Free Guide to Closing Apps on Your Devices

Understanding Why and When to Close Apps

Apps running on your devices use system resources like memory, processing power, and battery life. When you open an app, it stays active in your device's background even after you stop using it. This means your phone or tablet continues to run that program, consuming energy and potentially slowing down other tasks. Understanding which apps need closing and which ones work better left running helps you maintain device performance and extend battery life.

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Different types of apps behave differently. Some apps, like messaging programs or social media platforms, are designed to run continuously in the background so you receive notifications. Other apps, like games or photo editors, only need to run when you actively use them. When you finish using these apps, they continue consuming resources unless you manually close them. Research from mobile device manufacturers shows that closing unnecessary background apps can improve battery life by 10-20%, depending on how many apps were running.

Your device's operating system manages app behavior through something called RAM (random access memory). Think of RAM as your device's short-term thinking space. When too many apps occupy this space, your device slows down because it has less room to think. Closing apps frees up this space. Modern devices have become better at managing apps automatically, but manually closing apps remains useful in certain situations, such as when your battery is low, your device feels sluggish, or you want to ensure an app doesn't continue tracking your location.

Not all apps need closing in the same way. System apps that came with your device often work better if left running because they handle core functions. Third-party apps you downloaded have more flexibility. Some people close apps multiple times daily, while others rarely do. Your closing habits should match your usage patterns and device performance needs.

Takeaway: Closing apps frees up memory and battery power. Focus on closing apps after you finish using them, especially resource-heavy programs like games or video streaming services.

How to Close Apps on iPhones and iPads

Apple devices use a gesture-based system for closing apps. The method depends on your device model and iOS version. Newer iPhones with Face ID (released 2017 and later) require different steps than older models with home buttons. Understanding your specific device helps you close apps efficiently without confusion.

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For iPhones with Face ID and newer iPad models, the process starts with swiping up from the bottom of your screen. Instead of swiping all the way to the home screen, stop partway through. You'll see thumbnails of all your open apps. Each thumbnail represents one active app. Swipe left or right to browse through these thumbnails if you have many apps open. Once you find the app you want to close, swipe upward on its thumbnail. This sends the app to your device's background storage, and it stops running. You can close multiple apps by repeating this process.

For older iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), double-click the home button to see your open apps. This brings up a similar view showing app thumbnails at the bottom of your screen. Swipe right or left to find the app you want to close. Swipe upward on the app's thumbnail to close it. This method feels slightly different from newer devices, but the result is the same.

iPad users follow the same process as their iPhone model type. If your iPad has a home button, double-click it. If it uses Face ID or Touch ID at the top, swipe up from the bottom. Some iPad models allow you to use multiple fingers to close apps faster. You can pinch with multiple fingers on different app thumbnails simultaneously to close several apps at once.

After closing an app on any Apple device, that app no longer runs in the background. If you want to use it again, simply tap its icon on your home screen to reopen it. This fresh start sometimes fixes problems like apps freezing or crashing. Apple devices save your progress in many apps, so closing an app doesn't erase your data.

Takeaway: On iPhones and iPads, swipe up from the bottom (Face ID models) or double-click the home button (older models), then swipe up on app thumbnails to close them.

How to Close Apps on Android Phones and Tablets

Android devices offer multiple methods for closing apps, giving you flexibility in how you manage your programs. Unlike iPhones, Android doesn't have one universal gesture. Instead, different manufacturers like Samsung, Google, and others create slightly different systems. However, the core concepts remain the same across all Android devices. Understanding these methods helps you close apps regardless of which Android device you own.

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The most common method uses the recents or recent apps button. On most Android phones, this is a square-shaped button at the bottom of your screen. Pressing this button shows all your currently running apps as cards or thumbnails, similar to Apple's system. Swipe left or right to browse through these cards. When you find an app you want to close, swipe it upward or tap an X button if available. This removes the app from your active apps list and stops it from running.

Some Android phones use gesture navigation instead of physical buttons. On these devices, swipe up from the bottom and hold briefly to see your open apps. This brings up the same recents screen. Swipe or tap the apps you want to close. The exact gesture varies by manufacturer and Android version, so check your device's settings if you're uncertain.

Another way to close apps on Android uses your settings. Open your device's settings menu and navigate to Apps or Application Manager. This shows a list of all installed apps. Select the app you want to close, then tap Force Stop or Close. This immediately stops the app. However, force stopping sometimes prevents apps from sending notifications, so use this method mainly for apps that malfunction.

Android also includes a built-in tool called Task Manager or RAM Manager on some devices. Access this through your settings or by holding down a button. This shows your device's memory usage and which apps consume the most resources. You can close apps directly from this view. This method helps you identify which apps drain your battery or use excessive memory.

Unlike iPhones, Android devices vary more between manufacturers. Samsung phones have slightly different layouts than Google Pixel phones, though the basic closing process remains similar. If you're unsure about your specific device, consult your phone's manual or search for "[your device model] how to close apps" online.

Takeaway: On Android, tap the recents button (square icon) or swipe up from the bottom, then swipe apps upward to close them. Each Android manufacturer has slight variations, so explore your device's buttons to find the recents screen.

Closing Apps on Windows Computers and Tablets

Windows devices on desktops, laptops, and tablets handle app closing differently than phones. Windows shows open programs as windows on your screen, and you can see exactly which apps are running. Closing apps on Windows is straightforward once you understand the basic methods, which work similarly across most versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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The simplest method involves clicking the X button in the top-right corner of any window. This button appears in the same location on almost every Windows app. When you click it, the window closes and the app stops running. You can have multiple windows open for the same app (for example, two browser windows), and closing one window doesn't automatically close the others. This gives you control over exactly which instances of an app you want to close.

For apps that don't have a visible X button or for closing multiple apps quickly, use the Task Manager. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager directly. This shows a list of all running apps and programs. Find the app you want to close by looking through the list. Click once to select it, then click the End Task button at the bottom right. This immediately closes the selected app. If an app is frozen or unresponsive, Task Manager often works when the normal close button doesn't.

Windows tablets work similarly to desktop computers but use touch instead of a mouse. Swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal a close button, or use Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Some Windows tablet users also press the physical power button briefly to access power controls, though this is less common for closing apps.

Modern Windows versions also include an app switcher. Press Alt+Tab to see all open apps as thumbnails. While holding Alt, press Tab repeatedly to cycle through apps. When you release the keys, the selected app comes to the foreground.