Why you might want to close apps on your iPhone
Closing apps on an iPhone works differently than on a computer. When you stop using an app and switch to another one, iOS automatically pauses the first app and puts it in the background. The app is not running — it is frozen in memory, using almost no battery or processing power. For most people, most of the time, you do not need to close apps manually.
There are a few situations where closing an app makes sense. If an app is behaving strangely — freezing, crashing, or draining battery faster than usual — closing and reopening it can fix the problem. If an app has a bug that keeps it from working right, a fresh start sometimes helps. If you want to make sure an app is not using location data or accessing your microphone in the background, closing it is one way to stop that activity when ready.
Closing an app does not uninstall it or delete any data it has saved. The next time you open it, it will be there exactly as you left it.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones) to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
- Closing an app stops it from running in the background but does not delete it or erase any of its data.
- You do not need to close apps regularly — iOS pauses them automatically and they use almost no battery when not in use.
- Closing an app can fix freezing, crashing, or unusual battery drain, but restarting your iPhone solves more problems than closing individual apps.
How to close one app at a time
The method depends on which iPhone model you have. On iPhone X and newer (including all current models), swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. You will see a grid of app cards showing all the apps currently in memory. Find the app you want to close, then swipe up on its card. The card will disappear, and the app is now closed.
On iPhone 8 and earlier, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen instead. The app switcher will appear the same way — as a grid of cards. Swipe up on the app you want to close, and it will shut down.
If you are not sure which model you have, try swiping down from the top right first. If nothing happens, swipe up from the bottom instead.
Closing multiple apps at once
If you want to close several apps quickly, you can do it without closing the app switcher between each one. Open the app switcher using the method for your phone model, then swipe up on multiple app cards one after another. Each swipe closes one app and leaves the switcher open so you can close the next one.
There is no built-in way to close all open apps at once. If you want to clear everything out, you will need to swipe up on each card individually, or restart your iPhone instead. Restarting closes all apps and often fixes more problems than closing them one by one.
When closing apps actually helps
Close an app if it is freezing, crashing repeatedly, or using an unusual amount of battery. Open the app switcher, swipe it closed, wait a few seconds, and open it again. This gives the app a fresh start and often fixes temporary glitches.
If an app keeps crashing even after you close and reopen it, restart your iPhone instead. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. A full restart clears more memory and fixes more problems than closing individual apps.
Apps that run in the background by design
Some apps are designed to keep running even when you are not actively using them. Music apps, navigation apps, fitness trackers, and messaging apps may continue working in the background so they can play audio, give you directions, count your steps, or notify you of new messages. Closing these apps stops those features from working.
If you close an app that is supposed to run in the background, it will not reopen automatically. You will need to open it again manually the next time you want to use it. If you want to stop a background app from using battery or location data without closing it entirely, go to Settings, find the app name, and turn off the permissions it does not need.
The difference between closing and force-quitting
Closing an app using the app switcher is a normal shutdown. The app saves its state and shuts down cleanly. Force-quitting is different — it stops an app when ready without letting it save. You force-quit an app by holding your finger on its card in the app switcher for a moment until a menu appears, then tapping "Remove App" or "Force Quit" (the exact wording depends on your iOS version).
Use force-quit only if an app is completely frozen and will not respond to normal closing. For everyday use, the regular close method is better because it lets the app save your work first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps save battery?
Closing apps saves almost no battery because iOS already pauses them automatically when you switch away. A closed app uses nearly zero power. If your battery is draining fast, the problem is usually a setting (like screen brightness or location services), not open apps. Restarting your phone helps more than closing apps.
Will closing an app delete my data?
No. Closing an app does not delete any data it has saved — your messages, photos, notes, or settings stay exactly where they are. The next time you open the app, everything will be there. Only uninstalling an app (deleting it from your phone entirely) removes its data.
What if an app does not appear in the app switcher?
If an app is not in the app switcher, it is not currently running in the background. It is already closed. You can still open it normally by tapping its icon on your home screen or in the App Library.
Can I close the app switcher without closing any apps?
Yes. Swipe down from the top right (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open the app switcher, then swipe down to close it again without swiping up on any app cards. No apps will be closed.
Should I close apps every day?
No. Closing apps regularly does not improve performance or battery life on modern iPhones. iOS handles background apps efficiently. Close an app only if it is misbehaving or if you want to stop a specific feature from running.