---
title: "Force stop an engine"
method: POST
path: "/engines/{id}/force-stop"
tags: ["Engines"]
---

# Force stop an engine

`POST /engines/{id}/force-stop`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.theo.live/v2`
- URL: `https://api.theo.live/v2/engines/{id}/force-stop`
- Auth: HTTP basic

Stops the engine immediately, skipping the graceful shutdown: the engine is torn down right away without closing its playlists first, so viewers may see playback fail instead of the stream ending cleanly. Works from any non-stopped state, including while the engine is `stopping` after a regular stop. The engine reports `stopping` until the teardown has completed (usually a few seconds), then `stopped`, and can only be started again once it is `stopped`. Prefer `POST /engines/{id}/stop` unless the engine has to be gone immediately. Returns 409 `already_stopped` for a stopped engine.

## Path parameters

- `id` string, required: Engine ID

## Response `204`

Engine force stopped

## Changes

- **2026-10-16** `accc3bdd84d3`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/dolby/apis/theolive-api/changes/engines/:id/force-stop/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/dolby/apis/theolive-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/dolby/apis/theolive-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/dolby/apis/theolive-api/revisions/baabda2927db?raw)