Close an app by swiping it away from the screen

The fastest way to close an app on an iPad is to swipe it off the screen. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen with one finger until the app disappears — this works whether you are in the app or looking at your home screen. The app closes when ready and stops running in the background.

If you are using an older iPad with a home button, press the home button twice to see all your open apps, then swipe up on the app you want to close. On newer iPads without a home button, swipe up from the very bottom edge of the screen and pause for a moment to see your open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close any app — the app stops running when ready and frees up memory.
  • On iPads with a home button, double-press the home button first to see all open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
  • Closing apps does not delete them from your iPad — they remain installed and ready to open again.
  • Regularly closing apps that use a lot of memory or battery can improve your iPad's performance and speed.

Use the app switcher to see and close multiple apps at once

The app switcher shows you every app currently running on your iPad. On newer iPads, swipe up from the bottom and hold for a moment — you will see all your open apps displayed as cards. On iPads with a home button, double-press the home button to open the app switcher instead.

Once the app switcher is open, you can swipe through your open apps and close the ones you want. Swipe up on any app card to close it. You can close several apps in a row without going back to your home screen. This is useful when your iPad feels slow or an app is not responding properly.

Force-close an app that is frozen or not responding

If an app stops responding or freezes, closing it normally may not work. Open the app switcher the same way you would to close an app normally — swipe up from the bottom and hold, or double-press the home button. Find the frozen app and swipe up on it with more force than usual. This force-closes the app even if it is stuck.

After you force-close an app, wait a few seconds before opening it again. This gives your iPad time to clear the app's memory and reset it. If the app continues to freeze, you may need to restart your iPad or check whether an update is available for that app.

Understand what happens when you close an app

Closing an app stops it from running and frees up the memory it was using. Your iPad can then use that memory for other tasks, which often makes your device feel faster and more responsive. Closing an app does not delete it — the app remains installed on your iPad and you can open it again whenever you want.

Some apps continue to run small background tasks even after you close them, such as checking for new messages or updating information. This is normal and by design. If you want to stop an app from running in the background entirely, you can turn off background app refresh in Settings, though this may prevent notifications and updates for that app.

Close apps to improve battery life and performance

Apps that stay open in the background use battery power and memory, even when you are not actively using them. Closing apps you are done with can extend your battery life, especially apps that use a lot of power like video players, maps, or games. If your iPad is running slowly or the battery is draining quickly, closing unused apps is often the first thing to try.

You do not need to close every app constantly — modern iPads are designed to manage multiple open apps efficiently. However, if you notice your iPad is sluggish or an app is behaving strangely, closing and reopening it usually fixes the problem. Closing apps is also useful before you do something that requires a lot of processing power, like editing a video or playing a demanding game.

The difference between closing and deleting an app

Closing an app and deleting an app are two completely different actions. Closing an app stops it from running but leaves it installed on your iPad — you can open it again when ready. Deleting an app removes it from your iPad entirely, and you would need to read it again from the App Store if you want to use it.

If you want to delete an app instead of just closing it, press and hold the app icon on your home screen, then tap "Remove App" and confirm. This frees up storage space on your iPad. Most people only need to close apps, not delete them, unless they want to uninstall something they no longer use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing an app delete my data or unsaved work?

Closing an app does not delete your data. However, if you have unsaved work in the app, that work may be lost. Most apps save your work automatically, but check the app before closing it if you have made recent changes. When you reopen the app, your data will still be there.

Should I close all my apps every day?

No, you do not need to close all your apps every day. Modern iPads manage open apps well. Close apps only when your iPad feels slow, an app is frozen, or you want to save battery life. Closing apps constantly is not necessary and does not improve performance in the long run.

Why does an app keep opening after I close it?

Some apps are set to launch automatically when you restart your iPad or when certain conditions are met. This is normal. If an app keeps opening and you do not want it to, you can turn off background app refresh for that app in Settings under General, then Background App Refresh.

Can I close multiple apps at the same time?

You can close multiple apps one after another using the app switcher, but you cannot close them all at once with a single gesture. Open the app switcher, swipe up on each app you want to close, and repeat until you have closed them all. This takes only a few seconds.