Modern smartphones allow you to listen to music in the background, which is incredibly convenient for users. However, sometimes a situation arises when tracks continue to play even after locking the screen or exiting the application. This can be annoying if you want silence, or get in the way when you need to play another audio file. Owners of devices based on Android often encounter the fact that standard closing of the app does not stop playback.
The problem lies in the operating system, which tends to keep active processes in memory for quick startup. When you simply swipe an app to the side, the system may perceive it as temporarily hiding it rather than completely closing it. The music service VKontakte is no exception and uses background services for uninterrupted sound broadcasting. Understanding this mechanics is the first step to managing the audio stream on your gadget.
In this article we will analyze all existing methods for stopping music, from simple actions to deep system settings. You'll learn how to properly use the task manager, how to manage notifications, and what hidden features can help you solve a problem. We will also touch on the issues of optimizing energy consumption, since a player hanging in the background significantly consumes battery power.
Standard stopping methods through the app interface
The most obvious and frequently used method is to interact with the application itself. When you are inside the app, playback is controlled through the player's main screen or pop-up panel. Pressing the pause button stops the track, but does not always close the process. To completely shut down the service, you need to perform a number of actions depending on the client version VK.
In new versions of the application, the interface has become more minimalistic, and the close button can be hidden. It is usually located in the upper right corner of the player screen or in the form of a cross next to the track name. If you simply press the Home button and minimize the application, the music will continue to play. You need to either find the stop button inside the interface, or go to control through system tools.
⚠️ Attention: In some versions of the application, the complete close button may not be on the main screen. In this case, try clicking on the album cover to expand the player to full screen and look for controls there.
An alternative option inside the application is to use the "Sleep Timer" function. Although it is designed to turn off automatically, it can be used manually to stop immediately. Go to the player settings, select the timer and set the time to "0 minutes" or press stop if such an option is available in your region. This will forcefully end the current playback session.
Use the My Music widget on your desktop. Often it has a pause button, which works faster than entering the full application.
Control through the notification panel and curtain
The operating system Android brings multimedia control to the notification level. This allows the user to control the music without opening the application. When you start a track in VKontakte, a corresponding notification with control buttons appears at the top of the screen (in the curtain). This is where tracks stop most often.
To close the music, lower the notification shade by swiping from top to bottom. Find the block with the track name and cover art. There should be a stop button (square or cross). Depending on the shell version of your smartphone (for example, MIUI, OneUI or clean Android), the action may differ. Sometimes you need to tap and hold a notification to access additional dismiss options.
If a standard notification doesn't disappear after you tap Stop, try swiping it aside. This action will often forcefully terminate the associated process. However, in the latest versions Android swiping the notification can only hide it, leaving the music to play. In this case, you need to move on to more radical methods of managing processes.
Forced closing through the task manager
The most reliable way to ensure that the music stops is to use the running application manager. This method breaks the connection between the interface and the background service. On most devices, the list of running apps opens by swiping up from the bottom with a delay or by pressing a special navigation button. All currently active processes are displayed here.
Find the application card VKontakte. Depending on your launcher settings, you may see a preview of the open page or just a logo. To close, you need to swipe this card up or to the side. If you have the "Close All" function enabled, using it will also stop the music, but be careful: this will also close other important applications, such as instant messengers.
☑️ Proper closing through the manager
It is worth noting that on devices with aggressive memory optimization (for example, Xiaomi, Huawei), the system may close the application itself some time after the swipe. However, the music service may take precedence. If swiping does not help, try closing the application, and then immediately clearing the RAM through the built-in system accelerator.
Background activity settings and battery
Modern versions Android give the user detailed control over what applications can do in the background. If music plays constantly even when you're not using your phone, the app may have permission to run indefinitely. This setting is located in the battery section and affects power consumption.
To limit the capabilities of the application, go to Settings → Applications → VKontakte → Battery. Here you will see several operating mode options. Selecting the "Limited" or "Battery Saver" option will prevent the application from running background processes, including music, as soon as you minimize the app. This is an effective way to prevent accidental inclusion of tracks.
| Operating mode | Description of behavior | Influence on music |
|---|---|---|
| Not limited | The application runs in the background without restrictions | Music always plays |
| Optimized | The system itself decides when to limit the process | Music may be interrupted |
| Limited | Background activity is prohibited | Music stops when minimized |
⚠️ Attention: The battery settings menu interface may differ depending on the smartphone manufacturer (Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi). Look for sections with the words "Background", "Launch applications" or "Battery consumption".
Changing this setting will not only solve the problem with the music, but will also extend the operating time of your device on a single charge. Background audio is one of the most energy-intensive processes. If you don't use music all the time, setting a limit would be a smart step to optimize the system.
Why does music play after a reboot?
Some applications have auto-start. To disable this, you need to find the “Autostart” item in the application settings and disable it, or use special memory cleaning tools that block auto-loading of services.
Using digital well-being and timers
The arsenal Android has built-in tools for monitoring the time spent in applications. The Digital Wellbeing feature allows you to set limits on the use of apps. Although this is not a direct way to close the music, setting a limit of 0 minutes or 1 minute can serve as a "switch".
When the time limit for VKontakte is reached, the system will block access to the application and the music will stop. This is useful for those who want to discipline themselves. In addition, many shells have a “Sleep mode” or “Do not disturb” function, which can be configured to stop media content at certain times of the day.
It is also worth paying attention to widgets. If you have a music widget installed on your desktop, it may have its own stop button. Removing the widget from the desktop sometimes helps if it is "buggy" and does not transmit the stop command correctly. Re-creating the widget can solve the software conflict.
Solving problems with freezing music service
There are situations when music is not closed by any standard methods. The track may freeze, repeating for one second, or simply be silent, but the process will hang in the system, consuming resources. This is a software glitch that requires deeper intervention. In such cases, clearing the application cache helps.
Go to Settings → Applications → VKontakte → Storage. Click the "Clear cache" button. This will not delete your data (photos, chats, saved music), but it will reset temporary files that could cause the playback error. After this procedure, launch the application again and check the player's operation.
If this does not help, the last resort is a forced stop through the settings menu. In the same application information section, click the Stop (Force Stop) button. This will kill the process completely. Also check if the application itself VK has "Offline" or "Wi-Fi Only" mode enabled, as network failures can cause the playback buffer to freeze.
If the music is frozen and cannot be controlled, "Force stop" in the application settings, and not just swiping the card.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does music play on VK even if I closed the browser or application?
This is standard behavior for streaming services. The application goes into the background so you can listen to music while working with other apps. To stop it, you need to either pause the notification or completely close the process through the task manager.
Is it possible to make the music turn off automatically when the screen is locked?
There is no such option in the standard functionality of the application. However, you can limit background app activity in your phone's battery settings. Then, when you lock the screen or minimize the application, the system will pause its operation and the sound will stop.
Does closing music affect saved tracks in the cache?
No, closing an application or stopping music does not affect saved tracks in any way. They remain in your My Music list. Clearing the cache will also not delete music downloaded for offline listening unless you select the "Clear data" option or manually delete files.
What to do if the close button in the notification shade does not work?
This could be a bug of the system or the application itself. Try restarting your smartphone. If the problem persists, check for updates for the application VK in the Play Market or AppGallery store. Clearing the application cache also helps.