GOOGLE PIXEL
How to force stop an app on a Google Pixel (Android 17)
In short
Open Settings, Apps, See all apps and tap the app. On its App info page, tap Force stop, then OK in the Force stop? box. The app closes; it opens again normally next time. Chrome, a built-in app, showed Archive, Disable and Force stop, with no Uninstall button.
7 of 7 steps show a real screenshot from our Pixel 10a. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.
Steps
- 1
Open See all apps
Open Settings and tap Apps. Tap See all apps; ours said See all 42 apps.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
About this guide
- 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
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.
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