How to Restart Apps on Sony Smart TV [Solved, 2023]

You can’t just close a Smart TV app like you would a computer program. However, there are a few simple ways to force your Sony TV apps to restart.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to restart apps on Sony TV. We’ll go through a couple of easy ways first, but I’ll also include a couple of more involved options that will fix just about any app-specific bug you might run into.

1. Force Close and Restart the App

Sony’s Android and Google TVs let you force close app, a feature that’s missing from most other TV operating systems. That’s a huge plus for us right now, and a I wish other TV brands would take note.

1. Press the Quick Settings button on your Sony remote control.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Apps from the Settings menu.
4. Highlight the app and press Enter.
5. Select Force Stop.
6. Confirm in the pop-up window.
7. Select Open from the same app menu.

On older Sony Android TVs, there is no App menu under settings. In that case, you can instead access the Force Quit option by long-pressing Enter on the App icon on the Home screen.

This process works in most cases. However, I’ve seen it fail when apps crash during the startup process. Fortunately, we’ve still got plenty of other tools left in our toolbox.

2. Reboot Your TV Using the Remote

Restarting your Sony TV will restart the app. However, when you hit the power button on your remote, it doesn’t actually turn off the TV. Instead, it sends it into standby mode, which won’t force a restart of your active app. There are two different ways to force a restart of a Sony TV. This first method is the easiest, assuming you have your remote handy.

1. Make sure your TV is on (not in standby mode).
2. Hold your remote’s power button. The TV will turn off immediately, but you need to keep it pressed until the power comes back on.
3. Press the Home button.
4. Open the App you were trying to restart.

Since this restarted all of your apps and the TV itself, your app should be working normally again. If not, we’ve still got a few more tricks to try.

3. Power Cycle Your Sony TV

The second way to reboot your TV is to power cycle it manually. This method doesn’t require a remote, so it should be possible for anyone. You can also use this process on non-Sony smart TVs, so it’s the most universal solution on this list.

1. Unplug your TV’s power cord from the wall outlet or surge protector.
2. Wait two minutes.
3. Plug your TV back in and turn it on.
4. Press the Home button.
5. Select the App you were trying to restart.

As with the method above, power cycling restarts every app plus the TV operating system itself. It’s the smart TV version of the first suggestion IT people gives for every computer problem: Try turning it off and back on again.

4. Reinstall the App

Sometimes, a simple restart won’t be enough. If your app is still being buggy, it’s probably best to just reinstall it. Make sure you have your login information handy for the app, as this process will erase that information.

To reinstall the app, you’re going to need to delete the app and then install it again.

How to delete an app

1. Press the Home or Quick Settings button on your remote.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Apps.
4. Select See All Apps (if it exists).
5. Select the app.
6. Press Uninstall and confirm if prompted.

How to reinstall an app

1. Press the Home button on your Sony TV remote.
2. Navigate to the Apps tab.
3. (Android TVs only) Press OK to open the Google Play Store.
4. Go to the search bar (Google TVs) or select the search icon at the top of the screen (Android TVs).
5. Enter the app’s name in the search box.
6. Select the app from the search results.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Now try the app again. You’ll need to enter your log-in information, as it won’t carry over from the previous install.

This method gives you a clean install of the latest version of the app, so it should fix anything from a settings problem to an outdated app.

What’s Next?

App-specific glitches are far more common than problems with the TV itself. Fortunately, they are also less harmful and much easier to fix. If none of these solutions worked, though, you might need to contact Sony support for further help.

Once you’re done with your troubleshooting, I’ve also got some great smart TV hacks to suggest. Did you know that you can connect a TV to a Hotspot? That’s pretty helpful for days when you need a TV binge and your Wi-Fi won’t cooperate. And if you want to take your favorite smart TV apps with you everywhere you go, check out my guide to traveling with a Firestick.