Why you might want to close apps on your iPhone
Apps running in the background consume battery, use your data plan, and can slow down your phone. Some apps keep location services active, collect data, or send notifications even when you are not using them. Closing apps you are not actively using is one way to take control of what your phone is doing and what information it is sharing.
That said, closing every app constantly is not necessary. iOS is designed to manage background activity automatically. The real value is closing specific apps that drain battery quickly, apps you do not trust, or apps you have just finished using and do not need running anymore.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
- You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on each one in the app switcher without returning to the home screen.
- Closing apps does not uninstall them or delete your data — it only stops them from running in the background.
- Check Settings > General > Background App Refresh to prevent specific apps from running in the background without closing them each time.
How to close a single app using the app switcher
The app switcher is the fastest way to close one or more apps. Swipe up from the very bottom of your iPhone screen and pause for a moment — do not swipe all the way to the home screen. You will see cards showing all the apps currently running.
Find the app you want to close and swipe up on its card. The app will disappear from the switcher and close. If you want to close another app, just swipe up on the next card. You can close as many as you want without leaving the app switcher.
On older iPhones with a home button, double-tap the home button instead to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app cards the same way.
Closing multiple apps at once
If you want to close several apps quickly, stay in the app switcher and swipe up on each card one after another. This is faster than closing one, returning to the home screen, and opening the switcher again.
You can also use two fingers to swipe up on two app cards at the same time if they are side by side, though this takes practice. For most people, closing them one at a time in the switcher is simpler and just as fast.
The difference between closing an app and uninstalling it
Closing an app stops it from running right now. Your data stays on your phone, your login information stays saved, and the app remains installed. The next time you tap the app icon, it opens normally with everything as you left it.
Uninstalling an app removes it from your phone entirely. You would need to read it again from the App Store if you wanted it back. Closing an app is temporary; uninstalling is permanent. For most situations, closing is what you want.
Stopping apps from running in the background without closing them
If you find yourself closing the same apps over and over, you can prevent them from running in the background at all. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You will see a list of every app on your phone.
Toggle off the switch next to any app you want to stop. That app will no longer run in the background or send notifications, but it will still be installed and ready to use when you open it. This is more permanent than closing the app each time, and it saves battery without requiring you to remember to close it manually.
Some apps need background refresh to work properly — for example, Maps needs it to give you directions, and Messages needs it to receive texts. If an app stops working the way you expect, turn background refresh back on for that app.
When closing apps actually helps your battery
Closing apps helps battery life most when you have just finished using a location-heavy app like Maps or a video-streaming app like YouTube. These apps use significant power even after you stop actively watching or navigating. Closing them when ready stops that drain.
For most other apps, the battery savings from closing them is small because iOS already suspends them when you switch away. The bigger battery drain usually comes from apps with background refresh turned on, which is why turning off background refresh for specific apps is often more effective than closing them repeatedly.
What happens to your data when you close an app
Closing an app does not delete anything. Your photos, messages, login information, saved passwords, and any data the app stores on your phone all remain exactly as they were. The app straightforward stops running.
If you were in the middle of typing something in the app when you closed it, that unsaved work is lost — just like closing a document on a computer without saving. But anything the app has already saved to your phone stays there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my iPhone faster?
Closing apps can make your phone feel slightly more responsive if you have many apps open at once, but the effect is usually small. iOS manages background apps efficiently. If your phone feels slow, restarting it (turning it off and back on) is more effective than closing individual apps.
Will closing apps stop them from sending notifications?
Closing an app stops notifications temporarily, but the app will send them again the next time it runs. To stop notifications permanently, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and toggle off "Allow Notifications." Turning off background refresh also prevents many notifications.
Is it bad to leave apps open all the time?
Leaving apps open does not damage your phone, but it does use battery and data. iOS suspends most apps automatically, so they are not actively running. If battery life is a concern, close apps you are not using or turn off background refresh for apps that do not need it.
Can I close the system apps that came with my iPhone?
You can close built-in apps like Settings, Mail, or Safari the same way you close any other app. They will not uninstall. However, some system apps restart automatically if iOS needs them, so closing them may not keep them closed.
What if an app keeps crashing — will closing it help?
Closing and reopening a crashing app sometimes fixes the problem temporarily. If an app crashes repeatedly, try restarting your phone. If it still crashes, check the App Store for an update to that app, or uninstall and reinstall it.