How to Turn Off Background Apps on Firestick
The Amazon Firestick is a streaming device designed to give you access to your favorite movies, TV shows, subscription services, games and music. For efficient functionality, you would need to constantly ensure that its background apps are turned off. Let us look at how.
I didn’t understand why my Amazon Firestick was getting quite slow until I learnt that having too many apps open and running in the background tampers with its overall performance and loading speed. Well, did you also know that when you close your Firestick, it does not close down the apps that you had previously accessed? I just came to learn that they are always still running in the background. With this in mind, you would need to turn off the background apps on Firestick for optimal functionality and a better streaming experience.
To turn off background apps on Firestick, you would need to use the utility app known as Background Apps and Process List. To access the Background Apps and Process List, you would need to download it on your devices.
Table of Contents
Before all else, what is the Background Apps and Process List?
Background Apps and Process List is technically a utility app that functions as a shortcut to the application settings of your device. It allows you to uninstall and force close applications installed in your Amazon Firestick. In addition to that, it has been designed to help you close applications that run in the background that cause lag and sometimes buffering when streaming HD videos. It further helps you clear the cache of installed applications on your Amazon Firestick without removing any essential data.
How to Download Backgrounds Apps and Process List on your Firestick
To download the Backgrounds App and Process List on your Amazon Firestick, the first step would be to launch the Amazon App Store and type in ‘Background Apps and Process List’ on the search box. Click on the options that are in the search result page and select ‘Get’. This action should automatically download and install the app to your Firestick. Once successfully installed, the next thing you would need to do is to close the background running apps on your Firestick.
Turning off Background Apps and Process List on Firestick
To begin, you would need to click the home button on your remote and scroll once towards the left. This action will lead you to the search icon. Here, you would either need to start typing it or speak to your Alexa voice-enabled remote and mention the title ‘Background Apps and Process List’. If you typed it, you should click on the suggestion that pops up on your screen and activate it.
When navigating through the Background Apps and Process List on your Firestick, you will find the ‘Switch Layout’ option that allows you to choose between two display layouts, either the grid view without app names or the grid view with app names.
There is the all ‘apps feature’ that allows you to sort the applications on your Firestick according to their name, size and permissions. It also allows you to seamlessly manage the apps on your Firestick, that is, to force stop, clear data, uninstall and clear cache. Clicking this option redirects you to download an app known as App Info Manager which is a sister app to the Background Apps and Process List and it allows you to access more application control and management options.
In addition to that, you can access the ‘System/User’ app that displays the hidden system and user applications installed which are necessary to run the system of your Amazon Firestick.
When turning off the background applications on your Firestick, you will have to click on the ‘Close all Apps’ option and it will display the ‘select multiple’ option. Here, you can select multiple options and close them at once. Other times, once you click on the ‘select multiple’ option, you will be able to access the option to uninstall, force stop and clear the cache of each application on your Firestick individually.
A Summary Table
Problem |
Cause |
Solution |
Slow refresh rates on Firestick and continuous buffering when streaming HD videos |
Too many apps running on the background |
Download the Background Apps and Process List and use it to close all background running apps |
Conclusion
Generally, the Amazon Firestick is not designed to close apps after exiting. For this reason, the device may lag and slow down when you are streaming HD videos. Also, because of the limited storage capacity, you would need to be conscious of what you download and install on your Firestick. Only stick to what is necessary for efficient functioning of your Firestick. The Background Apps and Process List should help you close all background apps.
FAQs
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How many Firesticks can use the same Amazon Account?
The Amazon video is strictly limited to three devices for every Amazon account with concurrent streaming to two devices.
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Is there a monthly fee that needs to be paid for Amazon Firestick?
There is no monthly cost needed when you are using an Amazon Firestick. You only make one transaction during purchase.
