The fastest way to close an app on Samsung TV
To close an app on a Samsung TV, press the Back button on your remote — the curved arrow pointing left. This takes you out of the app and returns you to the home screen. If the Back button does not work, press the Exit button instead, usually marked with an X or a door symbol depending on your remote model.
If you want to fully remove the app from memory so it stops running in the background, you need to go one step further. After pressing Back or Exit, go to Settings, then Apps, find the app in the list, and select "Close" or "Force Stop". This prevents the app from using your TV's processing power or memory until you open it again.
Most of the time, pressing Back once is enough. The app closes and you move on. But if an app is frozen, not responding, or draining your TV's speed, forcing it to stop is the real fix.
Key Takeaways
- Press the Back button (curved arrow) on your Samsung remote to exit any app and return to the home screen.
- If Back does not work, try the Exit button, which may be labeled with an X or door symbol on your specific remote.
- To fully close an app and stop it running in the background, go to Settings, then Apps, select the app, and choose "Close" or "Force Stop".
- Forcing an app to stop is useful when an app is frozen, slow, or using too much of your TV's memory.
- Closing apps does not delete them — they remain installed and you can open them again anytime.
When the Back button does not work
Sometimes the Back button does not respond, usually because the app is frozen or your remote batteries are low. First, check that your remote has fresh batteries — remove the battery cover on the back, take out the old batteries, and insert two new AA or AAA batteries depending on your remote type. Wait a few seconds and try the Back button again.
If the batteries are fine and Back still does not work, try the Exit button instead. On most Samsung remotes, this is a separate button, often near the top or side of the remote. If your remote has neither a clear Back nor Exit button, look for a button labeled "Return" or a house icon — these also close apps on some Samsung models.
If no button works and the app is completely frozen, unplug your TV from the wall outlet, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This performs a full restart and closes all running apps at once. Your TV will take a minute or two to boot back up, but the frozen app will be gone.
Closing apps through the Settings menu
To close an app permanently and remove it from your TV's memory, use the Settings menu. Press the Home button on your remote to go to the home screen, then navigate to Settings using the arrow buttons. The Settings icon usually looks like a gear or wrench.
Once in Settings, scroll down and select Apps. You will see a list of all apps currently installed on your TV. Find the app you want to close, highlight it, and press Enter. A menu will appear with options including "Close", "Force Stop", or "Uninstall". Select "Close" or "Force Stop" — both remove the app from active memory, though "Force Stop" is more aggressive and works when an app is stuck.
After you close an app this way, it will not run in the background anymore. If you want to use it again later, just open it normally from your home screen — closing does not delete the app, only stops it from running.
The difference between closing and uninstalling
Closing an app and uninstalling an app are two different things, and it matters which one you choose. When you close an app, it stops running but stays on your TV. You can open it again anytime by finding it on your home screen or in your apps list. Closing is what you do when an app is misbehaving or you just want to free up memory for a while.
When you uninstall an app, you remove it completely from your TV. It no longer appears on your home screen, and you cannot open it unless you download and install it again from the Samsung App Store. Uninstall is what you do when you no longer want an app at all and want to reclaim the storage space it uses.
If you are not sure whether you want to keep an app, close it first. That gives you a chance to change your mind. Only uninstall if you are certain you will not use it again.
Closing multiple apps at once
If several apps are running and slowing down your TV, you do not have to close them one by one. The fastest way is to restart your TV entirely. Press the Home button, go to Settings, scroll down to "General", and select "Restart TV". Your TV will shut down and turn back on, which closes every app at once and clears your TV's memory.
A full restart takes about two minutes from start to finish. During that time, your TV will be off. This is more thorough than closing individual apps because it also clears temporary files and resets your TV's processor, which can make it run noticeably faster if it has been on for a long time.
If you want to close just a few specific apps without restarting the whole TV, go back to Settings, Apps, and close them one at a time using the method described earlier. It takes longer but keeps your TV on and ready to use.
Why apps keep running in the background
On Samsung TVs, apps often keep running even after you stop watching them. This happens because your TV is designed to let apps stay active so they can send you notifications, update their content, or be ready to open faster next time. Streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube do this constantly — they are checking for new content even when you are not using them.
This background activity uses your TV's memory and processing power, which can slow down other apps or make your TV feel sluggish. If you notice your TV is responding slowly or taking longer to switch between apps, closing the apps you are not actively using will help. You do not have to close every app — just the ones you know you are not using right now.
Some apps, like your TV's built-in apps for news or weather, are designed to run in the background and cannot be fully closed. That is normal. Focus on closing the apps you opened yourself, like streaming services or games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing an app delete my saved data or login information?
No. Closing an app does not delete your account, saved games, watch history, or login information. When you open the app again, you will be logged in and everything will be exactly as you left it. Only uninstalling an app removes data, and even then, some apps save your information to their servers so you can recover it if you reinstall.
What is the difference between the Back button and the Exit button?
The Back button (curved arrow) usually takes you back one step within an app or to the previous screen. The Exit button (X or door symbol) closes the app entirely and returns you to the home screen. On most Samsung remotes, Back is the primary way to exit apps, but if it does not work, Exit will do the job.
Why does my app keep opening automatically after I close it?
Some apps are set to start automatically when your TV turns on. To stop this, go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and look for an option like "Auto Start" or "Launch on Startup". Turn this off. If the option is not there, the app may be linked to a service your TV needs, and you should leave it alone.
Can I close apps without using the remote?
Not directly. Samsung TVs do not have physical buttons on the TV itself to close apps — you must use the remote. If your remote is lost or broken, you can use the Samsung SmartThings app on your phone to control your TV and close apps that way, but you will need to download the app first and connect it to your TV.
Does closing apps save electricity?
Slightly. Apps running in the background use processing power, which uses more electricity than when your TV is idle. Closing apps you are not using will reduce power consumption a little, but the difference is usually small unless many apps are running at once. If you want to save more electricity, lowering your TV's brightness or using the power-saving mode in Settings will have a bigger effect.