The two ways to close an app on iPad

You close an app on iPad in one of two ways: swiping it away from the multitasking view, or using the app switcher. The first method is faster for closing one or two apps. The second works better if you want to see all your open apps at once before deciding which to close.

Both methods do the same thing — they remove the app from your device's active memory. This frees up processing power and RAM, which can help your iPad run faster if you have many apps open. Closing an app does not delete it from your iPad; the app stays installed and you can open it again anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
  • On older iPad models without Face ID, double-tap the home button instead to see all open apps, then swipe up on the ones you want to close.
  • Closing an app removes it from memory but does not delete it — you can reopen it from your home screen anytime.
  • Closing apps can improve iPad performance if you have many running at once, though modern iPads manage memory automatically.

Closing apps using the app switcher on newer iPads

On iPad models with Face ID (iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch from 2018 onward, and iPad Air from 2022 onward), swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold for about half a second. A row of app cards will appear, showing all your currently open apps. Each card displays a thumbnail of what the app looked like when you last used it.

Once the app switcher is open, find the app you want to close. Swipe up on its card — the same motion you use to scroll up on a webpage. The app card will disappear, and the app is now closed. You can close multiple apps one after another by swiping up on each card in turn.

If you have many apps open, you may need to scroll left or right within the app switcher to find the one you want. Swipe left or right across the app cards to see more.

Closing apps on older iPad models with a home button

If your iPad has a physical home button (iPad Air 2 and earlier, iPad mini 4 and earlier, or the standard iPad from 2017 and earlier), the process is different. Double-tap the home button — press it twice quickly. The app switcher will open, showing a row of app cards just like on newer models.

Swipe up on the app card you want to close. The card will disappear and the app is closed. You can close multiple apps by swiping up on each one. When you are done, press the home button once to return to your home screen.

When closing apps actually helps your iPad's performance

Modern iPads manage memory automatically, so you do not need to close apps constantly to keep your device running smoothly. However, closing apps can help in specific situations. If your iPad is running slowly, feels sluggish, or an app is frozen or crashing, closing that app and reopening it often fixes the problem.

If you have been using your iPad for hours without restarting it, and you notice it is running slower than usual, closing several apps can free up memory and improve performance. This is especially true if you have been streaming video, editing photos, or running other memory-intensive tasks.

Closing apps does not save battery life on iPad — the system suspends apps automatically when you switch away from them, so they use almost no power while in the background. You do not need to close apps to preserve battery.

The difference between closing an app and force-closing it

Closing an app normally (by swiping it away) is different from force-closing it. A normal close gives the app a moment to save its work and shut down cleanly. Force-closing stops the app when ready without that grace period.

You should force-close an app only if it is completely frozen and will not respond to taps. To force-close an app, open the app switcher, press and hold the app card for a few seconds until a menu appears, then tap "Remove App" or "Close". On older iPads with a home button, press and hold the app card until a red minus sign appears, then tap it.

What happens to your data when you close an app

Closing an app does not delete any of your data. Documents you were editing, photos you took, messages you wrote — all of that stays on your iPad. The next time you open the app, it will usually return you to where you left off, though some apps may need to reload.

If you were in the middle of typing something and had not saved it, closing the app may cause you to lose that unsaved work. Most modern apps save your work automatically as you type, but not all do. If you are worried about losing work, save it before closing the app.

Restarting your iPad instead of closing individual apps

If your iPad is running slowly and closing a few apps does not help, restarting the entire device often works better than closing apps one by one. A restart clears all apps from memory at once and gives your iPad a fresh start.

To restart your iPad, press and hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears. Your iPad will restart, and all apps will be closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps make my iPad battery last longer?

No. iPad suspends apps automatically when you switch away from them, so they use almost no battery power while running in the background. Closing apps does not extend battery life. If your battery is draining quickly, the problem is usually a specific app using power in the background, not the number of apps you have open.

Will I lose my data if I close an app?

No. Closing an app does not delete any files, photos, messages, or other data stored on your iPad. The app and all your information stay on your device. The only thing you might lose is unsaved work — text you typed but did not save before closing.

What is the difference between closing an app and deleting it?

Closing an app removes it from memory temporarily so it stops running. Deleting an app removes it from your iPad entirely, and you would need to reinstall it from the App Store to use it again. Closing is temporary; deleting is permanent.

Why is my app frozen and not responding?

An app can freeze if it runs out of memory, encounters a bug, or loses its connection. Try closing the app normally first by swiping it away. If it will not respond to that, force-close it by pressing and holding its card in the app switcher until a menu appears, then tap the remove option.

Can I close multiple apps at the same time?

You can close them quickly one after another using the app switcher, but not all at once with a single gesture. Open the app switcher, then swipe up on each app card you want to close. If you want to close everything, restarting your iPad is faster.