Close Background Apps on LG G4: Step-by-Step

This guide walks you through closing and turning off background apps on the LG G4 to free up memory, improve battery life, and reduce lag. You’ll learn the quick button method, the deeper settings approach, and how to stop apps from auto-starting. No special tools or technical experience are needed—just your phone.

What You’ll Need

• Your LG G4 phone (running Android 5.1 or 6.0, which are the versions it shipped with)
• Optional: a list of apps you want to keep running (like music players or messaging apps)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Quick Close from the Recents Screen

1. Tap the Square button (the recent apps key) at the bottom-right of your screen. This opens a carousel of all currently running apps.
2. Look through the cards. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close.
3. To close a single app, swipe its card upward (like dismissing a notification). The app will be removed from the list and its background process will stop.
4. To close all background apps at once, tap the X or Close all button (usually at the bottom of the screen, sometimes a trash can icon). This will clear every app from the list.
5. Press the Home button to return to your home screen. Your phone should feel snappier.

Method 2: Force Stop from Settings (For Stubborn Apps)

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon in your app drawer or notification shade).
2. Scroll down and tap General, then tap Apps (or Application manager on some versions).
3. Swipe left or right to view the Running tab. This shows apps that are actively using memory in the background.
4. Tap the app you want to stop (for example, a game you played earlier).
5. On the app’s info page, tap Force stop. A dialog will warn you that the app may misbehave—tap OK to confirm.
6. If the app has a Stop button instead, use that. Some system apps cannot be force-stopped; they will show the button grayed out.

Method 3: Turn Off Background Data (Prevents Apps from Running in the Background)

1. Go to Settings > General > Apps.
2. Tap the app you want to restrict (e.g., a social media app that keeps refreshing).
3. Tap Data usage (or Mobile data on some versions).
4. Toggle off Background data. This stops the app from using data when you’re not actively using it, which effectively keeps it from running its background tasks.
5. If you’re on Wi-Fi, also toggle off Background data under the Wi-Fi section if available. Note: this does not stop the app from running entirely, but it prevents it from syncing or downloading in the background.

Method 4: Disable Auto-Start (Prevent Apps from Launching at Boot)

1. Open Settings > General > Apps.
2. Tap the All tab to see every app installed.
3. Select an app that you don’t need running automatically (e.g., a bloatware app you never use).
4. Tap Disable. This will uninstall updates and stop the app from ever launching on its own. You can re-enable it later from the same menu.
5. For apps that cannot be disabled (system apps), you can clear their cache to at least free up memory: tap Storage > Clear cache.

Common Mistakes

• Swiping the wrong way: On some Android versions, swiping a card left or right closes it, while on the LG G4 it’s specifically upward. Swiping sideways may just scroll the list.
• Force-stopping system apps: Stopping core apps like Phone, Contacts, or Launcher can cause crashes or make your phone unstable. Only force-stop apps you installed yourself.
• Expecting a permanent fix: Closing an app doesn’t stop it from restarting later. If you want an app to stay closed, you need to disable its auto-start or background data.
• Using a task killer app: Third-party task killer apps often do more harm than good on the G4—they can close apps that need to run (like alarms) and actually drain more battery. Stick to the built-in methods above.

Tips

• Use the “Close all” button sparingly: Closing all apps every time can make your phone re-launch apps from scratch, which uses more CPU and battery than just leaving a few idle apps in memory.
• Check battery usage: Go to Settings > Battery & power saving > Battery usage to see which apps are using the most power. Close or disable the top offenders.
• Restart your phone weekly: A simple reboot clears all background processes and refreshes the system. This is often more effective than manually closing apps.
• Use “Smart cleaning” (if available): Some G4 units have a Smart cleaning tool in Settings > General that clears cache and closes unused apps in one tap.
• Keep essential apps running: If you use WhatsApp or a music player, don’t force-stop them—they need to run in the background to deliver messages or play audio.

Troubleshooting

Apps reappear after closing them: This is normal—many apps restart due to system events (like receiving a push notification) or because they are set to auto-start. To reduce this, disable the app’s auto-start (Method 4) and turn off background data (Method 3). If an app keeps coming back, it may be a system app that cannot be permanently closed.

Phone still lags after closing all apps: Closing apps helps, but if your phone is still slow, you may have too many apps installed or low storage space. Clear your cache partition (turn off the phone, then press and hold Power + Volume Down until the recovery menu appears, then select Wipe cache partition) or consider a factory reset if the problem persists.

“Force stop” button is grayed out: This means the app is a critical system component or is currently in use. You cannot force-stop it while it’s active. Try closing it from the Recents screen first, or restart your phone and then try again.

Background data toggle is missing: On some LG G4 models, the toggle may be under Settings > General > Data usage > tap the specific app. If you can’t find it, you can restrict background data by enabling Data Saver mode in Settings > General > Data usage > Data Saver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing background apps save battery on the LG G4?

Yes, but only if an app is actively using CPU or network in the background. Closing idle apps may actually increase battery drain because they need to reload from scratch when you open them again. Check battery usage to see which apps are actually consuming power.

Will closing apps delete my data or log me out?

No. Closing an app simply stops its process; your data, login sessions, and settings are preserved. Force-stopping an app may temporarily pause notifications, but you won’t lose any saved information.

How do I keep an app from running in the background permanently?

Use the Disable option in Settings > Apps (Method 4). This prevents the app from launching at all. For apps that can’t be disabled, turn off background data and avoid opening them—they’ll stay dormant until you do.

What’s the difference between “Close” and “Force stop”?

“Close” (from the Recents screen) just removes the app from the foreground and lets it run in the background if it wants. “Force stop” kills the process entirely and prevents it from running until you manually open it again. Force stop is more aggressive but also more effective.

Is it safe to close all apps at once?

Yes, it’s safe. Your phone will simply reload apps when you next open them. However, it may cause a slight delay the first time you open an app after closing it. It’s not harmful to your phone.

Why do some apps start again on their own?

Apps can restart due to system events (like network changes), push notifications, or because they are set to auto-start by the manufacturer. To minimize this, disable the app’s auto-start (if available) and turn off background data. Some system apps will always restart—that’s normal.

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