It's been a problem for Android since its inception. This myth has been perpetuated by some phone manufacturers. In reality, there is no need to kill Android apps from your device. Instead of improving the situation, closing apps can actually make it worse.
Since the very beginning of Android, this concept has been around. It's not clear where it came from. In the beginning, "Task Killer" apps were very popular. Although I am a tech-savvy person, I have admitted to using these at one point. Closing apps in the background may seem like a good idea, but there are several reasons why this is a bad idea.
The Allure
What is the origin of this compulsion to close background apps? Several factors may be at play. In the first place, it's just common sense to do so. Apps that aren't being used are running in the background and don't need to be open. It's a relatively simple explanation.
It's also worth taking a look at how we used computers before smartphones. There are times when an app must be opened or minimized during the course of use. The "X" button is used to close an app when you're done using it. This means you know exactly what you're doing and why.
When you're done using an Android app, you typically exit the app and return to the home screen or lock the device. Is this really going to close? Many people have requested ways to close apps, and app and phone makers have been more than happy to oblige.
How to Close Apps on Android
A discussion about what "kill" and "close" mean in the context of Android apps is warranted at this point. It's the act of removing an app from the Recent Apps list by clicking on it.
Open the Recent Apps menu by swiping from the lower right corner and holding it for one second halfway up on most Android devices. The square icon on the navigation bar can also be used to access this option.
You'll now be able to see a list of recently used apps. When you're done with an app, simply swipe up to close or kill it. In some cases, there is also a trash icon that can be used. "Close All" is usually an option, but it's unnecessary.
It's All Covered by Android.
In general, it's thought that closing background apps will improve battery life, speed up your phone, and reduce data consumption on your phone. You can, however, actually do more harm than good. It all boils down to the way Android was built to run applications.
Android was designed to run a large number of apps in the background at all times. When the system needs more resources, the system will automatically close apps for you to save you time. It's not something you need to do on your own, and you don't have to.
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| Android does it all for you |
In addition, having programs running in the background is a good thing for your computer. When you open them, your phone will feel like it's going faster. There isn't a need to worry about every app you've ever opened hogging resources. It is Android's job to close any unnecessary apps. Again, you don't have to deal with it on your own.
All of the closing and opening can actually harm performance in the long run. An app must be started from scratch, which consumes more battery power than one that is already in memory. You're overworking the CPU and the battery, which will negatively impact what you were hoping for.
If you're concerned about background data usage, you can turn it off for each individual app. Apps running in the background don't use much data, but you can fix that if there is a culprit on your phone.
Does It Ever Come in Handy?
There is a good reason why Android apps shouldn't be closed, and we've laid out the reasons why. Taking control and manually closing an app is sometimes necessary.
A quick restart is frequently all it takes to fix an issue with an app. Apps can freeze, crash, or show things improperly for many reasons. The first step in troubleshooting is to close the app or restart your phone, if necessary.
You can also close apps from the Android Settings menu, in addition to using the Recent Apps method previously described. In order to access the "Apps" area, open the Settings. Select "Force Stop" or "Force Close" from the app's details page.
Conclusion
The lesson here is that these issues have already been dealt with. Background apps don't need to be managed. A powerful operating system is doing the job. It's safe to say that Android is in charge of this situation.
However, it's not always the case that Android doesn't manage it properly. Typically, it's the apps rather than the operating system that cause the most problems. In some instances, you know what to do, but let Android generally run its course.
