How to force stop an app on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Apps › See all apps

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open See all apps

   Open Settings and tap Apps. Tap See all apps; ours said See all 42 apps.

   Done

2. 

   Find the App info page

   Tap the app in the list. We used Chrome. Its App info page shows the app name and three buttons at the top.

   Done

3. 

   Tap Force stop

   Force stop is the right-hand button. On Chrome the others were Archive and Disable. There was no Uninstall button, because Chrome came with the phone.

   Done

4. 

   Tap OK

   A Force stop? box says If you force stop an app, it may misbehave. Tap OK to stop the app, or Cancel to leave it running.

   Done

5. 

   Back on App info

   The box closes and you are back on App info. On ours the Force stop button looked the same as before, so don't expect a change on the page. Open the app again to check it works.

   Done

6. 

   Other fixes on the same page

   Notifications, Permissions and Storage and cache are just below the buttons. Storage and cache is where you clear the cache: how to clear an app's cache on a Google Pixel.

   Done

7. 

   Manage app if unused

   Further down, Manage app if unused was on for Chrome. The page says it removes permissions, deletes temporary files, stops notifications and archives the app if you don't use it.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Uninstall button? Google says Pixel essential apps can't be uninstalled. For those, it says to open App info, then More, then Uninstall updates. Our Chrome showed Archive and Disable instead of Uninstall. Source: Fix an installed app that isn't working on a Pixel phone
• Different steps on another Android phone? Google says you can usually force stop an app in the phone's Settings app, but that settings can vary by phone. On a Xiaomi, see our guide on how to force stop an app on a Xiaomi phone. Source: Fix an installed Android app that isn't working
• Quicker way in? Google says you can also touch and hold the app's icon and tap App info to reach the same page. Source: Fix an installed app that isn't working on a Pixel phone

If this does not work

• App still not working? Google suggests restarting the phone, updating the app in the Play Store, then clearing the cache. If problems continue after a force stop, it says you may need to contact the app's developer. See how to update a Google Pixel and its apps. Source: Fix an installed app that isn't working on a Pixel phone
• Several apps keep crashing? Google says safe mode helps find a downloaded app that causes problems: how to start a Google Pixel in safe mode. Source: Find problem apps by rebooting to safe mode
• App lost its data? Force stop only closes the app. Google says Clear storage (or Clear data) is what erases the data saved in the app, so don't tap that unless you mean to. Source: Fix an installed app that isn't working on a Pixel phone

About this guide

Force stop closes an app completely when it hangs or misbehaves. It is often the first fix to try.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. We force-stopped Chrome, which opened again normally afterwards.

Good to know

Chrome opened again normally after our force stop.

Before removing an app, try force stop and clearing the cache: how to clear an app's cache.

In short: Settings, Apps, See all apps, the app, Force stop, OK.