Understanding Why Closing Apps Matters for Your Device
Many people don't think much about the apps running on their phones, tablets, or computers. They open an app, use it, and then move on to something else. However, apps that stay running in the background consume resources from your device—even when you're not actively using them. These resources include processing power, memory (RAM), and battery life.
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When multiple apps run simultaneously, your device must divide its attention among all of them. This division of resources can slow down your device's performance, making it take longer to load websites, switch between programs, or complete tasks. On smartphones, this background activity drains your battery faster than necessary. A phone running five unnecessary background apps may lose 20-30% more battery in a single day compared to a device with those apps closed.
Additionally, apps running in the background occasionally use your internet connection to sync data, receive notifications, or update content. This background data usage counts toward your monthly data plan if you have a limited connection. For users with capped data plans, this can mean reaching limits sooner than expected and potentially facing additional charges or reduced speeds.
Different types of devices handle running apps differently. Smartphones and tablets have more limited processing power than computers, making app management more noticeable on mobile devices. Modern operating systems have become better at managing background processes, but manual closing of apps remains a useful practice for maintaining optimal performance. Understanding which apps you're running and how to close them puts you in control of your device's resources.
Practical Takeaway: Regularly closing unused apps can extend your device's battery life by 15-25%, reduce data usage, and improve overall performance speed.
How to Close Apps on iPhone and iPad
iPhones and iPads use a system where apps can run in the background, but closing them properly requires following specific steps. Apple's iOS operating system manages background processes, but users can manually close apps through the app switcher—a feature that shows all recently used applications.
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To close apps on an iPhone or iPad with Face ID (iPhone X and newer, or iPad Pro models with Face ID), swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause for a moment. This gesture opens the app switcher, displaying thumbnail images of your open apps. You'll see multiple app windows displayed in a card-like format. Simply swipe up on any app card to close it. You can close multiple apps in succession by swiping up on each one.
For older iPhone and iPad models with a home button, the process differs slightly. Double-click the home button to open the app switcher. The same card-like interface appears showing your open apps. Swipe up on any app card to close it. This method works on iPhone 8 and earlier models, as well as older iPad versions.
Some users wonder whether they need to close Safari browser tabs separately. On iOS devices, closing the Safari app does close all open tabs within it. However, if you want to close individual tabs while keeping Safari open, you can swipe left on each tab or tap the "X" button on each tab to remove it individually.
One important note: closing apps on iOS doesn't significantly improve battery life as dramatically as it does on Android devices, because iOS is specifically designed to manage background processes efficiently. However, closing resource-heavy apps—like video streaming applications, games, or navigation apps—can still provide noticeable improvements in performance and battery duration.
Practical Takeaway: Use the app switcher (swipe up from bottom on newer iPhones, or double-click home button on older models) and swipe up on app cards to close them individually.
How to Close Apps on Android Devices
Android devices handle app management somewhat differently from iPhones. The Android operating system gives apps more freedom to run in the background, which means closing apps on Android can have more noticeable effects on battery life and performance. Most Android devices use a similar method for closing apps, though the exact appearance may vary by manufacturer.
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To close apps on most Android phones and tablets, tap the recent apps button. This is typically a square icon or button located at the bottom of your screen (the exact position depends on your device manufacturer and Android version). This opens a list of recently used applications. You'll see thumbnail previews of these apps arranged vertically or in a grid format. To close an individual app, swipe it up and off the screen, or tap the "X" button if one appears on the app card.
Some Android devices have slightly different layouts. On certain Samsung devices, for example, you might see additional options like "Close all" which closes every open app at once. This feature is useful when you want to clear your device of running apps quickly. However, you can also close apps individually by swiping them away one at a time.
Android users should know that some apps will restart themselves after being closed. This happens because many apps are designed to run as background services—applications like email clients, messaging apps, and fitness trackers need to stay running to receive new messages or track activity. Closing these apps may only provide temporary relief before they restart. To prevent specific apps from running in the background, you can adjust app permissions in your device's settings menu under "Apps" or "Applications."
For users who want more control, many Android devices offer a built-in task killer or app manager. You can access this through your device's settings. From there, you can force-stop apps entirely, which prevents them from restarting automatically. This approach works better than simply closing apps for apps you rarely use but have been consuming background resources.
Practical Takeaway: Press the recent apps button (usually a square icon), swipe apps upward to close them, or use "Close all" to shut down everything at once on Android devices.
How to Close Apps on Windows and Mac Computers
Computers manage running applications differently than mobile devices, but the principle remains the same—closing unused apps frees up system resources and can improve overall performance. On both Windows and Mac computers, you can see which applications are currently running and close them through several methods.
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On Windows computers, you can close apps by clicking the X button in the top-right corner of any open window. This method closes that specific application immediately. If you want to see all running programs at once, you can use the Task Manager. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager directly, or right-click on the taskbar and select "Task Manager." The Task Manager window displays all running processes and applications. To close any application, click on it to select it, then click the "End Task" button at the bottom right. This forces the application to close.
Mac computers offer a similar approach. To close an application, you can click the red button in the top-left corner of the window, or use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q while the application is active. To see all running applications and force-quit one if necessary, press Command+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select any app and click "Force Quit" to close it. Force quitting is useful when an application freezes or stops responding.
Both Windows and Mac systems allow you to manage which applications start automatically when you turn on your computer. On Windows, open Task Manager and click the "Startup" tab to see programs that launch at startup. Right-click any program and select "Disable" to prevent it from starting automatically. On Mac, go to System Preferences, then select "General," and click the "Login Items" tab to manage startup applications. Removing unnecessary startup items reduces the number of apps running automatically, improving your computer's startup time and overall performance.
Computer users should understand that unlike mobile devices, closing apps on computers rarely affects battery life (since most computers are plugged in). However, closing unused applications still improves system performance by freeing up RAM and processing power for the applications you're actively using.
Practical Takeaway: Click the X button to close individual windows, use Task Manager (Windows) or Force Quit (Mac) to close stubborn applications, and disable unnecessary startup programs in your settings.
Managing Background Processes and Notifications
Beyond simply closing visible apps, understanding background processes helps you maintain better control over your device. Background processes are tasks that continue running even when you're not actively using an app. These might include syncing emails, updating locations for maps, refreshing social media feeds, or sending notifications. While some background activity is useful, excessive background processes drain battery and data.
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On iPhone and iPad, you can manage background app refresh