Force stopping an app on your Pixel 8 Pro can be a handy tool for troubleshooting unresponsive apps, improving performance, saving battery life, and managing data usage. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it using three different methods:
Method 1: Using the App Drawer (Quickest Method)
Step 1: Swipe up from the bottom of your home screen to open the app drawer.
Step 2: Find the app you want to force stop, and tap and hold the app icon until a small menu appears.
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 2 Swipe up from the bottom of your home screen to open the app drawer.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-1-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 3 Find the app you want to force stop, and tap and hold the app icon until a small menu appears.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-2-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Step 3: Select “App info” from the menu.
Step 4: On the app information screen, tap “Force stop“.
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 4 Select "App info" from the menu.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-3-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 5 On the app information screen, tap "Force stop".](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-4-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Step 5: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap “OK” to confirm and force stop the app.
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 6 A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap "OK" to confirm and force stop the app.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-5-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 7 The app has already been stopped.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-6-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
ALSO READ: How to Increase Touch Sensitivity on Google Pixel 8 Pro
Method 2: Using the Settings App (More Precise Method)
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Pixel 8 Pro.
Step 2: Scroll down and select “Apps“.
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 8 Open the Settings app on your Pixel 8 Pro.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-7-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 9 Scroll down and select "Apps".](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-8-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Step 3: Tap on “See all apps” to display a list of all installed apps on your device.
Step 4: Find the app you want to force stop and tap on it.
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 10 Tap on "See all apps" to display a list of all installed apps on your device.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-9-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 11 Find the app you want to force stop and tap on it.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-10-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Step 5: On the app information screen, tap “Force stop“.
Step 6: Tap “OK” in the confirmation pop-up to force stop the app.
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 12 On the app information screen, tap "Force stop".](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-11-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![How to Force Stop an App on Your Pixel 8 Pro: A Detailed Guide 13 Tap "OK" in the confirmation pop-up to force stop the app.](https://b3401084.smushcdn.com/3401084/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Force-Stop-an-App-on-Your-Pixel-8-Pro-12-492x1024.webp?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Method 3: Restarting in Safe Mode (Stops All Third-Party Apps)
This method is particularly useful when you want to stop all third-party apps at once, for example, if they are causing performance issues.
Step 1: Press the power and volume up buttons to view the power menu.
Step 2: Long press the “Power off” option until the “Safe mode” prompt appears.
Step 3: Tap “OK” to restart your phone in Safe Mode. This will temporarily disable all third-party apps and services.
Step 4: While in Safe Mode, you can use either Method 1 or 2 to force stop any specific apps if needed.
Step 5: To re-enable all third-party apps and services, simply restart your phone normally.
Additional Tips:
- Forcing an app to stop may cause it to lose unsaved data, so ensure you save any important information before proceeding.
- If an app continues to behave abnormally, consider clearing its cache and data. This can be done through the app information screen (both methods).
- Uninstalling and reinstalling the app is another option if the problem persists.
- Remember that restarting in Safe Mode only disables third-party apps. Pre-installed system apps will still be running.
By following these steps, you can easily force stop an app on your Pixel 8 Pro and address various performance and functionality issues. Choose the method that best suits your needs and don’t hesitate to explore further troubleshooting options if necessary.