How to Restart an App: Step-by-Step Guide

How do I restart an app step by step?

To restart an app, close the app completely, wait a few seconds, and then open the app again from the Home Screen or app list. Restarting an app ends the current session and gives the app a fresh start without removing your account or changing the phone’s other settings.

1. Save any unfinished work if the app still responds. Information that has not been saved may be lost when the app closes.
2. Return to the Home Screen using the Home button or the Home gesture.
3. Open the recent apps screen. On most phones, you do this by swiping up from the bottom and pausing, pressing the square Recent Apps button, or pressing the Home button twice.
4. Find the app’s preview card and swipe it away. The exact direction depends on the phone.
5. Wait several seconds so the app can finish closing.
6. Find the app on the Home Screen or in the app list, then tap its icon to reopen it.
7. Try the action that was frozen or not working.

If the same screen appears but the app now responds normally, the restart worked. If the app immediately freezes again, continue with the troubleshooting steps below.

How do I force-close an app before restarting it?

Force-closing means fully ending an app’s active process instead of simply leaving its screen. Returning to the Home Screen may leave the app running in the background, so that action alone does not always restart the app.

Start by opening the recent apps screen and swiping the app’s preview away. On many phones, this is enough to remove the app from the background. Wait briefly, then tap the app icon to restart the app.

Android also commonly provides a Force stop control in the phone’s settings:

1. Open the phone’s Settings app.
2. Select Apps, Applications, or a similarly named menu.
3. Select the app that is not responding.
4. Tap Force stop and confirm if prompted.
5. Return to the Home Screen and open the app again.

Use Force stop when an Android app remains frozen, keeps playing sound, or continues behaving incorrectly after its preview has been dismissed. Menu names vary by phone manufacturer and Android version.

How do I restart an app on iPhone or Android?

The goal is the same on iPhone and Android: open the recent apps view, dismiss the app, and reopen it. The gesture or button used to reach that view depends on the device.

• On an iPhone without a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge and pause near the middle of the screen. Find the app preview, swipe the preview upward, wait several seconds, and tap the app icon.
• On an iPhone with a Home button, press the Home button twice. Find the app preview, swipe it upward, wait several seconds, and reopen the app.
• On an Android phone using gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom and hold briefly. Find the app preview and swipe it away in the direction shown by the interface, then reopen the app.
• On an Android phone with navigation buttons, tap the square Recent Apps button. Swipe the app away or use the close control shown on its preview, then tap the app icon.

Do not select a control that closes every recent app unless you intend to dismiss the others too. Restarting only the problem app is usually the simplest first step.

What should I do when restarting an app does not fix the problem?

If restarting the app does not help, check the app, phone, and connection one at a time. Testing after each step makes it easier to identify what fixed the problem.

1. Confirm that the phone has a working Wi-Fi or mobile data connection if the app needs internet access.
2. Open the phone’s official app store, search for the app, and install an available update.
3. Check the phone’s settings for a system software update.
4. Restart the phone itself. Turn the phone off through its power menu, wait briefly, and turn it on again.
5. Make sure the phone has available storage space. Very low storage can prevent apps from loading or saving data correctly.
6. On Android, open the app’s settings page and clear its cache if that option is available. A cache is temporary data kept to help an app load faster.
7. If the problem continues, note any error message and the action that triggers it. That information will help when you contact support.

If several apps fail at the same time, the cause may be the phone, connection, or operating system rather than one app.

What is the difference between restarting and reinstalling an app?

Restarting an app means closing and reopening the existing installation. Reinstalling means removing the app from the phone and installing a fresh copy from the phone’s official app store.

• Restart the app first when it freezes, stops responding, displays an incomplete screen, or has a temporary error.
• Reinstall the app when repeated restarts, app updates, and a phone restart do not solve the problem.
• Expect a restart to keep the installed app and its stored settings in place.
• Expect a reinstall to remove at least some data stored only on the phone. The app may ask you to sign in again and restore permissions.

Before reinstalling, make sure you know the correct account sign-in details and have access to any required verification method. Save or synchronize important information if the app offers that option. Do not remove an app that stores essential information only on the device until you have confirmed how that information can be recovered.

Where can I get help if the app still will not restart?

For an app-specific problem, use the developer’s official support channel. Open the app’s listing in the phone’s official app store and look for the developer or app support section, or use the Help, Support, or Contact option inside the app if it opens.

Include the phone model, operating system version, app version, exact error message, and the steps that cause the problem. State that you already tried to restart the app, restart the phone, and check for updates. A screenshot can help, but remove or cover passwords, verification codes, account numbers, and other sensitive information before sharing it.

If the app closes immediately, cannot be installed, or several unrelated apps are affected, contact the phone manufacturer or operating system support team. If the problem involves an account rather than the phone, contact the app’s official account-support team and use only contact details shown through official channels.