The quickest way to close an app on Apple TV

To close an app on Apple TV, press and hold the Menu button on your remote while the app is open, then swipe up on the touchpad and release. The app will disappear from the screen and close completely. This is the standard method that works on all Apple TV models running tvOS 12 and later.

If you're using an older Apple TV (4th generation or earlier), the process is slightly different: double-click the Home button to see all open apps, then swipe up on the app you want to close. The app will slide off the top of the screen and shut down.

You don't have to close apps this way every time you finish using them. Apple TV manages background apps automatically, so leaving an app open won't drain your battery or slow down your TV the way it might on a phone. But closing an app is useful if it's frozen, misbehaving, or if you want to make sure it starts fresh the next time you open it.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold Menu, then swipe up on the touchpad to close any app on current Apple TV models.
  • On older Apple TV remotes without a touchpad, double-click Home and swipe up on the app you want to close.
  • Closing apps is optional for daily use since Apple TV handles background apps automatically.
  • Force-closing a frozen app requires the same gesture — there's no separate "force quit" option on Apple TV.
  • The app will fully shut down and won't run in the background after you close it this way.

When you actually need to close an app

Most of the time, you can straightforward switch to a different app without closing the previous one. Apple TV is designed to handle multiple open apps without performance problems. The system manages memory and processing power in the background, so an idle app won't slow down your TV or use significant power.

Close an app when it stops responding to remote commands, when it's stuck on a loading screen, or when it crashes and won't play content. Closing and reopening the app usually fixes these problems faster than restarting your entire Apple TV. You should also close an app if you want to clear its temporary data — for example, if a streaming app is showing you the wrong recommendations or remembering a login you want to forget.

The difference between closing and force-quitting

On iPhones and iPads, there's a difference between closing an app normally and force-quitting it when it's frozen. Apple TV doesn't make this distinction. The Menu-and-swipe gesture closes the app completely and when ready, whether it's responding or not. You don't need a separate force-quit command.

If an app is completely unresponsive and won't close even after you try the Menu-and-swipe gesture, restart your Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Restart. This is rare, but it's the nuclear option when a single app won't cooperate.

Closing apps on different Apple TV remote models

The method depends on which remote came with your Apple TV. If your remote has a flat, clickable touchpad at the top (the Siri Remote that shipped with Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD), use the Menu-and-swipe method described above. This is the current standard.

If your remote has a circular clickpad with a ring around it (the older Siri Remote from 2015), the process is the same: press and hold Menu, then swipe up. If your remote is older still and has a white plastic design with separate buttons (Apple TV 3rd generation or earlier), double-click the Home button to see all open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close. The app will slide off the screen.

You can check which Apple TV model you have by going to Settings > About. The model name will appear at the top of the screen.

What happens after you close an app

Once you close an app, it stops running completely. Any video that was playing stops, any game pauses, and any unsaved data in the app is lost. The next time you open that app, it will start fresh — you'll see the home screen or login screen, not the place you left off.

Some apps remember your login information and your viewing history even after you close them, because that data is stored on your Apple TV, not in the app's active memory. Other apps, especially games, may not save your progress if you close them without using an in-app save button first. If you're in the middle of something important, use the app's own menu to exit or save before you close it.

Clearing an app's cache and data

Closing an app is not the same as clearing its stored data. When you close an app, it stops running, but the app itself stays installed on your Apple TV and keeps its settings, login information, and cache files. If you want to completely wipe an app's data, you need to delete and reinstall it.

Go to Settings > Apps, find the app you want to reset, and select Delete. Then go to the App Store, search for the app again, and read it fresh. This clears out old cache files, forgotten logins, and corrupted data that might be causing problems. It takes a few minutes, but it's the most thorough way to fix an app that's behaving badly.

Why an app might not close

If you press Menu and swipe up but the app doesn't close, the gesture may not have registered. Make sure you're pressing and holding the Menu button (not just tapping it) and that you're swiping upward on the touchpad with enough speed. If the app still won't close, try the gesture again after waiting a few seconds.

If the app closes but when ready reopens, check whether you have a timer or alarm set in that app, or whether the app is set to launch automatically when you turn on your TV. Some apps like Apple TV+ or Plex can be configured to start up on their own. You can change this in the app's settings or in your Apple TV's Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to close apps before turning off my Apple TV?

No. When you turn off your Apple TV, all open apps close automatically. You don't need to manually close anything first. The next time you turn on your TV, it will remember which app you were using, but the app will start fresh.

Will closing an app delete my account or login information?

No. Closing an app stops it from running, but it doesn't erase your saved passwords, viewing history, or account information. That data stays on your Apple TV. The next time you open the app, you'll usually stay logged in.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

No. You have to close apps one at a time using the Menu-and-swipe gesture. There's no way to close all open apps with a single command on Apple TV.

What if I close an app by accident?

Just open it again from the home screen or the App Store. Nothing is deleted or lost except any unsaved work you were doing inside the app at that moment. Your account and settings will be exactly as you left them.

Does closing apps save battery power on my Apple TV?

Not meaningfully. Apple TV is plugged into power, not battery-operated, so closing apps won't reduce your electricity bill. The system manages background apps efficiently enough that leaving them open has no practical impact on power use.