Closing apps on your Apple TV is straightforward, especially if an app becomes unresponsive, although it's rarely necessary for normal operation.
How to Close Apps on Apple TV
Apple TV apps are designed to manage memory efficiently, so you typically don't need to close them. However, if an app freezes or misbehaves, force-quitting it can resolve the issue.
For Apple TV (4th Generation and Later) with Siri Remote
If you have an Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K with a Siri Remote (or Apple TV Remote), you can easily force-quit an app that isn't responding. This process is similar to closing apps on an iPhone or iPad.
Here's how to force-quit an app:
- Go to the Home Screen: Press the TV/Home button (the button with a TV icon) on your Siri Remote to return to the Apple TV home screen. If you're already on the home screen, proceed to the next step.
- Access the App Switcher: Quickly double-click the TV/Home button. This action will display a multitasking view, showing all the apps currently running in the background.
- Force Quit the App: Navigate to the unresponsive app by swiping left or right on the touch surface of your Siri Remote. Once you've highlighted the problematic app, swipe up on the touch surface to close it. The app will disappear from the screen, indicating it has been force-quit.
- Return to Home Screen: Press the TV/Home button once more to exit the app switcher.
You can then reopen the app to see if the issue has been resolved.
For Apple TV (3rd Generation) and Earlier Models
Older Apple TV models, such as the Apple TV (3rd generation), do not have an app switcher feature to directly close individual apps. If an app becomes unresponsive on these models, your best course of action is to restart the Apple TV itself.
To restart your Apple TV (3rd generation):
- Hold Down Buttons: On your Apple Remote, simultaneously hold down the Menu button and the Down button for about six seconds.
- Wait for Restart: The Apple TV's status light will blink rapidly, and the device will restart. This process typically resolves issues with unresponsive apps.
Alternatively, you can restart your Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Restart.
Returning to the Home Screen
Regardless of your Apple TV model, if you simply want to stop using an app and return to the main menu, you can always press the Menu button or the TV/Home button on your remote. This action does not close the app but merely sends it to the background, allowing you to access other apps or content.
When to Force Quit an App
While it's generally unnecessary to close apps, consider force-quitting an app if:
- The app is frozen or unresponsive.
- It's experiencing performance issues, such as slow loading times or crashes.
- You're troubleshooting a specific problem with the app.
For more detailed information and support, you can visit the official Apple Support website.
