Why and when to close apps on your iPhone
Closing apps that are running in the background can help your iPhone run faster and use less battery, especially if you have many apps open at once. Unlike older phones, iPhones do not need you to close every app constantly — the system manages memory well on its own. But if your phone feels sluggish, drains battery quickly, or an app is frozen or misbehaving, closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem.
You close apps through the app switcher, which shows all the apps currently running. This is different from deleting an app, which removes it from your phone entirely. Closing an app just stops it from running in the background; you can open it again whenever you want.
Key Takeaways
- Open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone X and newer) or double-tapping the home button (iPhone 8 and older).
- Swipe up on any app card to close it; you can close multiple apps one after another without returning to the home screen.
- Closing apps is most useful when one app is frozen, your battery is draining fast, or your phone is running slowly.
- You do not need to close apps every day — iOS manages background activity automatically, and closing apps does not free up permanent storage space.
How to open the app switcher on iPhone X and newer
On iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and all newer models, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and pause briefly. You will see a row of app cards stacked on top of each other, showing all the apps currently running. Each card displays a preview of what the app was doing when you last used it.
If you swipe too quickly, you may return to the home screen instead. The key is to swipe up slowly and hold your finger there for a moment before releasing. Once the app switcher appears, you can let go and tap or swipe freely.
How to open the app switcher on iPhone 8 and older
On iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6, and earlier models, double-tap the home button (the circular button at the bottom center of the screen). The app switcher will appear, showing a row of app cards. Double-tapping means pressing the button twice quickly, not holding it down.
If you hold the button too long, Siri will set up instead. If that happens, just tap elsewhere on the screen to close Siri and try again with a quicker double-tap.
Closing one app or multiple apps at once
Once the app switcher is open, you will see app cards displayed in a row. To close any app, swipe up on its card. The card will disappear, and the app will stop running in the background. You can close one app and stay in the app switcher, or close several apps in a row without returning to the home screen.
There is no limit to how many apps you can close at once. If you want to close all open apps, you can swipe up on each card one after another. When you are done, swipe down or tap the home button to return to your home screen.
What happens after you close an app
After you close an app, it stops running and will not use battery power or memory until you open it again. The next time you tap the app icon, it will launch fresh, which often clears out glitches or freezing. Any data the app saved — like text you typed or a video you were watching — will be there when you reopen it, because apps save their state automatically.
Closing an app does not delete any of your photos, messages, documents, or other data stored in that app. It only stops the app from running. If you want to remove an app completely from your phone, you would delete it from the home screen, which is a separate action.
When closing apps actually helps your phone
Close apps when one is frozen or not responding. If an app will not open, will not let you tap buttons, or shows a spinning loading wheel for more than a few seconds, close it and reopen it. This forces the app to start fresh and usually solves the problem.
Close apps if your battery is draining very fast and you notice one app using most of the power. You can check which apps are using the most battery by going to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Usage. If one app is listed at 30 percent or higher, close it and see if battery drain improves.
Close apps if your phone is running slowly or feels sluggish. If you have been using your phone for hours without restarting it, closing a few apps can free up memory and make everything feel faster. However, if your phone is slow even after closing apps, restarting your phone (turning it off and back on) usually helps more than closing individual apps.
What you do not need to do
You do not need to close apps every day or every time you finish using them. iOS is designed to manage apps running in the background, and closing apps does not free up permanent storage space on your phone. If you have 64 gigabytes of storage and close ten apps, you still have 64 gigabytes available.
You do not need to close apps before updating iOS or before restarting your phone. The system handles these tasks automatically. You also do not need to close apps before plugging in to charge — charging speed is not affected by how many apps are open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my iPhone faster?
Closing apps can help if your phone is running slowly and you have many apps open, or if one specific app is frozen. However, restarting your phone (turning it off and back on) usually makes a bigger difference than closing individual apps. iOS manages background apps well, so closing apps is not something you need to do regularly.
Will closing apps save my battery?
Closing apps saves battery only if those apps are actively running and using power in the background. If an app is not doing anything, it uses very little battery even while open. Check Settings > Battery > Battery Usage to see which apps are actually draining power, then close only those.
What is the difference between closing an app and deleting it?
Closing an app stops it from running but keeps it on your phone. Deleting an app removes it completely, and you would need to read it again from the App Store to use it. Closing is temporary; deleting is permanent.
Can I close apps without using the app switcher?
No, the app switcher is the only way to close apps on iPhone. You cannot close apps from the home screen or from Settings. You must open the app switcher and swipe up on the app card.
Will I lose my data if I close an app?
No, closing an app does not delete any of your data. Messages, photos, documents, and other information stored in the app will still be there when you reopen it. Apps save their state automatically, so you will return to where you left off.