Why and when to close apps on your iPhone
Closing an app on your iPhone stops it from running in the background and using your phone's memory and battery. Most of the time, iOS handles this automatically — when you switch to a different app, the one you left pauses and uses almost no power. You do not need to close apps constantly to keep your phone working well.
There are real reasons to close an app, though. If an app is behaving strangely — freezing, crashing, or draining your battery visibly — closing and reopening it often fixes the problem. If an app is stuck on a loading screen or not responding to taps, closing it is usually the first step. You might also close an app if you want to sign out of it without uninstalling it, or if you notice it is using location or your microphone when you do not expect it to.
The steps differ slightly depending on which iPhone model you have, because older iPhones with a home button close apps differently than newer ones without a home button.
Key Takeaways
- You do not need to close apps regularly — iOS pauses them automatically when you switch away, and they use almost no battery sitting in the background.
- Close an app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone X and newer) or double-tapping the home button and swiping up (iPhone 8 and older).
- If an app is frozen, crashing, or draining battery visibly, closing and reopening it usually fixes the problem.
- Closing an app does not delete it or sign you out — it just stops it from running until you open it again.
How to close apps on iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer
These models do not have a home button. To close an app, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen. You need to start your swipe at the bottom edge itself — swiping from the middle of the screen will not work. Hold your finger down and drag upward in one smooth motion until the app shrinks and disappears.
When you swipe up, you will see all your open apps displayed as cards stacked on top of each other. You can close one app or multiple apps at once. To close a single app, swipe up on that app's card. To close several apps, swipe up on each one. The apps you close will disappear from this view, and iOS will stop running them.
If you want to close all your open apps at once, swipe up on each card one by one. There is no button to close them all in a single tap — you have to do them individually, though it only takes a few seconds.
How to close apps on iPhone 8, 7, 6, and older models with a home button
These iPhones have a physical home button at the bottom. To close an app, double-tap the home button — tap it twice quickly. Your open apps will appear as cards on the screen, similar to the newer models.
Once you see the cards, swipe up on the app you want to close. The card will disappear, and the app will stop running. 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.
What happens when you close an app
Closing an app stops it from running, but it does not delete the app from your phone or erase any of your data inside it. The next time you open the app, it will still have all your messages, photos, settings, and login information exactly as you left them. You are not signing out or losing anything by closing an app.
The app also does not stay closed permanently. As soon as you tap its icon to open it again, it launches normally. Closing is temporary — it just pauses the app until you need it.
When closing an app actually solves the problem
If an app is frozen and will not respond to taps, close it and reopen it. This clears whatever error the app hit and usually gets it working again. If an app keeps crashing — closing and when ready reopening on its own — close it, wait a few seconds, then open it again. Sometimes waiting a moment before reopening helps.
If you notice an app is draining your battery much faster than usual, close it and see whether your battery drain slows down over the next hour. If it does, the app had a problem. If your battery keeps draining at the same rate, the issue is something else — possibly a background process, location services, or a setting you changed.
Closing an app does not fix problems caused by your phone's storage being full, your iOS version being outdated, or a setting you turned on by mistake. For those issues, you will need to take different steps — like updating iOS, freeing up storage space, or checking your settings.
The difference between closing an app and force-quitting it
Closing an app (the steps above) is the normal way to stop it. Force-quitting is a stronger action you use only when an app is completely frozen and will not close normally. To force-quit an app, follow the same steps as closing it, but hold your finger on the app card for a moment longer before swiping up. You will see a red minus sign appear — that means the app is being force-quit.
Force-quitting is safe and does not damage your phone or the app. Use it when an app is stuck and will not respond to the normal close gesture. For everyday closing, the regular swipe-up method is all you need.
Do you really need to close apps regularly
No. iOS is designed to manage apps in the background without your help. When you switch away from an app, iOS automatically pauses it and puts it into a low-power state where it uses almost no battery or memory. Closing apps constantly does not make your iPhone faster or last longer on a charge — in fact, constantly closing and reopening apps uses more battery than just leaving them paused.
The only reason to close an app regularly is if you want to sign out of it for privacy reasons — for example, closing a social media app so no one else can open it and see your account. Otherwise, close apps only when they are misbehaving or when you notice them using resources unexpectedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app delete my data or sign me out?
No. Closing an app stops it from running, but all your data, messages, photos, and login information stay saved inside the app. When you open it again, everything is exactly as you left it. You remain signed in unless you manually sign out through the app's settings.
Will closing apps make my iPhone faster?
Not noticeably. iOS pauses apps automatically when you are not using them, so they are not slowing down your phone. Closing apps constantly might actually use more battery because your phone has to reload them from scratch each time you open them. Close apps only if they are frozen or misbehaving.
What if an app will not close?
If swiping up does not close an app, try force-quitting it instead. Hold your finger on the app card for a moment longer before swiping up — you should see a red minus sign. If that does not work, restart your iPhone by turning it off and back on, which will close all apps at once.
Can I close multiple apps at the same time?
You can close them one after another quickly, but not all at once with a single gesture. Swipe up on each app card individually. If you want to close everything, the fastest way is to restart your iPhone, which closes all apps and clears your phone's memory.
Should I close apps before I charge my iPhone?
No. Closing apps before charging makes no difference to how your phone charges. Charge your iPhone whenever you want, whether apps are open or closed. iOS manages background apps efficiently, so they will not interfere with charging.