
  • Forum posts: 1

May 23, 2014, 8:52:23 AM via Website

oloeleo

I am confused & can't figure out why andriod does not allow the user to be in charge of all the apps!

I Googled for hours but no one seems to know the answer for the simple question: "how to stop any app that I want to stop, and let it off line until I want it back.". I think it is really stupid that a app is in charge of starting again by itself, after I shut it down. App killers are not the answer as they stop apps for about 5 seconds, I want to stop all apps: period. And I do want to use the apps, so uninstall is not the answer.

A lot of so-called experts say "you do not need to kill the apps in android"... (sorry, but that is crap, I need be able to shut apps down because I want to and it is my tablet/phone. Another issue is the privacy.)

For example: Right know it's impossible to logoff Hotmail and facebook! So when my son or daughter or someone else play with the tab they can see my mail & sent message with my name, simply by clicking the icon!

So where is the app which enables the user to simply block any app, or put a password-shell around every app I want?

first of all .. it was YOU, the user, that granted permission to the app(s) to start at boot when YOU were shown the list of app permissions when YOU Installed the app(s) .. and YOU agreed to those permissions!

if there are system apps that came with your phone and you don't want them or can't disable, then root your phone and problem solved

if you don't want to root, then shut up, remain "just a user" and live with it

you can block an app's ability to run except when you want by installing Greenify .. and telling it which apps to "hibernate" until/unless launched by you (and then they get hibernated again when screen turns off)

note that obviously Greenify requires permission to run at boot :P

if you are rooted, Greenify is even better since hibernation is guaranteed

you can install AppLock to create profiles .. ie unlock all and guest/kids .. to specify which apps/photos/videos are locked (email, settings, phone calls, porn photos, etc) in the guest profile

then you tap the lock widget or switch to guest profile and hand phone to kid and they cannot get into any locked app without pin/password/pattern

it can also automatically switch profiles based on location (wifi) and time

cheers

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3
Deactivated Account
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Jan 20, 2015, 10:41:52 AM via Website

I suggest you can update mobile software version.

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1
Louis Sanchez
  • Forum posts: 1

Jan 27, 2015, 10:37:28 PM via Website

Hey, I know of an app that I use that you can password protect your apps, and not only does it stop people from getting in. It shows an error message, and ask you if you want to send a message to the app managers..(and that's where you put the password to get into the app) .. It's called audio manager.... It also protects your videos and pictures in a private folder (not seen in your gallery) only you can access once you're in the app.

Oh yeah, it also controls your audio sounds on the phone....

— modified on Jan 27, 2015, 10:40:32 PM

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2
Marlene Saffan
  • Forum posts: 9

Sep 8, 2016, 8:43:57 AM via Website

update the software if the app doesn't work well

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