Close apps by swiping them away or using your system settings
On most phones and computers, you close an open app by swiping it off the screen or selecting it from a list and choosing "close" or "quit". The exact steps depend on whether you use iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac — each system shows running apps differently and closes them in different ways. Closing an app stops it from using your device's memory and battery, which can speed up your system if many apps are running at once.
You do not need to close every app constantly. Modern operating systems manage background apps reasonably well on their own. But if your device feels slow, your battery drains quickly, or an app is frozen or misbehaving, closing it is often the fastest fix before you restart your device entirely.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see open apps, then swipe each one upward to close it.
- On Android, open the recent apps menu (usually a square icon or swipe from the bottom) and swipe each app away to close it.
- On Windows, right-click an app in the taskbar and select "Close window", or use Alt+F4 while the app is active.
- On Mac, click the red close button in the top-left corner of the app window, or press Command+Q to quit the app entirely.
- Closing an app frees up memory and battery but does not delete the app from your device or erase your data inside it.
How to close apps on iPhone
Swipe up from the very bottom of your iPhone screen and hold for a moment. You will see all your open apps displayed as cards. Swipe upward on any card to close that app. When you are done closing apps, swipe down or tap the home screen to return to your normal view.
If you have an older iPhone with a home button, double-press the home button instead. The open apps will appear in a row at the bottom of the screen. Swipe upward on each app to close it, then press the home button again to return to normal.
How to close apps on Android
Swipe up from the bottom of your screen, or tap the square icon in the bottom-right corner (the exact location varies by phone maker). This opens your recent apps list. Swipe each app upward or to the side to close it. Some Android phones also let you tap "Close all" to shut down every open app at once.
If you cannot find the recent apps button, check your phone's settings or user manual — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands place this button in slightly different spots. Once you find it, the process is the same: open the list and swipe apps away.
How to close apps on Windows
Right-click any app in your taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen) and select "Close window" or "Close all windows". Alternatively, click the app to bring it to the front, then press Alt+F4 on your keyboard. The app will close when ready.
You can also click the X button in the top-right corner of any app window. If an app is frozen and will not close, you may need to force-quit it using Task Manager — press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find the frozen app in the list, click it, and click "End task".
How to close apps on Mac
Click the red close button in the top-left corner of any app window. This closes that window but may leave the app running in the background. To fully quit the app, press Command+Q while the app is active, or click the app name in the menu bar and select "Quit [App Name]".
If an app is not responding, press Command+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit window. Select the frozen app and click "Force Quit". The app will close when ready, though you may lose any unsaved work in that app.
The difference between closing and force-quitting
When you close an app normally, it saves any open work and shuts down cleanly. Force-quitting skips the save step and stops the app when ready. Use force-quit only when an app is frozen or will not respond to normal close commands.
Closing an app also differs from uninstalling it. Closing stops the app from running right now but leaves it on your device. Uninstalling removes the app entirely. If you want to use the app again later, just close it — do not uninstall it unless you want it gone for good.
When to close apps and when to leave them running
Close an app if your device is slow, your battery is draining fast, or the app is frozen. You do not need to close apps after every use — leaving them open uses very little extra power on modern phones and computers. Closing apps constantly can actually be less efficient because your device has to reload them from scratch each time you open them.
If an app keeps crashing or behaving strangely, close it and reopen it. If that does not fix the problem, restart your entire device. Restarting clears your device's memory completely and often solves issues that closing individual apps does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my phone or computer faster?
Closing apps frees up memory, which can help if many apps are running at once. But modern devices manage background apps well, so you may not notice a difference unless your device was already struggling. If your device feels slow, restarting it usually helps more than closing individual apps.
Will closing an app delete my data or unsaved work?
Closing an app normally saves your work first, so your data is safe. Force-quitting skips the save step and may lose unsaved changes. Most apps also save your data to the cloud or to your device, so even if you lose unsaved work, your older versions are usually still there.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
On Android, many phones have a "Close all" button in the recent apps menu. On iPhone, Mac, and Windows, you must close apps one at a time. If you want to close everything quickly, restarting your device is faster.
What happens if I close an app I need?
Nothing bad happens. You can reopen the app anytime by tapping or clicking it again. Closing an app does not uninstall it or erase any of your data inside it — it just stops it from running right now.
Should I close apps before I turn off my device?
No. When you shut down your phone or computer, all running apps close automatically. You do not need to close them first. Restarting your device is actually a better way to clear everything at once than closing apps individually.