How do I stop all running apps in the Samsung Galaxy S3?

Question

Device: Samsung Galaxy S3
Android: 4.1.1

I need to stop all running apps for an app, but how do I do that with one click? Is it safe? Does the S3 have a tool?

Question is: What makes you need that? Android takes care pretty well to clean up if ressources are required. Task killing is rather contra-productive. If you'ld add some background, there might be better approaches to your goal -- and your current question might turn out being a XY problem ;) — Izzy, Jul 30 '13 at 08:45

geffchang · Answer 1 · 2013-07-30T06:33:58.387

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Long-press the home button.
You should see something similar below.
NOTE: It is from a Samsung Galaxy S4, but S3 should have it also.
Then, click the 3rd icon (lower right).

YES, it is safe. It will close all open apps.

^{Screenshot (click image for lager variant)}

UPDATE #1: Just to clarify Izzy's comment, he's partially right. Clicking the button will not close all running apps, but it will close all apps have you have manually opened. e.g. If you opened 3 different browsers, and clicked the button above, those 3 browsers would close. However, it will not close background processes / services that are running (e.g. AdBlock, aCalendar+, etc)

edited Jul 30 '13 at 06:33

answered Jul 30 '13 at 05:06

geffchang

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Sorry to disappoint you, geff: but that will not close all open apps. It will only remove your recently-used apps from the list and kindly ask them to "calm down" (see also Do applications that remain in Recent Apps list take up resources?). Even if the additional button Samsung has placed there does kill the apps, this only handles "recently used", not necessarily "currently running". See Settings->Apps->Running to compare. Please correct me if this general rule is not valid for Samsung devices ;) – Izzy Jul 30 '13 at 06:11
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@Izzy Added Update#1 so that it's a bit clearer – geffchang Jul 30 '13 at 06:34
Yepp, that fits better. Though that list is still named "recent apps" (and in older Android versions was limited to 6 or 9 entries), my experience with ICS/JB matches your description (apps are kept here until the user "swipes them out" explicitly). And that "kill button" (as well as the others visible in your screenshot) seem to be a Samsung extension to merge in a kind of task manager :) // Thanks for your update, geff -- much clearer now! – Izzy Jul 30 '13 at 06:56
@Izzy After clearing my list, it says "No recent apps". So yeah, it is still the recent apps list. – geffchang Jul 30 '13 at 07:21
Exactly. So to make your answer complete (on-board solutions), you might want to add the Settings->Apps->Running list, where one can walk each entry and "force stop" the corresponding apps/services. But that's even less "one click" then the "recent" list ;) – Izzy Jul 30 '13 at 08:41

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 30 '13 at 05:15

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Try using a task manager or a task killer app like Advanced Task Killer.

edited Jul 30 '13 at 05:15

geffchang

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answered Jul 30 '13 at 05:10

RainyTaxi

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 06 '14 at 17:23

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If you are rooted your Android then 'Greenify' is your answer !

It will help to hibernate all running services/apps/processes and free up resources.

answered Sep 06 '14 at 17:23

Alexander The Great

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How do I stop all running apps in the Samsung Galaxy S3?

3 Answers3