How to Force Quit an App That Won't Quit
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Computers and mobile devices may experience glitches -- like frozen screens or long load times -- when there's an excessive amount of apps running in the background. Other issues of app unresponsiveness may stem from incomplete installations or an incompatibility with your operating system. Force quitting or killing these problematic apps is an effective resolution.
Force Quit Computer Apps
If you use a PC, expose the Task Manager panel by pressing "Ctrl-Alt-Delete" -- or by searching with keyword "task" from the Start screen" -- and selecting "Task Manager" from the list of available options. Click the name of an app and then select "End Task" to force it to quit. On a Mac, press "Command-Option-Esc" on any screen or switch to the Finder, select the Apple icon at the top left and choose "Force Quit." From there, highlight the name of an app and click "Force Quit."
Force Quit Mobile Apps
On iOS and Android devices, long-press the Home button and then swipe an app's preview card upward on iOS or to the right on Android to force quit. On a Windows Phone, launch Settings and swipe to "Applications," then tap "Background Tasks," select an app and tap "Turn Off." Long-press "Menu" on BlackBerry OS 7 and tap an app in the App Switcher, then press "Menu" and choose "Close" or "Exit." Force quit BlackBerry OS 10 apps -- which are arranged as frames on the Home screen -- by tapping the "X" on each.
References
- CNet: How to Use Windows 8 Task Manager
- Apple: OS X: How to Quit an Unresponsive Application Using Force Quit
- CNet: How to Force-Close Apps on iOS 7
- Yahoo Shopping: 10 Simple Tips to Mastering Your New Android Device
- BlackBerry: Torch Series User Guide: Freeing Space to Optimize Your Smartphone's Performance
- BlackBerry: Z30 Smartphone User Guide: How Do I Free Up Storage Space?
Writer Bio
Based in Tampa, Fla., Danielle Fernandez been writing, editing and illustrating all things technology, lifestyle and education since 1999. Her work has appeared in the Tampa Tribune, Working Mother magazine, and a variety of technical publications, including BICSI's "Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual." Fernandez holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of South Florida.
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