Why you need to close apps, and when it actually matters
Closing an app means stopping it completely so it no longer runs in the background. On phones and computers, apps often keep running even after you stop looking at them — they use battery, memory, and data in the background. Closing an app stops that drain when ready.
You do not need to close every app after every use. Modern phones and computers manage background apps reasonably well. But closing an app is useful when it is misbehaving, when you want to save battery before a long day, or when an app is using data or location services you did not intend. Knowing how to close an app also helps you troubleshoot when something is not working right.
The steps differ between phones and computers, and between different operating systems. This guide covers the most common devices: iPhones, Android phones, Windows computers, and Macs.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or swipe left on an app in the app switcher to close it completely.
- On Android phones, open the recent apps menu and swipe up on the app you want to close, or tap the X button if one appears.
- On Windows computers, click the X button in the top right corner of the app window, or use Alt+F4 as a keyboard shortcut.
- On Macs, click the red circle in the top left corner of the app window, or press Command+Q to quit the app entirely.
- Closing an app is different from logging out — you may need to do both if you want to remove your account from a device.
Closing apps on iPhones
On newer iPhones (iPhone X and later), swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher. You will see thumbnails of all the apps you have used recently. Find the app you want to close, then swipe up on its thumbnail. The app will disappear from the list and close completely.
If you have an older iPhone (iPhone 8 or earlier), double-click the home button instead of swiping up. This opens the same app switcher. Swipe left or right to find the app, then swipe up on its thumbnail to close it.
After you close an app on an iPhone, it will not run in the background until you open it again. If the app is misbehaving or frozen, closing and reopening it often fixes the problem.
Closing apps on Android phones
On most Android phones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe left from the right edge, depending on your phone model) to open the recent apps menu. You will see a list or grid of apps you have used recently.
Find the app you want to close. Swipe up on it, or look for an X button or close icon and tap it. The app will close and stop running in the background. If you do not see a close button, swiping up on the app thumbnail should close it.
Some Android phones have a "Close all" button at the bottom of the recent apps menu. Tapping this closes all open apps at once, though you may want to save your work first if you have multiple apps with unsaved changes.
Closing apps on Windows computers
On Windows, the simplest way to close an app is to click the X button in the top right corner of the app window. This closes the app when ready.
If the X button is not visible or the app is not responding, try the keyboard shortcut Alt+F4. This closes the active window or app. If the app has unsaved work, it will usually ask you to save before closing.
You can also right-click the app in the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the screen) and select "Close window" or "Close all windows" from the menu. If an app is completely frozen and will not respond to any of these methods, you can force it closed using Task Manager: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find the app in the list, click it, and click "End task".
Closing apps on Macs
On a Mac, click the red circle button in the top left corner of the app window. This closes that window. If the app has other windows open, they will stay open.
To quit the app entirely (close all its windows and stop it from running), use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q. You can also click the app name in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select "Quit [App Name]".
If an app is frozen and will not respond, press Command+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit menu. Find the app in the list, click it, and click "Force Quit". This closes the app when ready without saving, so use it only when the app is truly stuck.
The difference between closing and logging out
Closing an app stops it from running, but you will still be logged in the next time you open it. If you want to remove your account from an app — for example, before selling a phone or giving it to someone else — you need to log out first.
To log out, open the app, look for settings or account options (usually a gear icon or your profile picture), and find the "Log out" or "Sign out" button. After you log out, close the app. The next person who opens it will see a login screen instead of your account.
Some apps do not have a logout option. In that case, you can remove the app entirely by uninstalling it, which also removes your login information from that device.
When closing an app does not fix the problem
If an app keeps misbehaving even after you close and reopen it, try restarting your device. Turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary files and resets the app's connection to your system.
If the problem continues, check whether the app has an update available. Go to your app store (Apple App Store on iPhones, Google Play Store on Android, Microsoft Store on Windows, or App Store on Mac) and search for the app. If an update is available, install it. Developers release updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
If restarting and updating do not help, you can uninstall the app and reinstall it fresh. This removes all the app's files and settings, then downloads a clean copy. Be aware that you may lose any data stored only in that app, so check whether the app backs up your information to the cloud first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app delete my data or account?
No. Closing an app stops it from running but does not delete anything. Your account, saved files, and settings stay on your device. The next time you open the app, everything will be there. To remove your account, you need to log out first.
Will closing apps make my phone or computer faster?
Closing apps frees up memory and battery, which can help if your device is running slowly or the battery is draining fast. However, modern devices manage background apps automatically, so closing apps one at a time usually makes a small difference. Restarting your device entirely has a bigger effect.
What happens if I close an app while I am in the middle of something?
If you close an app without saving your work, you will lose any unsaved changes. Most apps warn you before closing if you have unsaved work. Some apps automatically save your progress, so check the app's settings to see whether it has an autosave feature.
Is it bad to close apps all the time?
No. Closing apps is safe and does not damage your device. You can close apps whenever you want without worry. The only downside is that the app takes slightly longer to open the next time because it has to start from scratch instead of resuming from where it was.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
On Android, you can tap "Close all" in the recent apps menu to close all open apps at once. On iPhones, Macs, and Windows computers, you need to close apps one at a time. On Windows, you can also use Task Manager to close multiple apps by selecting them and clicking "End task".