The fastest way to close an app on iPad
To close an app on iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause for a moment in the middle of the screen. You will see all your open apps displayed as cards. Find the app you want to close, then swipe it upward off the top of the screen. The app closes when ready.
This method works on all modern iPads running iPadOS 11 or later. If you have an older iPad with a home button, press the home button twice to see open apps, then swipe up on the app card you want to close.
Closing apps does not delete them from your iPad — it only stops them from running in the background. The app remains installed and you can open it again anytime by tapping its icon on your home screen.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to see all open apps, then swipe any app card upward to close it.
- Closing an app stops it from using your iPad's memory and battery, but does not remove it from your device.
- Some apps may need to be closed and reopened if they freeze or stop responding correctly.
- You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on each card in the app switcher view.
Why you might want to close an app
Closing apps frees up your iPad's memory and can improve battery life, especially if an app is running in the background and using resources. If an app is frozen or not responding to taps, closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem.
Some apps continue to run even after you stop using them — they may be playing audio, tracking your location, or refreshing data. Closing these apps stops that activity until you open them again. This is different from force-closing an app, which you would only do if an app is completely unresponsive.
The difference between closing and force-closing an app
Closing an app normally (by swiping it away) lets the app shut down properly. Force-closing is what you do when an app is frozen and will not respond to any taps. To force-close an app, hold your finger on the app card in the app switcher for a moment until a menu appears, then tap "Remove App" or "Force Quit" depending on your iPad model.
You should only force-close an app if it is completely stuck. Normal closing is the gentler option and is what you should do most of the time. Force-closing can sometimes cause the app to lose unsaved work, so use it only when the app is not responding at all.
What happens when you close an app
When you close an app, it stops running and is removed from your iPad's active memory. Any data the app was holding in memory is released. If you had unsaved work in the app, that work is usually lost — so close apps only after you have saved what you need.
The app's icon remains on your home screen and in the App Store, so you can open it again whenever you want. Closing an app does not affect any files or documents you created in that app — those are saved separately on your iPad and remain safe.
Closing apps on iPad with Face ID versus home button
iPads with Face ID (iPad Pro models and newer iPad Air models) use the swipe-from-bottom method to close apps. iPads with a home button (older iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini models) use a different method: press the home button twice to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app you want to close.
You can tell which type of iPad you have by looking at the bottom of the screen. If there is a home button (a physical circle), you have a home button iPad. If the bottom is smooth with no button, you have a Face ID iPad. Both methods work equally well — the difference is just which gesture your iPad recognizes.
When closing apps might not solve your problem
If an app keeps freezing even after you close and reopen it, the problem may be deeper than just a temporary glitch. Try restarting your entire iPad by holding down the power button and volume button together, then sliding to power off. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This clears your iPad's memory more thoroughly than closing a single app.
If the app still does not work after a restart, check the App Store to see if an update is available. Outdated apps sometimes have bugs that newer versions have fixed. You can also try deleting the app and reinstalling it, which removes any corrupted files the app may have developed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my iPad faster?
Closing apps frees up memory and can help your iPad run more smoothly, especially if you have many apps open at once. However, modern iPads are designed to manage open apps well, so closing apps will not make a huge difference unless your iPad is already running slowly or low on storage.
Will closing an app delete my data?
Closing an app does not delete any saved files or documents. However, any work you were doing in the app that you had not saved will be lost. Always save your work before closing an app if you want to keep it.
Can I close multiple apps at the same time?
Yes. Open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom, then swipe up on each app card you want to close. You can close as many as you want in one session — just keep swiping them away.
What if an app will not close when I swipe it?
If swiping does not work, the app may be frozen. Try force-closing it instead by holding your finger on the app card until a menu appears, then select the force-close option. If that does not work, restart your entire iPad.