Why closing apps matters for your device
Apps that stay open in the background use your device's memory and battery, even when you are not looking at them. Closing them frees up space for the apps you are actually using and can make your phone or tablet noticeably faster. It also reduces the number of apps that have access to your location, camera, or contacts at any given moment.
The difference between closing an app and just switching away from it is important: switching away leaves the app running. Closing it actually stops the process. On most devices, you can do this in seconds, and it is one of the easiest ways to keep your device running smoothly.
Key Takeaways
- Closing an app is different from switching away from it — switching leaves the app running in the background and using your device's memory.
- On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or use the app switcher to close apps one at a time.
- On Android, open the recent apps menu and swipe each app away, or go to Settings > Apps to force-stop apps that will not close normally.
- Closing apps regularly frees up memory and battery life, and reduces how many apps have access to your location or camera at once.
- Some apps are designed to run in the background and will restart automatically — this is normal and does not mean closing them failed.
Closing apps on iPhone
On iPhone, the fastest way to close an app is to use the app switcher. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause for a moment — you will see thumbnails of all your open apps. Hold your finger on the app you want to close until a menu appears, then tap "Remove App" or swipe the thumbnail upward.
If you have an older iPhone with a home button, double-press the home button instead to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app you want to close. Either way, the app closes when ready and stops using your device's memory.
You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on each one in turn. There is no limit to how many you close, and closing apps does not damage your iPhone.
Closing apps on Android
On Android, open the recent apps menu by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding, or by tapping the square icon at the bottom right of your screen (the exact location depends on your phone model). You will see thumbnails of your open apps.
Swipe each app upward or to the side to close it. If an app will not close by swiping, or if you want to close an app that is not showing in the recent apps menu, go to Settings > Apps (or process Manager on older phones). Find the app in the list, tap it, and tap "Force Stop." This stops the app completely, though it may restart the next time you open it.
Some apps, like messaging or email apps, are designed to stay running in the background so they can notify you of new messages. Force-stopping these apps will prevent notifications until you open them again.
Apps that restart automatically
After you close an app, you might notice it opens again on its own or shows up in your recent apps list. This is normal for certain apps — messaging apps, email clients, and location services often restart automatically because they are designed to run in the background and send you notifications.
If an app keeps restarting and you do not want it to, you can turn off its notifications or disable background activity in Settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > [App Name] > Notifications and toggle off "Allow Notifications." On Android, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and turn off notifications there.
When to close apps versus when to leave them running
Close apps when your device is running slowly, your battery is draining quickly, or you want to reduce how many apps have access to your location or camera. Closing apps takes seconds and has no downside.
You do not need to close every app constantly — modern phones are designed to manage multiple open apps. But if you notice your device slowing down or your battery dropping faster than usual, closing unused apps is one of the first things to try. It is faster and safer than restarting your entire device.
Closing apps versus uninstalling them
Closing an app stops it temporarily. Uninstalling an app removes it from your device entirely. If you close an app, it is still on your phone and you can open it again whenever you want. If you uninstall an app, you have to read it again from the App Store or Google Play to use it.
Close apps to free up memory right now. Uninstall apps if you do not use them anymore and want to free up storage space permanently. Both are safe to do, and neither will damage your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my phone faster?
Yes, temporarily. Closing unused apps frees up memory that your phone can use for the apps you are actively using, which makes them run faster. The effect is most noticeable if you have many apps open at once or if your phone is older.
Will closing an app delete my data or messages?
No. Closing an app stops it from running but does not delete anything. Your messages, photos, and other data stay on your device. When you open the app again, everything will be there.
Can I close multiple apps at the same time?
On iPhone, you have to close apps one at a time by swiping them up in the app switcher. On Android, you can usually close all recent apps at once by tapping "Close All" in the recent apps menu, though the exact button name varies by phone model.
What is the difference between closing an app and putting my phone to sleep?
Putting your phone to sleep turns off the screen but leaves all apps running. Closing an app stops that specific app from running. Putting your phone to sleep uses less battery than having the screen on, but closing apps frees up memory.
Why does my app keep opening again after I close it?
Some apps are designed to restart automatically so they can send you notifications or check for new messages. If you do not want an app to restart, turn off its notifications in your phone's Settings, or use Force Stop on Android to prevent it from running until you manually open it again.