Why and when to close apps
Closing an app means shutting it down completely rather than just switching to another one. When you close an app, it stops running in the background and stops using your device's memory and battery. Most apps you use briefly — a calculator, a weather check, a single email — do not need to stay open after you finish with them.
You should close an app if it is running slowly, if it is draining your battery noticeably, or if you have finished using it and want to free up space for other tasks. On phones especially, closing apps you are not actively using helps your device run faster and keeps your battery lasting longer through the day.
The method for closing an app depends on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. Each system has a different way to show you which apps are running and how to shut them down.
Key Takeaways
- Closing an app completely stops it from running in the background and frees up memory and battery power on your device.
- On iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or swipe down from the top-right corner to see open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
- On Android phones, open the Recent Apps menu by swiping up from the bottom or tapping the square icon, then swipe up on each app you want to close.
- On Windows computers, close apps by clicking the X button in the top-right corner of the window, or use Alt+F4 as a keyboard shortcut.
- On Mac computers, close apps by clicking the red circle in the top-left corner of the window, or press Command+Q to close the entire app.
Closing apps on iPhone
On newer iPhones (iPhone X and later), swipe up from the very bottom of the screen toward the middle of the screen. Hold your finger there for a moment until you see a row of app cards appear. Each card shows an app that is currently running. Swipe up on the card of the app you want to close — this removes it from the list and shuts it down completely.
On older iPhones (iPhone 8 and earlier), double-tap the home button at the bottom of the phone instead. This brings up the same row of app cards. Swipe up on the app you want to close.
If you want to close multiple apps at once, swipe up on each card one by one. There is no harm in closing apps this way — you can always open them again by tapping their icon on your home screen.
Closing apps on Android phones
On most Android phones, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and hold for a moment. You will see a list of apps that are currently running, usually shown as cards or thumbnails. Swipe up on each app card to close it. Some Android phones show a "Recent Apps" button as a square icon at the bottom of the screen instead — tap that icon to see the same list.
If you want to close all running apps at once, look for a "Close All" button, usually at the bottom of the recent apps screen. Tapping it closes every app that is running in the background. This is safe to do and can help your phone run faster if many apps have accumulated.
You can also close an app by going to Settings, then Apps or process Manager, finding the app in the list, and tapping "Force Stop." This method is useful if an app is frozen or not responding to the normal close gesture.
Closing apps on Windows computers
The simplest way to close an app on Windows is to click the X button in the top-right corner of the app window. This closes that single app. If you have multiple windows open from the same app, closing one window does not close the entire app — you need to close all its windows.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt+F4 to close the active app window. Press and hold Alt, then tap F4, then release both keys. This works in almost every Windows app and is faster than reaching for the mouse.
If an app is frozen and will not close normally, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Find the frozen app in the list, click it once to select it, then click "End Task" at the bottom right. This forces the app to close when ready.
Closing apps on Mac computers
On a Mac, close an app by clicking the red circle button in the top-left corner of the app window. This closes the window, but on Mac, closing a window does not always close the entire app — the app may still be running in the background.
To close the entire app completely, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q. Press and hold Command, tap Q, then release both keys. This closes the app and removes it from memory. You can also click the app name in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select "Quit [App Name]" from the dropdown menu.
If an app is not responding, open Activity Monitor by going to Applications, then Utilities, then Activity Monitor. Find the frozen app in the list, click it, then click the X button labeled "Force Quit" at the top left. This stops the app when ready.
When you should not worry about closing apps
Modern phones and computers are designed to manage apps running in the background. You do not need to close every app you open — your device automatically pauses apps you are not using and frees up memory when it needs to. Closing apps constantly is not necessary and will not significantly extend your battery life on most newer devices.
The main reason to close an app is if it is misbehaving, draining battery unusually fast, or if you straightforward want to make sure it is not running. If your device is running smoothly and your battery is lasting as long as it should, you can leave apps open without worry. The exception is if you notice one specific app using a lot of battery or slowing down your device — in that case, close it and consider restarting your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app delete my data or unsaved work?
Closing an app does not delete anything stored on your device. However, if you have unsaved work inside the app — like a draft email or a document you were editing — that work may be lost. Most apps warn you before closing if you have unsaved changes. Save your work before closing an app if you want to keep it.
What is the difference between closing an app and uninstalling it?
Closing an app shuts it down temporarily but leaves it on your device. You can open it again anytime by tapping its icon. Uninstalling an app removes it from your device entirely. To uninstall, go to your app store or settings, find the app, and select "Uninstall" or "Remove." You would need to reinstall it to use it again.
Will closing apps make my phone faster?
Closing apps can help if a specific app is running slowly or using a lot of battery. Closing many apps at once may give a temporary speed boost, but your phone will slow down again as you open new apps. The most effective way to keep your phone fast is to restart it regularly and keep your storage from getting too full.
Can I close system apps on my phone?
On iPhones, you can close any app, including system apps like Settings or Mail. On Android phones, you can close most apps, but some system apps cannot be closed — they will straightforward not appear in your recent apps list. If you try to close a system app and nothing happens, that app is designed to stay running.
What should I do if an app will not close?
If an app is frozen and will not close using the normal method, use the force-close option: on iPhone or Android, go to Settings and find the app in the app list, then tap "Force Stop" or "Force Quit." On Windows, use Task Manager. On Mac, use Activity Monitor. Force-closing stops the app when ready but may cause you to lose unsaved work.