Why closing background apps matters for your device
Apps that stay open in the background consume memory and battery power even when you are not using them. On phones and tablets especially, this slows down the apps you are actively using and drains your battery faster. Clearing open apps — closing the ones you have finished with — frees up that memory so your device runs smoother and lasts longer between charges.
The difference is most noticeable on older devices or when you have many apps open at once. If your phone feels sluggish when switching between apps, or if your battery drops noticeably faster than it used to, closing background apps is one of the first things to try.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on each app card to close it.
- On Android phones, swipe up from the bottom (or use the back button on older models) to see open apps, then swipe up or tap the X to close each one.
- Closing apps does not delete them — they remain installed and can be reopened from your home screen or app drawer.
- Some apps are designed to run in the background and will reopen automatically; closing them temporarily frees memory but does not stop them permanently.
- On Windows and Mac computers, use Alt+Tab or Command+Tab to see open programs, then close the ones you are done with.
Closing apps on iPhone
On iPhones running iOS 12 or newer, open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and pausing briefly. You will see cards showing each app that is currently open. Swipe up on any app card to close it. You can close multiple apps this way — just keep swiping up on each one you want to close.
If you have an older iPhone with a home button, double-press the home button instead to open the app switcher. The process of swiping up to close apps is the same.
After you close an app, it stops running in the background when ready. The app is still installed on your phone and will appear in your home screen or app library — closing it does not remove it.
Closing apps on Android phones
On most Android phones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the recent apps view. You will see thumbnails of apps you have used recently. Swipe up on any app thumbnail to close it, or tap the X button if one appears on the card.
On older Android phones with a back button, press the back button repeatedly until you return to the home screen, or look for a dedicated recent apps button (usually a square icon) on the navigation bar at the bottom. Tap it to see open apps, then swipe up or tap the X to close each one.
Like iPhone, closing an app on Android stops it from running but does not uninstall it. You can reopen it anytime from your app drawer or home screen.
Closing programs on Windows computers
On Windows, hold Alt and press Tab to see all open programs. Keep holding Alt and press Tab again to cycle through them, or click on any program to switch to it. To close a program, switch to it and then press Alt+F4, or click the X button in the top right corner of the window.
You can also right-click the program in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select "Close window" or "Close all windows" if multiple windows of the same program are open.
Closing a program on Windows frees up the memory it was using. If the program has unsaved work, Windows will ask you to save before closing.
Closing programs on Mac computers
On Mac, hold Command and press Tab to see all open programs. Keep holding Command and press Tab again to cycle through them, or click on any program to switch to it. To close a program, switch to it and then press Command+Q, or click the program name in the menu bar and select "Quit [Program Name]".
You can also right-click the program icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen and select "Quit" from the menu that appears.
Closing a program on Mac frees up memory and system resources. Like Windows, Mac will ask you to save any unsaved work before closing.
What happens when you close an app versus uninstalling it
Closing an app stops it from running right now but leaves it installed on your device. The app still takes up storage space and will appear in your home screen, app drawer, or applications folder. You can reopen it anytime by tapping or clicking its icon.
Uninstalling an app removes it completely from your device, freeing up both the memory it was using and the storage space it occupied. You would need to reinstall it from the app store if you wanted to use it again. Closing apps is temporary; uninstalling is permanent.
For most situations, closing apps is what you want to do. Uninstall only apps you no longer need.
Apps that reopen automatically after closing
Some apps are designed to run in the background and will reopen automatically even after you close them. This includes messaging apps, email clients, music streaming services, and fitness trackers that need to monitor your activity. Closing these apps temporarily frees memory, but they will start again the next time your device wakes up or when they receive a notification.
If an app keeps reopening and you do not want it running in the background, you can disable background activity in your device settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle off the apps you want to stop. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, select the app, and look for a "Battery" or "Background" option to restrict it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my device faster?
Yes, temporarily. Closing apps frees up memory that those apps were using, so other apps can run more smoothly. The effect is most noticeable if you have many apps open at once or if your device is older with limited memory.
Will closing an app delete my data or messages?
No. Closing an app does not delete any data stored in that app. Your messages, photos, notes, and other content remain on your device. When you reopen the app, everything will be there.
Should I close all my apps every day?
You do not need to close apps constantly. Close them when you notice your device slowing down, or if you want to extend battery life before charging. Modern devices are designed to manage open apps automatically, so closing them occasionally is enough for most people.
Why does an app keep reopening after I close it?
The app is likely set to run in the background or to launch automatically when your device starts. You can prevent this by disabling background app refresh in your device settings, though some apps need background activity to work properly (like messaging or fitness apps).
Is closing apps the same as force stopping them?
No. Closing an app is normal and safe. Force stopping (on Android, found in Settings > Apps) is more aggressive and should only be used if an app is frozen or misbehaving. Force stopping can cause the app to lose unsaved data.