Learn How to Close Running Apps on iPhone

Understanding Background App Refresh and Why Closing Apps Matters

When you use an app on your iPhone, it doesn't always completely stop running once you switch to a different app or lock your screen. Many apps continue running in the background, using battery power and data. This is called "background app refresh," and it's a feature that helps apps stay updated and ready to use. However, having too many apps running at once can drain your battery faster and use cellular data unnecessarily.

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Apple's iOS operating system manages background app activity, but you have control over which apps can refresh in the background. According to Apple's technical documentation, closing apps that you're not using is one way to manage your device's performance and battery life. Studies from mobile analytics firms show that the average iPhone user has between 80 and 100 apps installed, though most people regularly use only about 15 to 20 of them. The remaining apps may be consuming resources unnecessarily.

Understanding how to close running apps gives you direct control over your device's performance. When an app is actively running in the background, it can consume processing power, memory, and battery capacity. This becomes especially noticeable when you have multiple apps open simultaneously. For example, streaming apps, social media applications, and navigation software tend to use more battery when running in the background compared to simpler apps like note-taking or calculator tools.

Closing apps is different from uninstalling them. When you close an app, it stops running but remains installed on your phone. You can open it again whenever you want. This is a temporary action, not a permanent removal of the application from your device. This distinction is important because it means closing apps has no lasting consequences—you're simply stopping their current activity.

Practical Takeaway: Regularly closing apps that you've finished using can extend your battery life by several hours depending on which apps were running. Pay particular attention to apps that use location services, video streaming, or constant data syncing.

How to Close Apps Using the App Switcher

The most common way to close running apps on an iPhone is through the App Switcher, which displays all your currently open applications. The method for accessing the App Switcher varies depending on which iPhone model you have, as Apple changed the design with newer phones.

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For iPhone X and newer models (including iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and later), you need to use a gesture-based method. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and pause briefly in the middle of the screen. You'll see small cards representing each open app. These cards show a preview of what each app looked like when you last used it. From this view, you can see multiple apps at once, and each one represents an active or recently used application.

For iPhone 8 and earlier models, including the iPhone 7, 6, and SE (first generation), you double-tap the Home button at the bottom center of your device. This brings up the App Switcher showing your open applications in a horizontal scrolling view. These older phones don't have a Home button gesture alternative because they have a physical button you can press.

Once you have the App Switcher open, locate the app you want to close. You'll see thumbnails or cards of each running app. To close an app, use a swiping motion: swipe upward on the app's card or thumbnail with one or two fingers. This motion pushes the app off the screen, which closes it. The app card will disappear from the App Switcher view.

You can close multiple apps one after another without returning to your home screen. Many users close several apps at once by swiping up on each one sequentially. This process takes just a few seconds per app. If you accidentally close an app you wanted to keep open, there's no problem—you can simply reopen it by tapping its icon on your home screen.

Practical Takeaway: Spend 30 seconds each day quickly closing apps you've finished using. This simple habit can noticeably improve your battery performance throughout the day. Start by identifying which apps you use multiple times daily versus which ones you use occasionally.

Device-Specific Instructions for Different iPhone Models

Apple has released many iPhone models over the years, and they use different methods for closing apps. Understanding which method applies to your specific phone ensures you can close apps efficiently.

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iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, and iPhone X all use the same gesture-based method. These phones don't have a Home button, so they rely on screen gestures instead. Swipe up from the very bottom edge of your screen slowly and deliberately. Your finger should start below the screen and move upward. You'll see the App Switcher appear with cards for each open app arranged vertically. Continue swiping until you see all open apps, then swipe upward on any app card to close it.

iPhone SE (second generation and third generation) uses the same gesture method as newer iPhones, even though it has a smaller screen. The swipe-up gesture from the bottom edge works identically on these models.

iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, and the original iPhone SE all have a Home button. To access the App Switcher on these devices, press the Home button twice quickly (not slowly). You'll see apps arranged in a horizontal row that you can scroll through. To close an app, swipe upward on its card with one or two fingers.

iPhone 5s and earlier models use the same Home button method as iPhone 8 but display apps differently in the App Switcher. The process for closing apps is identical: double-tap the Home button, find the app, and swipe upward on it.

If you're unsure which iPhone model you have, go to Settings, then tap General, then About. The model name appears at the top of the screen. This information helps you identify which closing method applies to your phone. Once you know your model, the process becomes second nature—most users can close an app in under two seconds.

Practical Takeaway: Write down which gesture or button method works for your specific iPhone model. Share this information with other users of different phone models in your household so everyone can manage their apps effectively.

Force Closing Apps and When You Might Need It

Sometimes an app stops responding, freezes, or doesn't close normally using the App Switcher method. In these situations, you may need to force close the app. Force closing means stopping an app completely through your iPhone's system settings rather than through the normal closing process. This action works even if the app appears frozen or unresponsive.

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To force close an app, navigate to Settings on your home screen. Tap General, then select iPhone Storage (on some older iOS versions, this may be called "iPhone Storage" or just show app information differently). Scroll through the list of installed apps and find the app that's not responding. Tap on the app name. You'll see information about the app, including how much storage space it uses and when you last used it. Tap "Offload App" or look for a delete or remove option. This removes the app's data from active memory.

Another method for force closing involves the App Switcher. If an app appears frozen in the App Switcher view, try swiping upward on it as usual. If the normal swipe method doesn't work, press and hold on the app card for a few seconds until additional options appear. You should see options including "Remove App" or similar text. Selecting this option force closes the app immediately.

Force closing is different from regular closing because it stops all app processes without allowing the app to save its current state. This means any unsaved work within that app may be lost. For this reason, use force closing only when an app isn't responding normally. For regular daily use, the standard App Switcher closing method is sufficient and doesn't risk data loss.

How often do apps freeze or stop responding? According to mobile analytics data, approximately 15 to 20 percent of smartphone users experience at least one frozen app per week. Force closing usually resolves these issues without requiring a full phone restart. After force closing an app, you can typically reopen it immediately, and it will function normally.

Practical Takeaway: If an app frequently freezes or stops responding, try force closing it once. If the problem persists across multiple uses, consider reinstalling the app by removing it and downloading it fresh from the App Store.