Smartphones of the Samsung Galaxy A12 series are extremely popular due to their affordable price, but owners often face a lack of RAM when working with heavy apps. Over time, the operating system Android grows with dozens of running processes that continue to consume resources even after you exit the app. This leads to noticeable slowdowns in the interface, rapid battery drain, and unexpected closing of active tabs in the browser.
Proper management of running tasks is a basic skill necessary for every user of budget and mid-budget devices. Unlike expensive flagships, the model A12 has a limited amount of RAM, so forcibly stopping unnecessary processes here is not just a recommendation, but a necessity for comfortable operation of the gadget.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods of clearing memory: from standard gestures to using hidden engineering menus. You will learn to distinguish between system processes and user applications, which will allow you to optimize the operation of the device without the risk of damaging the software.
Standard method through the running applications menu
The easiest and safest way to close background apps on Samsung A12 is to use the built-in multitasking menu. Shell One UI provides a convenient visual interface where you can see a preview of all active windows. To call this menu, you need to press the “Recent applications” navigation button (three vertical bars) or swipe up from the bottom and hold your finger if gesture control is enabled.
In the list that opens, you will see cards of all running apps, sorted by time of last use. To close a specific application, just click the “Close” button (usually a cross icon or text) at the bottom of the card. If your goal is to completely clear memory, then at the bottom of the list there is a “Close All” button, which will forcefully terminate all user processes.
⚠️ Attention: Mass closing of all applications at once can lead to a short-term jump in power consumption, since the system will have to reinitialize frequently used services the next time it starts.
It is worth noting that the operating system The system Android is designed to keep frequently used applications in memory for quick launch. However, with its modest characteristics, constant clipboard overflow can cause lags, so periodic manual cleaning through this menu is a good habit. Samsung A12 With its modest specs, constant clipboard overflows can cause lag, so periodic manual clearing through this menu is a good habit to get into.
Using the built-in device optimizer
The company Samsung has implemented a powerful system tool called “Optimization” into its devices devices." This service not only closes applications, but also analyzes their impact on battery and processor performance. You can find it by going to Settings → Device maintenance.
Inside the “Memory” section, a graph of RAM usage and a list of apps that consume the most resources are displayed. Clicking on the “Clean Now” button will forcefully terminate background processes that the system considers redundant at the moment. This is a more intelligent approach compared to simply closing windows, since the algorithm tries not to touch critical system services.
For advanced users, the Auto Optimize function is available, which can be set up on a schedule. For example, you can set a rule so that your phone automatically clears its memory every morning at 7:00 am or when the battery level drops below 20%. This allows you to keep Samsung A12 in good shape without constant manual intervention.
Set up auto-optimization for times when you usually do not use your phone (for example, at night) so that the cleaning process does not interfere with background updating of important data.
Forced stop through system settings
Sometimes an application may freeze or continue to run in the background, ignoring standard close commands. In such cases, the “Forced Stop” function helps. This method breaks the process's connection with the system at a deep level, ensuring a complete cessation of its activity. Samsung A12 The “Forced stop” function helps. This method breaks the connection between the process and the system at a deep level, ensuring a complete cessation of its activity.
To use this method, go to Settings → Applications. In the list that opens, find the problematic app (for example, a heavy game or a frozen messenger). Inside the application menu, click the Stop button. The system will warn you that the application may behave unpredictably if you stop it, but for frozen apps this is the only way out.
- 🛑 This method completely removes the application from RAM, as opposed to simply closing the window.
- 🔄 The next time you start the app, it will start “from scratch”, without saved temporary errors.
- ⚙️ Recommended for use for apps that cause the case to heat up or drain the battery quickly.
It is important to understand the difference between normal closure and forced stop. The first is the standard procedure for shutting down the work, the second is an emergency interruption of the process. For Samsung A12 using a forced stop for heavy applications like navigators or video editors can be a salvation if the phone starts to “stutter.”
☑️ Algorithm of actions when freezing
Accessibility and clear button
In the arsenal of the shell One UI There's a little-known but extremely useful feature that allows you to add a quick clear button directly to the navigation screen or notification panel. This is especially true for owners Samsung A12who often need to free up memory in one click.
You can activate this option through the menu Settings → Accessibility → Improve visibility → Improve visibility menu button. After turning on, a floating icon will appear on the screen, inside of which there will be a “Clear memory” button. Clicking on it instantly launches a system script for cleaning RAM, similar to the action in the optimizer menu.
This widget does not require root access and works stably on all firmware versions. It's ideal for situations where you need to quickly free up resources before running a demanding game or heavy video calling application. Having such a button at hand eliminates the need to delve into the depths of the settings every time.
⚠️ Attention: The accessibility menu interface may vary slightly depending on the Android update version. If you do not find the “Improve visibility” item, use the search for settings by entering the query “Menu button”.
Developer mode and process limitation
For advanced users who want full control over how many applications can run in the background at the same time, there is a developer mode. In Samsung A12 it is hidden by default, but activating it opens up access to fine-tuning the operation of RAM.
To get to the developer menu, you need to quickly click on “Build number” 7 times in the section Settings → About phone → Software information. After the message “Developer mode has been activated” appears, a new item will appear in the main settings menu. We are interested in the “Applications” section, and specifically the “Background processes” subsection.
Here you can set a hard limit: for example, “No more than 2 processes”. This means that the system will only keep in memory the two most recently launched applications, and all others will be forced to close automatically. For Samsung A12 with its limited amount of RAM, this can be a radical but effective way to speed up work.
| Setting the limit | Description of system behavior | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Standard limit | The system itself decides how much to keep in memory | Basal |
| No background processes | Background processes are closed immediately after exit | Maximum savings |
| No more than 1 process | Only the active application remains in memory | High savings |
| No more than 4 processes | Reasonable balance for devices with 3-4 GB of RAM | Moderate |
Risks of changing the process limit
Setting the limit too strict (for example, “No background processes”) can cause the music in the player to stop when switching to another application, and downloading files in the browser will be interrupted when the screen is locked.
Memory consumption analysis and third-party utilities
Although the built-in tools Samsung are usually sufficient, sometimes more detailed statistics are required. There are many cleaning applications in the Google Play Market, but you should be careful when choosing them. Many of them themselves consume a lot of resources, negating all the benefits of their work. Samsung A12 should be approached with caution. Many of them consume a lot of resources themselves, negating all the benefits of their work.
The safest option is to use the native task manager, accessible through the developer mode (the “Running Services” item). It shows the actual memory consumption of each process in real time. This allows you to identify “hidden memory eaters” that are not visible in the regular list of applications.
- 📊 Use the built-in statistics to find applications that you did not run, but they are hanging in the background.
- 🚫 Avoid installing “boosters” with aggressive advertising, they often contain viruses or miners.
- 🧹 Regularly clearing the cache through storage settings is more effective than constantly rebooting processes.
If you still decide to use third-party software, choose proven solutions like Files by Google or SD Maid. They work transparently and do not try to embed their services into the system startup, which is critical for the performance of a budget device. Samsung A12.
The built-in tools of Android and One UI cope with memory management better than most third-party cleaner apps that only create the appearance of work.
Why do applications close immediately after opening?
This phenomenon is called “memory eviction.” On Samsung A12 h with a small amount of RAM, new heavy applications push old ones out of memory. Solution: close unnecessary background apps manually before starting a heavy game.
Does constantly closing applications affect the life of the phone?
No, closing windows software does not wear out the hardware. However, constantly restarting processes can increase the load on the processor and, as a result, battery consumption during these actions.
Do you need to close applications before turning off the phone?
This is not necessary. When you turn off the power Samsung A12 automatically clears all RAM. Forcibly closing all windows before going to bed is a waste of time.
Is it possible to prevent a specific application from running in the background?
Yes. Go to Settings → Applications → [Select an application] → Battery and select the “Limited” mode. This will prevent the app from being active in the background.