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I'm trying to stop application on Android 2.3.7 device. But in this version of Android I can't use "force-stop" command. Do you know any other ways to close application on non rooted device?

Erdem Ergin
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4 Answers4

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The first way
Requires root

 Use kill:

adb shell ps => Will list all running processes on the device and their process ids
adb shell kill <PID> => Instead of <PID> use process id of your application

The second way
In Eclipse open DDMS perspective.
In Devices view you will find all running processes.
Choose the process and click on Stop.

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The third way
It will kill only background process of an application.

adb shell am kill [options] <PACKAGE> => Kill all processes associated with (the app's package name). This command kills only processes that are safe to kill and that will not impact the user experience.
Options are:

--user <USER_ID> | all | current: Specify user whose processes to kill; all users if not specified.

The fourth way
Requires root

 adb shell pm disable <PACKAGE> => Disable the given package or component (written as "package/class").

The fifth way
Note that run-as is only supported for apps that are signed with debug keys.

 run-as <package-name> kill <pid>

The sixth way
Introduced in Honeycomb

adb shell am force-stop <PACKAGE> => Force stop everything associated with (the app's package name).

P.S.: I know that the sixth method didn't work for you, but I think that it's important to add this method to the list, so everyone will know it.

Dan Bonachea
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EvZ
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    Thanks for answer but when I use `kill` I get "Operation not permitted" error. My device is non rooted and I have to do this via ADB. – Erdem Ergin Jul 24 '13 at 09:20
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    I used the sixth one. Works like a charm. I used it to stop the main app then do a factory reset and reinstall. This little script might be useful (semi-colons indicate line breaks, replace them): adb shell am force-stop ; adb shell wipe data; adb shell wipe cache; adb reboot recovery; TIMEOUT 80 /nobreak; adb install ; – Batdude Jan 01 '14 at 20:08
  • what kind of way is equivalent to the user going to the app details and choose "force stop" ? is the 6th one? also, how do you make an app become in "stopped" state , which mean it doesn't get any intent, any event whatsoever, till the user opens the app? – android developer Jan 29 '14 at 00:26
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    Thanks for including #6, nowadays most people will be targeting above honeycomb. This worked exactly right for the scripts I'm writing: adb shell am force-stop – Matt Dec 02 '14 at 20:44
  • How can I do this programmatically from my application? Any example code would be more helpful.. – anddev Mar 09 '15 at 08:39
  • FYI about run-as command, the complete structure is """adb exec-out run-as com.abc(pkg name) kill 31736(pid)""" – 100RaBH Nov 05 '19 at 06:55
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    operation not permitted... what is that means...? do i need root? – gumuruh Jul 11 '20 at 01:10
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    @gumuruh I got this "operation not permitted". This seems to require a rooted device. However the sixth option, `adb shell am force-stop ` worked. – Stephen Hosking Feb 02 '23 at 08:25
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If you have a rooted device you can use kill command

Connect to your device with adb:

adb shell

Once the session is established, you have to escalade privileges:

su

Then

ps

will list running processes. Note down the PID of the process you want to terminate. Then get rid of it

kill PID
naXa stands with Ukraine
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Eric VB
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5

If you want to kill the Sticky Service,the following command NOT WORKING:

adb shell am force-stop <PACKAGE>
adb shell kill <PID>

The following command is WORKING:

adb shell pm disable <PACKAGE>

If you want to restart the app,you must run command below first:

adb shell pm enable <PACKAGE>
ifeegoo
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  • but is that require us to be in root mode? – gumuruh Jul 11 '20 at 05:44
  • Just like you, the `am force-stop ` command was not working for me... So I ended up using the `pm disable ` , and `pm enable ` combination ... However , since I also needed to launch the app, I added an extra command line `monkey -p -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1` – rugby2312 Jan 22 '21 at 04:21
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To kill from the application, you can do:

android.os.Process.killProcess(android.os.Process.myPid());
Pang
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Ewan
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