High Risk →

stop_all_apps

Force stop all running applications on the device to free up memory and start with a clean slate for testing

How to control stop_all_apps ↓

AI agents invoke stop_all_apps to trigger actions in MCP Android Agent. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

High Risk

This tool executes commands on an Android device with immediate and significant side effects: terminating all running applications. While not destructive (data isn't deleted) or financial, it performs external operations that alter system state. The high blast radius comes from the risk that an AI agent could inadvertently stop critical system services, interrupt user workflows, or disrupt device functionality.

From the tool's definition Tool description: 'Force stop all running applications on the device'. This performs direct actions on the device that trigger external operations (stopping apps) whose effects depend on arguments and device state.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access stop_all_apps gives an agent:

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and MCP Android Agent, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for stop_all_apps:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "stop_all_apps": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "stop_all_apps_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

stop_all_apps stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register MCP Android Agent — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

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Go deeper

What does the stop_all_apps tool do? +

Force stop all running applications on the device to free up memory and start with a clean slate for testing. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the MCP Android Agent MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on stop_all_apps? +

Register the MCP Android Agent MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for stop_all_apps: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches MCP Android Agent. Nothing to install.

What risk level is stop_all_apps? +

stop_all_apps is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit stop_all_apps? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the stop_all_apps rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block stop_all_apps completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for stop_all_apps. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides stop_all_apps? +

stop_all_apps is provided by the MCP Android Agent MCP server (nim444/mcp-android-server-python). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every MCP Android Agent tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 28 MCP Android Agent tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

28 MCP Android Agent tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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