Android Stop App

Overview

Stops the Android app running on a connected device by using adb shell am force-stop. This cleanly terminates all app processes, clearing memory while preserving app data.

When to Use

Invoke this skill when the user:

• Asks to "stop the Android app"
• Wants to "kill the app"
• Says "terminate the Android app on device"
• Mentions shutting down or closing the Android app
• Needs to stop before deploying new version

Prerequisites

• Android device connected via USB
• USB debugging enabled
• ADB installed (brew install android-platform-tools)
• Device authorized
• App must be running on the device

Instructions

1. Navigate to the Android app directory:

   bash
   1cd path/to/android/app

2. Run the stop script:

   bash
   1./stop-app.sh

3. The script will:

   • Use adb shell am force-stop to terminate the app
   • Report success

4. Inform the user:

   • The app has been stopped
   • Safe to call even if app isn't running
   • Uses force-stop for clean shutdown (not kill)

Expected Output

🛑 Stopping NoobTest on device...
✅ App stopped

How It Works

The script uses:

• adb shell am force-stop com.miso.noobtest

This Android framework command:

• Stops all processes associated with the package
• Clears app from memory
• Preserves app data and settings
• Clean shutdown (not emergency kill)

force-stop vs kill

force-stop (recommended):

• Android framework command
• Clean shutdown
• Preserves app data
• Safe for development

kill (not recommended):

• OS-level signal
• Abrupt termination
• May leave resources in inconsistent state
• Only use if force-stop fails

Common Use Cases

Before deploying new version:

bash
1./stop-app.sh
2./install-device.sh

Pairing with restart:

bash
1./stop-app.sh
2# Make configuration changes
3./restart-app.sh

Clean state testing:

bash
1./stop-app.sh
2# Clear app data manually if needed
3adb shell pm clear com.miso.noobtest
4# Then install fresh

Common Issues

"no devices found":

• Check USB connection
• Ensure USB debugging enabled
• Verify authorized: adb devices
• Try: adb kill-server && adb start-server

"adb: command not found":

• Install Android platform tools: brew install android-platform-tools
• Check PATH includes adb

App still running after force-stop:

• Rare, but check with: adb shell pidof com.miso.noobtest
• If still running, restart device
• Or use: adb shell pm clear com.miso.noobtest (nukes app data too)

Safety

This script is safe to call repeatedly:

• Won't error if app isn't running
• Uses clean shutdown method
• Reports status clearly
• No risk to app data or installation

Package Name

The script is configured for the specific app's package name (e.g., com.miso.noobtest for Firefly/NoobTest). Package name is defined in build.gradle.kts under applicationId.

Data Preservation

force-stop does NOT clear:

• App installation
• App data (SharedPreferences, databases, files)
• App permissions
• User settings

To fully clear app state, use:

bash
1adb shell pm clear com.miso.noobtest

But this will require reinstallation and setup.