How to open the latest applications on Android: all methods and secrets

Have you ever lost an important application among dozens of open tabs? Or did you want to quickly return to the messenger you used a minute ago? Function recent applications on Android is your lifeline in the sea of ​​multitasking. But not all users know that this tool does not work the same on different devices and versions of the operating system.

In this article we will look at not only standard methods for calling the list of recent applications, but also little-known tricks. You will learn how bypass manufacturer restrictionswho like to remake the Android interface to suit their needs, how to restore an application that was accidentally closed, and even how to customize the display of the list to suit your preferences. And for owners of old smartphones, we have prepared separate solutions - because even Android 8.0 this function works, it’s just not always obvious where to look for it.

We warn you right away: some methods may differ depending on the shell (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS and others). But we tried to cover the maximum number of options so that you find a solution specifically for your device.

Standard method: button or gesture

The most obvious and universal method is to use Recent Apps buttons or a special gesture. On most modern smartphones this works the same way, but there are nuances.

On devices with hardware buttons (for example, older models Samsung Galaxy or Xiaomi Redmi) you need:

1. Click on square button to the right of the "Home" button.
2. Hold it for 1-2 seconds if the list did not open on the first touch.

On smartphones with gesture control (starting with Android 9 Pie and later) the algorithm is different:

• 👆 Swipe your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger for 0.5 seconds.
• 👉 On some devices (for example, Google Pixel), you need to swipe diagonally from right to left.
• 🔄 If the gesture does not work, check the settings in System → Gestures → System navigation.

Important: on some devices (for example, Huawei with shell EMUI) the gesture may conflict with the call head assistant. In this case, you will have to select in the settings which function has priority.

⚠️ Attention: On Android 12 and later, Google has implemented a limit on the number of applications displayed in the list (maximum 5 by default). To see the full list, swipe up on the list of recent applications.

Hotkeys and hidden combinations

Few people know, but on Android there are hidden button combinationsthat duplicate the function of viewing recent applications. These methods are especially useful if the touch screen is not responsive or you are using a device with a physical keyboard (for example, BlackBerry KEY2 or Unihertz Titan).

Here are the working combinations:

For owners of devices with unlock by fingerprint on the back panel (for example, Google Pixel 6 or Motorola Moto G) there is another lifehack:

If none of the combinations worked, check if the function is disabled in the developer settings. To do this:

1. Activate developer mode (click on the build number 7 times in Settings → About phone).
2. Go back to the main settings and open System → For Developers.
3. Find the option Enable multi-window or Limit background processes and make sure that it does not block the display of recent tasks.

Voice assistant and third-party applications

If you are too lazy to use gestures or buttons, you can delegate the task voice assistantThis method is especially convenient when your hands are busy or. the screen is dirty.

Here's how it works with different assistants:

• 🤖 Google Assistant: say “Okay, Google, open recent applications” or “Show recent tasks” On some devices you need to clarify: “Open the multitasking menu.”
• 🤖 Bixby (Samsung): "Hi, Bixby, show the latest applications" or "Open recent applications."
• 🤖 Alice (Yandex): "Alice, open the list of recent apps." Works only on devices with pre-installed Alice.

If voice commands do not work, check:

Settings → Applications → Google → Permissions → Microphone is on|

Settings → System → Gestures → Voice assistant activated|

Voice input language matches the system language|

No restrictions for assistant in power saving mode-->

For those who prefer visual control, there are third-party applications that expand the functionality of recent tasks:

• 📱 Recent Apps Switcher — adds a quick switch panel on top of any screen.
• 🔄 Taskbar — imitates the taskbar like on a PC, with the ability to capture frequently used applications.
• 🎯 Edge Gestures — allows you to assign the call of recent applications to a swipe from the edge screen.

⚠️ Attention: Applications for modifying the interface may conflict with the shells of some manufacturers (especially Xiaomi and Oppo). Before installation, check the reviews for your smartphone model.

What to do if the list of recent applications does not open

Sometimes users encounter a problem when neither gestures nor buttons bring up the list of recent applications. The reasons can be different - from a bug in the firmware to intentional limitations of the manufacturer.

Here is the diagnostic and solution algorithm:

1. Reboot the device. In 30% of cases, the problem is solved by a simple reboot, especially if there was a forced closure of system processes before that.
2. Check the gesture settings. The Android 10+ path is as follows: Settings → System → Gestures → System navigation. Make sure that the "Gesture navigation" or "2-button navigation" option is selected.
3. Reset the launcher settings. To do this:

   Settings → Applications → [Your launcher, for example Nova Launcher] → Storage → Clear data

   ⚠️ This will reset all your widgets and layout icons!

4. Check for updates. Sometimes multitasking bugs are fixed in security patches. Path: Settings → System → System update.

If the problem appeared after installing a new application, try start the device in safe mode:

• 🔄 Hold the power button until the shutdown menu appears.
• 🛡️ Press and hold "Power" (or "Power Off") until you are prompted to enter Safe Mode.
• 🔍 In Safe Mode, check if calling recent apps works. If yes, one of the installed applications is to blame.

For devices Samsung with a shell One UI there are separate instructions:

How to restore a closed application from the recent list

Did you accidentally close an application by swiping up, but it was important? Don't despair - there are ways to get it back without starting it again.

On Android 11 and newer, the system saves the state of closed applications in the cache for up to 30 minutes. Here's how to use it:

1. Open the list of recent applications (by any of the methods described above).
2. Find the button at the bottom of the list "Show all" or "History" (on some devices you need to scroll up the list itself).
3. Tap on the icon of a closed application - it will open from the same screen on which it was closed.

If this method does not work, try alternatives:

• 🔄 Quick switch: Double-tap the "Recent Apps" button (or double-swipe up on gesture navigation). Some shells (for example MIUI 13) restore the last closed application.
• 📱 Through ADB (for advanced users):

  adb shell am stack list

  This command will show all active task stacks, including recently closed ones.

• 🔍 Last App Switcher application (requires root). It saves the history of closed applications and allows you to restore them in one click.

⚠️ Attention: Restoring closed applications may not work if:

- The application was closed more than an hour ago.

- The system cleared its data due to low memory.

- You used the Clear All function in the recent tasks list.

Customizing the display of the recent applications list

You can customize how the recent tasks panel looks and works. The possibilities depend on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell, but here are universal tips:

1. Changing the number of apps displayed

By default, Android shows 5-8 latest apps, but this can be changed:

• 📱 On stock Android (Pixel, Android One): use the ADB command:

  adb shell settings put global recents_max_tasks 12

  (Replace 12 with the desired number, maximum 20)

• 📱 On Samsung One UI: Settings → Additional functions → Laboratory → Number of recent applications.
• 📱 On Xiaomi MIUI: This option is locked, but you can use the module MIUI Mods for Magisk.

2. Disabling animations

If you are annoyed by smooth transitions when opening the list of recent applications, disable them:

1. Activate developer mode (read how to do this above).
2. Go to Settings → System → For Developers.
3. Find options:
   • Window animation scale → Off
   • Transition animation scale → Off
   • Animator duration → Off

3. Fixing applications in the list

Some shells allow you to “pin” frequently used applications to the list of recent ones so that they do not disappear when cleared:

• 📌 On Samsung One UI: open the list of recent ones, tap on the application icon and select “Pin.”
• 📌 On Oppo ColorOS: swipe the application down in the recent list and select "Pin".
• 📌 On stock Android: this function is not present, but it can be added through the module Taskbar.

4. Changing the display order

By default, applications are sorted by last used time, but on some devices you can change the logic:

• 🔄 To Huawei EMUI: Settings → System → Multitasking → Sorting recent (you can select "Alphabetical" or "By frequency of use").
• 🔄 On other shells: use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Action Launcherthat support customizing the list of recents.

Alternative methods for older versions Android

If you have a device on Android 5.0 Lollipop or older, standard methods may not work. Here's what to do in such cases:

For Android 4.4 KitKat and 5.0 Lollipop:

• 🔘 Use Menu button (if it is on your device). On some firmware, holding this button opens a list of recent ones.
• 📱 Install an alternative launcher, for example:
  • Apex Launcher - supports gestures for calling recent applications.
  • GO Launcher - has a built-in panel tasks.
• 🔧 Use the widget "Recent applications" (available in some custom firmware like CyanogenMod).

For Android 6.0 Marshmallow and 7.0 Nougat:

• 🔄 Check the gesture settings in Settings → Motions and gestures (some devices have an option "Gesture for recent applications").
• 📲 Use an app "Recent Apps Widget"that adds a panel recent tasks to the home screen.
• 🔧 If you root access, install the Xposed module "Recent Apps Remover" for advanced control.

For devices with physical keyboard (for example, BlackBerry Priv or Sony Xperia Pro) there are special combinations:

• 🎹 Alt + Tab —switching between the last two applications.
• 🎹 Alt + Esc —opening a full list of recent ones tasks.

⚠️ Attention: On very old devices (before Android 4.0), the multitasking function worked differently - applications did not save their state after closing. In this case, only installing custom firmware based on the new version of Android will help.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about recent applications on Android

adb shell am stack start -n com.example.app/.MainActivity