Modern smartphones, including the popular model Samsung Galaxy A51, are built on an architecture that is radically different from the computers or old push-button phones we are used to. In the system Android process management occurs automatically: the operating system itself decides which apps to keep in memory for quick launch and which to unload to save resources. However, users often encounter situations where a particular application stops responding, freezes, or consumes too much power, and then it becomes necessary to intervene manually.
Understanding how to properly shut down software is critical to maintaining device stability. Failure to do so may result in loss of unsaved data or even disruption of system services. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods - from the standard "Back" button to the use of hidden engineering menus, so that you can choose the best option for your specific situation.
It is worth noting right away that the concept of "close an application" in the ecosystem One UI from the company Samsung can be interpreted differently. This could be simply minimizing the window, removing it from the list of recent tasks, or completely forcing the process to stop through the settings. Each of these methods has its own technical consequences and scope, which will be discussed below.
Standard methods for minimizing and closing through the interface
The most obvious and safest way to interact with running apps is to use screen navigation elements. On a smartphone Samsung A51 by default, either touch buttons or gesture controls can be active. If you're using the classic navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, the triangle (or arrow) button performs the return function. Clicking on this button sequentially takes you back to previous screens within the application until you end up on the main launcher screen.
However, it is important to understand the difference between returning to the home screen and actually quitting process. When you press the central Home button (circle or swipe up), the application does not close, but goes into the background. It remains in RAM so that it can open instantly the next time you start it. For many users, this is enough, but if the app starts to glitch, such superficial action will not be enough.
There is a special recent applications manager to manage background tasks. You can call it by pressing the left navigation button (two vertical bars) or by swiping up while holding your finger in the center of the screen if gestures are enabled. In the menu that opens, you will see cards of all running apps. To close one specific card, just swipe its card up or down (depending on the settings). If you need to clear everything at once, there is a button at the bottom of the screen Close all.
⚠️ Attention: Constantly manually clearing all applications from the list of recent tasks can negatively affect battery life. The system is forced to reload the data into memory, which uses more energy than storing it in the background.
Using the recent tasks menu is the softest way to control. It does not forcefully kill processes, but only signals to the system that the user no longer needs this window right now. The operating system Android will decide when to finally unload data from RAM. This approach is recommended for everyday use when there are no obvious signs of freezing or overheating of the device.
Forced stop through system settings
When an application behaves incorrectly, ignores clicks or consumes battery power in the background, it is necessary to apply the forced stop method. This mechanism is available in the depths of system settings and allows you to completely kill a process, regardless of its current state. To begin, go to the menu Settings your Samsung A51, then find the section Applications. A complete list of installed software is displayed here.
In the list, find the problematic app and tap on it. This will open the app information page, which includes notification toggles, permissions, and data usage. At the top of the screen or in the menu (three dots in the corner) you will find a button Stop or Forced stop. The system will issue a warning that the application may behave unpredictably after such an action. Confirm the operation by pressing OK.
☑️ Forced stop algorithm
After completing this procedure, the application icon will disappear from the list of recent tasks, and all processes associated with it will be hidden. This is a useful tool for resetting frozen Google services, a glitchy messenger, or a game that doesn't respond to touches. However, it is worth remembering that some system services may automatically restart immediately after stopping, as they are critical to the operation of the phone.
Using the Force Stop function also resets temporary application states. If a app crashed on startup due to an accumulated cache of errors, restarting the process in this way often helps solve the problem without deleting data. This is the first step in diagnosing problems before more drastic measures such as wiping data or reinstalling.
⚠️ Attention: Do not force stop system applications such as
Phone,ContactorSettingsunless absolutely necessary. This may lead to temporary inoperability of important functions of the smartphone.
RAM management and Game Booster mode
Owners Samsung Galaxy A51 have access to proprietary optimization utilities built into the shell One UI. One of these functions is the panel Device Care (Device and care). It allows you to quickly assess your memory status and close background applications with one touch. To use this, open the settings, select Device and care and click on the block Memory. Here you will see a button Clear nowthat will shut down background processes taking up space in RAM.
For gamers and users of heavy applications company Samsung implemented a special mode Game Booster. When you launch a game or add an application to the game hub, a floating toolbar appears on the screen. It has a button that allows you to close all other applications to free up the maximum amount of resources for the current task. This is especially true for Samsung A51which is not a flagship and has limitations on the amount of free memory.
Use the "Lock memory" function in the multitasking settings for important applications (for example, instant messengers). Then the "Close All" button will not affect them, and you will not miss important notifications.
It is also worth mentioning the application blocking function in the recent tasks menu. If you want a certain app to always remain in memory and never be closed automatically or with a clear button, click on the application icon at the top of the card in the task menu and select Block. A small padlock icon will appear. Such applications ignore mass shutdown commands.
| Control method | Impact depth | Impact on battery | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swipe to the task menu | Superficial (background mode) | Neutral | Daily |
| Close all button | Medium (unloading from RAM) | Temporary increase in consumption | When there is insufficient memory |
| Forced stop | Deep (killing the process) | Reduced background consumption software | When freezes |
| Reboot the smartphone | Full (cleaning the entire system) | Optimizing system operation | Once a week |
Proper use of memory cleaning tools helps extend battery life and speed up the interface. However, you should not turn cleaning RAM into a ritual. Modern Android designed so that free memory is wasted memory. The system makes better use of available gigabytes to cache frequently used data rather than keeping it empty.
Using the Developer Menu to Limit Processes
For advanced users who want full control over how Samsung A51 manages applications, there is a section For developers. It is hidden by default. To activate it, you need to go to Settings → About phone → Software information and quickly click 7 times on the item Build number. After entering the unlock pin code, a new section will appear in the main settings menu.
Inside the developer menu we are interested item Background process limit. Here you can strictly limit the number of applications that can simultaneously run in the background. You can select the option "No more than 1 process" or "No background processes". This will force the system to aggressively close everything that you are not currently using. This mode is useful for testing or on very old devices, but for everyday life on A51 it can be overly strict.
Risks of changing the process limit
Setting a hard limit for background processes may cause the music to stop when minimize the player, and downloading files in the browser will be interrupted as soon as you switch to another window.
Another useful option in this section is Inactive applications. The system can automatically limit the operation of applications that you have not used for a long time. This helps save battery power and processor resources, essentially automatically closing “forgotten” software until the next time it starts. This feature is enabled by default in modern versions Android.
Use of developer tools requires caution. Incorrect settings can make the smartphone inconvenient to use, since constant reloading of applications will cause delays and slowdowns when switching between tasks. You will have to return the default settings through the menu Resetting settings for the developer at the very bottom of this section.
⚠️ Attention: Changing settings in the developer menu may affect the stability of third-party applications. If after the changes the phone starts to work worse, return the default values.
What to do if the application does not close and freezes
Sometimes it happens that the phone interface responds to touches, but a specific application takes up the entire screen, does not respond to the "Back" button and does not collapses. In such a situation, standard methods are powerless. First, try the key combination to bring up the recent tasks menu. If this does not work, more severe intervention will be required.
On series models Samsung A, including A51, there is a combination of buttons for a forced reboot that does not require removing the battery. Press the Volume Down button and the Powerbutton at the same time. Hold them for about 7-10 seconds. The screen will go dark and the device will begin to reboot. This is analogous to pulling out the power cord from a computer, but safe for the file system.
Volume DOWN + Power (hold for 10 sec)If only the application is frozen, and the phone works, you can try to open the task manager through the notification panel (swipe down twice), although this may not work in a frozen state. As a last resort, if the sensor has completely failed, use the Power button to call the shutdown menu. If the menu appears, try tapping the button Turn off or Reboot. Often the very fact of opening this menu causes a frozen application to release focus.
The combination of Volume Down + Power is a universal way to “revive” the Samsung A51 when the system is completely frozen, without waiting for the battery to drain.
After a successful reboot, the system will offer to restore previously opened applications. Be careful: if the problem was in a specific software, it may try to start again and freeze. In this case, immediately after turning it on, go to the settings and clear the cache of the problematic application before opening it.
Preventing freezes and optimizing application operation
To less often encounter the need to urgently close applications, you should adhere to several operating rules Samsung A51. Regularly update the phone firmware and the applications themselves through the store Galaxy Store or Google Play. Developers often release patches that fix memory leaks and errors that lead to freezes.
Keep an eye on the free space in the internal memory. If the storage is full (less than 10% free), the system begins to work slower, and applications may close on their own or freeze due to the inability to write temporary files. Use built-in cleaning tools or manually delete unnecessary photos and videos.
It is also recommended to periodically check application permissions. Sometimes a app begins to behave inappropriately if it is denied access to necessary resources, or vice versa, if it abuses rights. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager and revoke unnecessary rights from suspicious apps.
Establish the habit of rebooting your smartphone at least once a week. This clears the system cache and terminates hung background services that are not visible to the user but are consuming resources.
Remember that Samsung A51 is a mid-segment device. Running too many heavy games or running dozens of applications at once may exceed its physical capabilities. In such cases, the system itself will begin to aggressively close background tasks, and this is normal behavior, not a bug.
Why does the "Close All" button not remove applications from memory completely?
The "Close All" button in the task menu sends a signal to applications to release active windows, but system services and important processes can remain in memory for a quick start. Complete cleaning occurs only upon reboot or through the developer settings.
Is it harmful to constantly close applications on Android?
Yes, it can be harmful. The system spends more energy relaunching the application from scratch than keeping it minimized. Constantly clearing RAM leads to faster battery drain and wear on the drive.
How to find out which application is consuming the battery in the background?
Go to Settings → Device maintenance → Battery. There will be a list of applications sorted by energy consumption. If you see a app that you have not used, but it is at the top of the list, you should limit or delete it.
Is it possible to close the "Phone" or "Messages" system application?
The "Stop" button for critical system applications is usually inactive (gray). This is protection against accidental failure of the smartphone. Attempts to disable them through ADB or root access may result in an endless reboot (bootloop).
What is "sleep mode" for applications on Samsung?
This is a feature that puts rarely used applications into deep sleep. They can't run in the background, send notifications, or update data until you open them again. This helps to significantly save battery power.