How to Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Smartphones & Tablets

If your Android apps are opening on their own, you can easily put a stop to it

This wikiHow guide teaches you how to prevent apps from starting automatically on your Android phone or tablet. If apps keep opening in the background and drain your device’s resources, these simple methods can prevent that from happening! You can stop and limit background processes and turn on battery optimization. On Samsung Galaxy devices, you can use Deep Sleep to prevent background activity. On MIUI devices, you can turn off Autostart for apps.

Things You Should Know

  • Turn on Developer Mode to stop and limit background processes in the Settings app.
  • Use Battery Optimization and Adaptive Battery to limit apps running in the background.
  • Activate Deep Sleep for apps that you don’t want to run in the background (Samsung Galaxy devices only).
  • Turn off Autostart for apps in the Settings menu (MIUI devices only).
Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Stop Background Processes

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 1
    1
    Open your Android’s Settings. It’s the
    Android 7 Settings
    icon that’s usually in the app drawer. Stopping background processes is a great way to speed up your Android smartphone.
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 2
    2
    Scroll down and tap About. It’s near the bottom of the menu.
    • This option may also be called About this device or About this phone.
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  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 3
    3
    Locate the “Build number” option. This may appear on the current screen, but if it doesn’t, it’s hiding in another menu. It may be under Software information or More on some Androids.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 4
    4
    Tap Build number 7 times. You can stop tapping once you see the message “You are now a developer!” This brings you to the Developer Options screen.
    • If you are brought back to Settings, scroll down and tap Developer options under the “System” header.
  5. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 5
    5
    Tap Running services. A list of apps will appear.
  6. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 6
    6
    Tap the app you don’t want to start automatically.
  7. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 7
    7
    Tap Stop. The selected app will stop and will usually not restart automatically.
    • If a particular apps isn’t working correctly and keeps opening automatically, locate the app and delete it. Then redownload it to potentially resolve the issue.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Limit Background Processes

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 8
    1
    Open your Android’s Settings. It’s the
    Android 7 Settings
    icon that’s usually in the app drawer.
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 9
    2
    Scroll down and tap About. It’s near the bottom of the menu.
    • This option may also be called About this device or About this phone.
  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 10
    3
    Locate the “Build number” option. This may appear on the current screen, but if it doesn’t, it’s hiding in another menu. It may be under Software information or More on some Androids.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 11
    4
    Tap Build number 7 times. You can stop tapping once you see the message “You are now a developer!” This brings you to the Developer Options screen.
    • If you are brought back to Settings, scroll down and tap Developer options under the “System” header.
  5. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 12
    5
    Tap Background process limit. This is under the “Apps” section of the Developer options menu.
  6. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 13
    6
    Select a process limit option. This will prevent more processes from starting and running in the background.
    • If apps are running in the background when they shouldn’t be, try resetting your Android to potentially resolve the issue.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Using Battery Optimization

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 14
    1
    Open your Android’s Settings. It’s the
    Android 7 Settings
    icon that’s usually in the app drawer.[1]
    • If you have Marshmallow or later, you might have apps that start randomly due to a lack of battery optimization. This method helps optimize apps so they stop starting automatically.[2]
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 15
    2
    Tap Apps. This is an option in the Settings app.
  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 16
    3
    Tap See all apps.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 17
    4
    Select the app you want to optimize. Tap the app in the list of all apps.
  5. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 18
    5
    Tap Battery. This is an option on the app’s setting page.
  6. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 19
    6
    Tap Optimized. This is an option under the “Manage battery usage” heading.
    • Also, make sure to close apps that you aren’t using to speed up your device and save battery.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Turn of Adaptive Battery

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 20
    1
    Open your Android’s Settings. It’s the
    Android 7 Settings
    icon that’s usually in the app drawer. This method activates the Adaptive Battery feature on your Android device. This reduces the amount of background app activity and limits apps from opening automatically.
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 21
    2
    Tap Battery. This is in the list of settings.
  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 22
    3
    Tap Adaptive preferences. It’s an option on the battery settings page.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 23
    4
    Tap Adaptive Battery. This will turn on the Adaptive Battery feature and limit apps from running in the background.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Turn on Deep Sleep (Samsung Galaxy)

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 24
    1
    Open your Android’s Settings. It’s the
    Android 7 Settings
    icon that’s usually in the app drawer. This method activates the Deep Sleep feature on Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Apps set to Deep Sleep mode won’t run in the background.
    • Note that the Deep Sleep feature is only available on Samsung Galaxy Android devices.
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 25
    2
    Tap Battery and device care.
  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 26
    3
    Tap Battery.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 27
    4
    Tap Background usage limits. This will display a page with different background process options.
  5. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 28
    5
    Tap the + button next to “Deep sleeping apps.” This will display a list of apps you can set to Deep Sleep mode.
  6. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 29
    6
    Tap the app you want to set to Deep Sleep.
  7. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 30
    7
    Tap Add. This will turn on Deep Sleep for the selected app, preventing it from running in the background.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Modify Startup Apps (MIUI)

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 31
    1
    Open your Android’s Settings. It’s the
    Android 7 Settings
    icon that’s usually in the app drawer. This method changes the Autostart settings for your device.
    • Note that the Autostart feature is only available on the MIUI operating system, Xiaomi’s mobile operating system for smartphones.
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 32
    2
    Tap Manage apps. This is in the settings menu.
  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 33
    3
    Tap Permissions. A new menu with permissions options will open.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 34
    4
    Tap Autostart. This will open a list of apps you can modify.
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    5
    Toggle off Autostart for apps. This will prevent the app from automatically starting on your device. The toggle should be gray and in the left position.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Using Startup Manager (Rooted Devices)

  1. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 14
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    Search for startup manager free in the Play Store. This is a free app that allows you to customize which apps start up when you boot your rooted Android.
  2. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 15
    2
    Tap Startup Manager (Free). It’s the black icon with a blue clock inside.
  3. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 16
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    Tap Install. The app will now install on your phone or tablet.
  4. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 17
    4
    Open Startup Manager and tap Allow. This is to give the app root access. You should now see a list of all apps configured to start automatically.
  5. Image titled Prevent Apps from Auto Starting on Android Step 18
    5
    Tap the blue button next to the app you want to disable. The button will turn gray, which means the app will no longer start automatically.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I switch back from being a developer?
    Sasa Bozilovic
    Sasa Bozilovic
    Community Answer
    To turn off developer options, go back to Settings > Apps > Settings > Clear Data (you need to go to storage first if you have android 6.0+). The settings will close. Reopen the settings. The developer options will be disabled.
  • Question
    Unwanted apps keep downloading onto our phones. What is happening and how can we make it stop?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Your device(s) may be infected with malware. Run a play protect scan (or an antivirus scan) to detect and remove it. In worse cases, you may need to format your device!
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7015477?hl=en
  2. ↑ http://www.techadvisor.co.uk/feature/google-android/how-stop-android-apps-starting-automatically-3642206/

About This Article

Kyle Smith
Written by:
Kyle Smith
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith. Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This article has been viewed 332,452 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: March 6, 2023
Views: 332,452
Categories: Android
Article SummaryX

If you’re fed up with your apps auto-starting on your Android phone, open the phone’s setting using the icon that looks like a cog in the app drawer. In the settings menu, scroll down and tap “About”, which will show you more information about your phone. On this screen, look for the “Build number” option. If you don’t see it, try finding it under a “Software information” or “More” menu. Once you have the build number, tap it 7 times, or until you get a message that says “You are a developer now” and a Developer Options screen opens. Then, tap “Running services” to bring up a list of apps. From this list, tap the app you don’t want to start automatically and hit the “Stop” button. For more help, like how to prevent apps from opening automatically on a rooted device, read on.

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