Swipe up from the bottom to see all open apps

To close an app on iPhone 13, you need to see which apps are running in the background. Swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and pause for a moment — do not swipe all the way to the home screen. You will see a row of app cards showing every app you have opened recently.

Each card represents one app. The apps appear in the order you used them, with the most recent on the left. You can swipe left and right through the cards to find the app you want to close.

Swipe up on the app card to force it closed

Once you can see the app cards, find the one you want to close. Press and hold on that card, then swipe upward. The card will disappear from the screen, and the app will shut down completely.

You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on several cards in a row. There is no limit to how many you close at one time, and closing apps does not delete them — they remain installed on your phone and you can open them again whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to see all your open apps as cards.
  • Swipe upward on any card to close that app completely.
  • Closing an app does not uninstall it or delete any of your data — it only stops the app from running in the background.
  • You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on several cards in quick succession.
  • If an app is frozen or not responding, closing it and reopening it usually fixes the problem.

When to close apps versus leaving them open

Most apps do not need to be closed manually. iPhone 13 manages background apps automatically and closes them when your phone needs memory. Closing an app only becomes necessary when an app is frozen, crashing, or using battery faster than normal.

If an app stops responding to taps, closes on its own, or drains your battery noticeably, close it and reopen it. This forces the app to start fresh and usually resolves temporary glitches. You can also close an app before a long period without charging if you notice it running in the background.

The difference between closing and force-closing an app

Closing an app normally (by swiping up on the card) is a clean shutdown. The app saves its state and closes gracefully. Force-closing is different — it means the app is not responding and you have to shut it down without waiting.

On iPhone 13, you force-close an app the same way you close a normal app: swipe up on the card. There is no separate force-close button. If an app is completely frozen and will not respond to any taps, swiping up on its card will still close it, even though the app did not shut down on its own.

How to close apps without using the swipe gesture

If the swipe gesture is not working or you prefer a different method, you can use Siri to close apps. Press and hold the side button to set up Siri, then say "Close [app name]" — for example, "Close Safari" or "Close Messages". Siri will close the app when ready.

This method works for any app that is currently open. It is useful if your screen is unresponsive or if you want to close an app without looking at your phone.

Apps that should stay open and running

Some apps are designed to run in the background all the time. Maps, Music, and Health apps often keep running so they can track your location, play audio, or record fitness data. Closing these apps stops their background functions, so avoid closing them unless they are malfunctioning.

If you have set up notifications for an app, closing it will stop those notifications from arriving until you open the app again. Check your notification settings in the Settings app if you want an app to send alerts without staying open in the app switcher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps make my iPhone 13 faster?

Closing apps has a small effect on speed and battery life, but only if the app was actively running in the background. Most apps do not drain resources when closed. If your phone feels slow, restarting it usually helps more than closing individual apps.

Will closing an app delete my data or messages?

No. Closing an app does not delete anything. Your messages, photos, notes, and all other data stay on your phone. The app straightforward stops running until you open it again.

What if I close an app by accident?

You can open it again when ready by tapping its icon on the home screen or in the App Library. The app will reopen exactly where you left it, with all your data intact.

Can I close the system apps that came with iPhone 13?

Yes. You can close Safari, Mail, Messages, and other built-in apps using the same swipe-up method. They will reopen the next time you tap their icon. You cannot uninstall most system apps, but you can close them whenever you want.

Why does an app keep opening on its own?

An app may reopen if it is set to launch at startup, if another app is triggering it, or if a notification is opening it. Check Settings > General > Background App Refresh to turn off background activity for apps you do not use often.