You will have many reasons to force close apps on Firestick 4K or Fire TV. Sometimes, the issue is with the app itself and it may go unresponsive or gets frozen while streaming media content. It is quintessential to clear all the recent apps which will help to improve the device’s performance. As a result, the Firestick will get sufficient storage space making it easier for all apps to run smoothly without any conflicts.

You can either use a Firestick remote or third-party apps like Background Apps & Process List or Task Killer to forcibly close the background apps on Firestick.

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How to Close Apps on Firestick Using Remote

1. Go to the home screen of Firestick by pressing the Home button on the remote.

2. While using a particular app, press the Back button to close the app.

3. Make sure to press the Back button twice or thrice if it doesn’t work.

Press the Back button on Firestick remote to close the app

Tip: Keep in mind, the app will continue to run in the background even though you close it. Therefore, you need to go to Firestick settings to force-stop the app you want.

How to Force Stop Apps on Firestick Using Settings

1. Plug in the Firestick to the HDMI port of your TV.

2. Make sure to connect your Firestick to a Wi-Fi network.

3. Press the Home button on the Fire TV Stick remote.

4. Click the Settings icon at the top-right corner.

Click the Settings icon

4. Select the Applications tile from the settings menu.

Select the Applications tile

5. Click Manage Installed Applications under Applications.

Tap the Manage Installed Applications option

6. Choose any app that you want to close from the list.

7. Next, click the Force Stop option.

Click Force Stop

8. Now, the selected app will be closed on your Firestick.

How to Force Close Apps on Firestick Using Third-Party Applications

By installing any one of the following apps, you can force close the apps on your Firestick.

  • Background Apps & Process List
  • Task Killer

Close Apps using Background Apps & Process List

The Background Apps & Process List app is natively available on the Amazon App Store, so you can directly download the app on your Firestick.

1. Go to the Firestick home screen by pressing the Home button on the remote.

2. Search for Background Apps & Process List. You can also use Alexa on Firestick to search via voice commands.

3. Select the app and click the Download button.

click the Download button

4. Wait until the app gets installed on your Fire TV or Firestick.

5. Once the installation is complete, click Open to launch the app.

6. Click Got It! to view the list of apps running in the background.

Click Got it!

7. Tap the Close All Apps button at the top left to close all the apps on Amazon Fire TV Stick. Click Select Multiple if you want to close multiple apps at a time.

Tap the Close All Apps button to close Apps on Firestick

8. If you want to close one app alone, click on it. Select Force stop to close that app.

click the Force Stop option to close Apps on Firestick

9. If you want to close the single app, select the app and click Force Stop to close it on Firestick.

Close Apps using the Task Killer App

As the Task Killer app is not available on the Amazon App Store, you can sideload it using Downloader on Firestick.

1. Go to the Firestick home screen.

2. Click the Find menu and tap the Search tile.

3. Enter Downloader using the virtual keyboard.

Search for Downloader

4. Pick the Downloader app from the search results.

5. Tap the Download button to install the app.

Tap the Download button

6. Now, hit the Open button to launch the app.

Preliminary Requirements

1. Click the Settings icon on your Firestick home screen.

2. Tap the My Fire TV tile.

Tap the My Fire TV on Firestick

3. Select the Developer Options.

4. Hit the Install unknown apps option.

click the install unknown apps

5. Turn on Downloader to install the unknown sources on Firestick.

Turn on Downloader

Sideload Task Killer on Firestick using Downloader

1. Open the Downloader app from the Apps section on Firestick.

2. Tap the Home tab on the left pane.

3. Enter the Task Killer apk download link in the URL field.

Enter the download link of Task Killer to Close Apps on Firestick

4. Once entered, click the Go button to download the apk file.

5. Next, open the apk file and hit the Install button to install the app.

6. After the installation, click the Open button to launch the app.

How to Use Task Killer on Firestick

1. Long press the Home button on the Firestick remote. Click Apps.

2. It will take you to the Your Apps & Games section on your Firestick.

3. Highlight Task Killer from the list of applications.

how to close app on firestick

4. Press the Menu button on the Firestick remote and click the Move option.

how to close app on firestick

4. Drag and drop the app at the top of the screen for quick access.

5. Once you launch the app, it will search for the app running in the background and close them automatically.

Terminated apps list on Task Killer

After closing the background apps using Task Killer, it will display the details of the memory released for Firestick.

Alternate Ways to Force Close Apps on Firestick

If you are looking for alternatives, you can use the following apps to force close apps on Fire TV.

DBTV AssistantIt helps to uninstall apps, release Firestick memory, delete cache files, and more. Since DBTV Assistant is unavailable on the Amazon App Store, you can sideload the app using Downloader.
SD MaidSD Maid lets you manage installed applications and files stored on your Firestick. Though it serves as a file manager, you can still use this app to close the background apps running on Firestick.
AppList ManagerAppList Manager can be installed on Firestick from the Amazon App Store. This app lets you manage your WIFI settings, and local storage or even force quit the apps you don’t use.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to delete apps on Firestick?

If you want to close apps on Firestick, go to Settings >> Applications >> Manage Installed Applications >> Choose the app >> click Uninstall to delete the apps on Firestick.

2. How to stop background apps on Firestick?

To close apps, click Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Apps > Select the app > Select Force stop.

3. How to stop apps from starting automatically on Firestick?

Turn off Allow Video and an audio Autoplay option under Application Manager.

4. How to fix if Background Apps and Process List not working on Firestick?

You have to update the Backgrounds Apps and Process List app to the latest version to make it work.