Ever had an app freeze on your mobile or laptop, or just refuse to respond, and now you want to know how to restart an app?
You are not alone. I have faced this issue more times than I can count, especially when I am in the middle of something important. Whether it is an app not loading, crashing randomly, or acting slow, the easiest fix often starts with one simple thing, restarting the app.
But how to restart an app is a real challenge. In simple words, it is like giving your app a fresh breath of air. In this guide, I am going to tell you complete details on restarting an app on iPhone, Android, and PC through simple steps anyone can follow.
Why You Should Restart An App?
Apps store temporary data and processes while running. These are called caches. Over time or due to bugs, these can overload the system or create conflicts.
When you restart an app, it clears this short-term memory and starts fresh, which can resolve glitches, improve performance, or just make the app feel more responsive.
How to Restart an App on iPhone?
If you are using an iPhone without a home button, like the iPhone X or newer, follow these steps:
- Determine the app that is causing trouble, and you want to restart.
- Swipe the screen up from the bottom of your screen to reach the main screen.
- Again, swipe the screen up so you will see the app’s preview that you have closed recently.
- Just flick the app’s window upward and off the screen. This completely closes the app.
- Now go back to your home screen and tap the app icon again. It will start fresh.
How to Restart an App on Android?
You can follow the similar steps as I have mentioned for iPhone to learn how to restart the app on Android. However, if the app is totally frozen and not working properly, after a simple restart, you have to force quit it.
In this way, it will restart completely fresh. The steps to follow are below:
- Find the settings icon and click on it.
- Now, go to the App Management section and tap on it.
- Here, select the App list option.
- Choose the app you want to force quit.
- Select the Force Stop, and the app will stop functioning completely.
- Now, go to the homescreen and open the same app.
- It will restart fresh.
How to Restart an App on Windows?
The simplest way to restart an app on Windows is:
- Click the X at the top-right corner.
- This is the most common way to close an app.
- Give it a moment to fully close.
- Wait a few seconds, then restart the app on Windows.
Use Task Manager to Force Quit and Restart
If the app is frozen and the X is not responding on Windows, you have to force close the app and then restart it.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
- This opens Task Manager instantly.
- Find the app in the list under ‘Processes’
- Scroll down to locate it. Apps will often be listed under “Apps” or “Background Processes.”
- Right click on it and select End Task from the options.
- This will forcefully shut it down.
- Reopen the app from your desktop or Start menu.
Final Thoughts
There you have about how to restart an app. Whether you are using an iPhone, an Android phone, or a PC, restarting an app is a quick and easy fix for many common problems. I have found that just taking a few seconds to close and relaunch an app often clears up freezing, lagging, and unresponsiveness.
It’s like hitting a refresh button for your digital life. So the next time your favorite app starts acting up, don’t panic. Just restart it and see the magic happen. And if that doesn’t work, remember that updates and reinstalling can go a long way too. Tech problems don’t have to be scary when you know what to do.
