Why and how to close apps on your iPhone
Closing apps that are running in the background frees up memory and can help your iPhone run faster, especially if you notice it slowing down or apps crashing. Unlike older phones, iPhones do not require you to close every app you open — the system manages most of this automatically. But when an app is misbehaving, draining battery, or you straightforward want to force it to stop, you can close it manually in seconds.
The method depends on which iPhone model you have. All iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and newer) use one gesture. iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier) use a different one. Both take about five seconds once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- iPhones with Face ID close apps by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding, then swiping up on the app card you want to close.
- iPhones with a home button close apps by double-tapping the home button and swiping up on the app preview.
- Closing an app does not delete it — it only stops it from running in the background.
- You do not need to close apps regularly; close them only when one is not responding or draining battery noticeably.
- If an app keeps crashing after you close it, force-restarting your iPhone often fixes the problem better than closing the app alone.
Closing apps on iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer
Start at the home screen or any open app. Swipe up slowly from the very bottom of the screen — the edge where the home indicator bar sits — and hold your finger there for about one second. You will see a row of app cards appear, showing all the apps currently running in the background.
Find the app you want to close. Swipe left or right across the cards to find it if it is not visible. Once you see it, swipe upward on that app card. The card will disappear, and the app is now closed. Repeat for any other apps you want to stop.
If you want to close all open apps at once, swipe up on each card one by one. There is no button to close them all in one tap, so you will need to do this manually if you want a clean slate.
Closing apps on iPhone 8 and earlier (with home button)
Press the home button twice quickly — not a long press, just two quick taps. The screen will show a row of app previews, each one displaying a thumbnail of what that app looked like when you last used it.
Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close. Once you see it, swipe upward on that app preview card. It will disappear from the list, and the app is closed. You can close multiple apps this way by swiping up on each one.
After you are done, press the home button once to return to your home screen.
What closing an app actually does
Closing an app stops it from running in the background and frees up the memory it was using. It does not delete the app from your phone, remove any data it stored, or sign you out of accounts. The next time you tap the app icon, it will open normally.
Modern iPhones are designed to manage background apps efficiently, so closing apps is not something you need to do every day. iOS automatically pauses apps that are not in use and stops them from draining battery. You should close an app mainly when it is misbehaving, using too much battery, or you want to force it to restart fresh.
When to close an app instead of just leaving it
Close an app if it is frozen or not responding to taps. Closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem without restarting your whole phone. If an app keeps crashing every time you open it, close it, wait a few seconds, and open it again — sometimes this clears a temporary error.
If you notice your battery draining unusually fast and you suspect one app is the culprit, close it and see if battery life improves over the next hour. Some apps have bugs that cause them to run constantly in the background even when you are not using them.
You may also want to close apps before putting your phone in low-power mode, since fewer background apps means your battery lasts longer. However, this is optional — low-power mode itself handles most of this automatically.
Force-restarting your iPhone when closing an app is not enough
If an app keeps crashing even after you close and reopen it, or if your whole iPhone feels sluggish and closing apps does not help, a force restart often works better than closing individual apps. A force restart clears temporary memory and stops all running processes at once, giving your phone a fresh start.
On iPhone X and newer, press and quickly release the volume up button, then press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears. Keep holding until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears — this takes about 10 seconds. On iPhone 8 and earlier, press and hold both the top (or side) button and the home button together until the Apple logo appears.
A force restart is safe and does not erase anything on your phone. Use it when closing apps alone does not fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my iPhone battery last longer?
Closing apps has a small effect on battery life, but not as much as people think. iOS pauses background apps automatically, so most of them are not draining power anyway. Closing apps helps most when one specific app has a bug and is running constantly in the background. If your battery drains fast, check Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power, then close the ones that seem out of place.
Will closing an app delete my data or sign me out?
No. Closing an app only stops it from running — it does not erase saved data, photos, messages, or login information. The next time you open the app, everything will be exactly as you left it. You will stay signed in unless the app itself signs you out.
What is the difference between closing an app and deleting it?
Closing an app stops it temporarily and frees up memory. Deleting an app removes it from your phone entirely — you would have to read it again from the App Store to use it. To delete an app, long-press its icon on the home screen, tap "Remove App", and confirm. Closing is temporary; deleting is permanent.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
No, you have to close them one at a time by swiping up on each app card. There is no bulk-close option on iPhone. If you want to close all open apps, swipe up on each card individually — it usually takes less than a minute.
Why does my app keep crashing even after I close it?
If an app crashes repeatedly, the problem is usually not that it is still running — it is a bug in the app itself or a conflict with your iPhone's system. Try closing the app, waiting 10 seconds, and opening it again. If it still crashes, check the App Store to see if an update is available. If the app is up to date, try a force restart of your iPhone, which often clears the underlying issue better than closing the app alone.