Tired of those intense Mobile Legends: Bang Bang matches and just want to step away for a bit? Or perhaps you're stuck on a loading screen, or the game just isn't cooperating? Whatever your reason, knowing how to properly exit the game, or even force close it when things go south, is a valuable skill for any mobile gamer. Let's dive in!
How to Gracefully Exit Mobile Legends: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ever found yourself frantically tapping the back button, only for MLBB to stubbornly remain open? You're not alone! Mobile games often employ various strategies to keep you engaged, but sometimes, you just need a break. This guide will walk you through the proper ways to exit, ensuring your game progress is saved and your device isn't unnecessarily drained.
Step 1: Are You Sure You Want to Exit? - Confirming Your Intentions
Before we get into the technicalities, let's take a quick moment. Are you in the middle of a ranked match? Is your team depending on you? Exiting a match prematurely in Mobile Legends can lead to penalties like credit score deductions or even temporary bans. If you're in an active match, consider finishing it to avoid these repercussions. If you're just in the lobby, hero selection, or Browse the shop, then you're good to go!
Step 2: The "Back Button" Method - Your First Line of Defense
This is the most common and often the simplest way to exit an application on your mobile device.
Sub-heading 2.1: Tapping Your Way Out (Android)
Locate the Back Button: On most Android phones, this is a dedicated button (physical or on-screen) usually found at the bottom of your screen, often represented by a left-facing arrow or a triangle.
Tap Repeatedly: From within the Mobile Legends game, tap the back button repeatedly. You'll usually go through several screens:
First, you might exit a specific in-game menu (e.g., Shop, Emblems).
Then, you might be asked "Do you want to exit the game?" or something similar. Confirm by tapping "OK" or "Yes".
Eventually, you should be returned to your device's home screen.
Sub-heading 2.2: Swiping Home (iOS and Modern Android Gestures)
For iPhones with Face ID (No Home Button):
Swipe up from the very bottom edge of your screen and pause your finger in the middle of the screen. This will bring up the App Switcher (also known as the multitasking screen).
Find the Mobile Legends app in the array of open apps.
Swipe up on the Mobile Legends app's preview card to dismiss it and close the application.
For iPhones with a Home Button:
Double-click the Home button (the physical button below the screen). This will also bring up the App Switcher.
Locate the Mobile Legends app.
Swipe up on the app's preview to close it.
For Android Phones with Gesture Navigation:
The gesture to go back to the home screen can vary slightly by manufacturer, but typically involves a swipe up from the bottom of the screen (sometimes with a slight pause), or a swipe in from the left or right edge of the screen. Consult your phone's specific navigation settings if you're unsure. Once on the home screen, you can proceed to the next step to fully close the app.
Step 3: Closing from the Recent Apps/Multitasking Menu - The Cleaner Exit
Even if you've returned to your home screen using the back button, Mobile Legends might still be running in the background, consuming resources. This step ensures a complete exit.
Sub-heading 3.1: Accessing Recent Apps (Android)
On-screen buttons: If your Android phone uses traditional navigation buttons, look for a square icon or three vertical lines (the "recent apps" or "overview" button) usually located at the bottom of your screen, next to the back and home buttons. Tap it.
Gesture navigation: If you're using gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment. This will reveal your recently used applications.
Find and Swipe Away: In the recent apps carousel, locate the Mobile Legends app.
Swipe the app card upwards or sideways (depending on your phone's interface) to dismiss it. This action effectively closes the application.
"Clear All" Option: Many Android devices also have a "Clear All" or "Close All" button within the recent apps screen. Tapping this will close all currently running background applications. Be mindful, as this will close everything, not just Mobile Legends.
Sub-heading 3.2: Accessing the App Switcher (iOS)
Repeat Step 2.2 (Swiping Home/Double-clicking Home Button): This action brings you back to the App Switcher.
Swipe Up to Close: Find the Mobile Legends app preview card and swipe it upwards off the screen. This will fully terminate the app from running in the background.
Step 4: Force Stopping the Application - When All Else Fails
Sometimes, Mobile Legends might freeze, become unresponsive, or simply refuse to close using the standard methods. In such cases, force-stopping the app is your best bet. Be aware that force stopping an app can sometimes lead to unsaved progress if you were in the middle of an action that hadn't been saved yet (though MLBB typically saves progress automatically after matches).
Sub-heading 4.1: Force Stop via Settings (Android)
Open Settings: Go to your phone's main "Settings" app. This is usually represented by a gear icon.
Navigate to Apps: Scroll down and find "Apps," "Applications," "App Manager," or a similar option. Tap on it.
Find Mobile Legends: In the list of installed applications, scroll until you find "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang." Tap on it.
Force Stop: On the app's information screen, you'll see a button labeled "Force Stop" (or "Force Close"). Tap it.
Confirm: A pop-up will usually ask you to confirm your action, warning that it might cause the app to misbehave. Tap "OK" or "Force Stop" to proceed. This will immediately shut down the application.
Sub-heading 4.2: Offloading or Force Quitting (iOS)
iOS handles app termination differently than Android. There isn't a direct "Force Stop" button in the settings in the same way. The primary way to force quit is through the App Switcher as described in Step 3.2. However, if the app is truly unresponsive, a simple offload might help.
Offloading an App:
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
Find "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang" in the list.
Tap on it, and then select "Offload App". This will free up storage by removing the app itself but keep its documents and data. You can then reinstall the app from the App Store, and your game progress will usually be restored. This is useful for troubleshooting persistent issues like crashes or freezes without losing your game data.
Restarting your device: If Mobile Legends is completely frozen and unresponsive even to App Switcher gestures, a full device restart is the most effective way to force-close all applications and refresh your system.
Step 5: Restarting Your Device - The Ultimate Reset
If Mobile Legends is causing persistent issues, freezing your device, or simply won't close, a full restart of your phone or tablet can often resolve the problem.
Sub-heading 5.1: Power Cycle Your Android Device
Press and Hold Power Button: Press and hold your device's power button (usually on the side or top) for a few seconds.
Select "Restart" or "Power Off": A menu will typically appear with options like "Power off," "Restart," or "Emergency." Choose "Restart."
If unresponsive: If the screen is completely frozen, you might need to hold the power button down for a longer period (e.g., 10-30 seconds) until the device forcefully shuts down. Then, press the power button again to turn it back on.
Sub-heading 5.2: Power Cycle Your iOS Device
For iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later):
Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the "slide to power off" slider appears.
Drag the slider to power off your device.
Once off, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
For iPhones with a Home Button (iPhone 8 and earlier):
Press and hold the side (or top) button until the "slide to power off" slider appears.
Drag the slider to power off your device.
Once off, press and hold the side (or top) button again until you see the Apple logo.
Force Restart (if unresponsive):
iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. Release when you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 6s or earlier/iPad with Home Button: Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. Release when you see the Apple logo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - How to Exit Mobile Legends
How to exit Mobile Legends without losing credit score?
The only way to exit Mobile Legends without losing credit score during an active match is to finish the match. If you are in the lobby or hero selection, simply use the in-game back button or your phone's navigation to exit, and your credit score will not be affected.
How to force close Mobile Legends if it's frozen?
For Android, go to your phone's Settings > Apps > Mobile Legends: Bang Bang > Force Stop. For iOS, swipe up from the bottom (or double-click Home button) to open the App Switcher, then swipe up on the Mobile Legends app card to close it. If completely unresponsive, restart your device.
How to exit Mobile Legends quickly during matchmaking?
If you're in the matchmaking queue and don't want to enter a match, there should be a "Cancel" or "Exit Matchmaking" button on the screen. Tap it. Be aware that sometimes there's a short countdown before it actually cancels. If a match is found before you cancel, you may incur a credit score penalty if you don't "Enter" the match.
How to prevent Mobile Legends from running in the background?
After playing, always swipe the app away from your recent apps/multitasking menu (Step 3 in the guide) to ensure it's fully closed. On some Android devices, you can also go to Settings > Apps > Mobile Legends: Bang Bang > Battery and restrict background activity.
How to log out of my Mobile Legends account?
To log out of your Mobile Legends account, go to the main menu screen, tap your profile icon (top left), then navigate to the Account section. Look for an "Account Center" or "Switch Account" option, and from there you should find a "Log Out" option. Ensure your account is bound to a platform (Moonton, Facebook, Google Play, etc.) before logging out to avoid losing progress.
How to fix Mobile Legends crashing on startup?
Try these steps:
Clear Cache: In Mobile Legends settings, look for "Network Test" or "Cache Clearing."
Update App: Check Google Play Store or Apple App Store for Mobile Legends updates.
Check Storage: Ensure you have enough free storage on your device.
Reinstall: Uninstall and then reinstall the game (ensure your account is bound first!).
Restart Device: Perform a full restart of your phone.
How to exit Mobile Legends on an Android device?
Use the back button repeatedly until you're on your home screen. Then, open your recent apps menu (swipe up and hold or tap the square/three lines icon) and swipe the Mobile Legends app card away.
How to exit Mobile Legends on an iPhone?
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause (or double-click the Home button) to open the App Switcher. Then, swipe up on the Mobile Legends app card to close it.
How to stop Mobile Legends from automatically opening?
Mobile Legends shouldn't automatically open unless you've set it to or clicked a notification. Check your phone's Settings > Apps > Mobile Legends: Bang Bang > Notifications to manage what triggers the app to open. Also, disable any third-party "game booster" apps that might be configured to auto-launch games.
How to deal with Mobile Legends if it's stuck on a loading screen?
First, try restarting the app (force close via recent apps). If that doesn't work, check your internet connection. You can also try clearing the game's cache (Settings > Apps > Mobile Legends: Bang Bang > Storage > Clear Cache for Android, or Offload App for iOS). As a last resort, reinstall the game after ensuring your account is bound.
