Why you might need to close a program
Closing a program on your iPad means stopping it from running in the background. Most of the time, iPad programs close themselves when you switch to something else — you do not have to do anything. But sometimes a program freezes, drains your battery, or behaves strangely, and forcing it to close fixes the problem.
Your iPad has limited memory and processing power. When too many programs run at once, even in the background, your device slows down. Closing programs you are not using can make your iPad faster and your battery last longer.
Key Takeaways
- Most programs on iPad close automatically when you switch away from them, so you rarely need to force them shut.
- Swiping up from the bottom of the screen opens the app switcher, where you can see which programs are running and close them by swiping up on their preview.
- Force-closing a frozen program requires holding the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then releasing and waiting for the device to restart.
- If a program crashes repeatedly or drains battery unusually fast, closing it and reopening it often solves the problem without needing to restart your whole iPad.
Closing a program using the app switcher
The easiest way to close a program is through the app switcher — a screen that shows all your open programs at once. To open it, swipe up from the very bottom of your iPad screen and pause for a moment. You will see thumbnail images of each program you have used recently, stacked on top of each other.
Find the program you want to close and swipe up on its thumbnail. The program will disappear from the switcher and close completely. You can close multiple programs this way by swiping up on each one. When you are done, swipe down or tap the home screen to return to your normal view.
This method works on all modern iPads. If you have an older iPad with a home button, the app switcher works the same way — swipe up from the bottom and hold until the thumbnails appear.
Force-closing a frozen or stuck program
If a program stops responding or freezes, the app switcher method may not work. In that case, you need to force-close the program. This tells your iPad to shut it down when ready, even if it is not responding.
On an iPad without a home button, press and hold the power button (on the top or side of your device) and the volume down button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until you see the power-off slider appear on your screen — this usually takes about 10 seconds. Do not slide the power off. Instead, release both buttons and wait. Your iPad will restart automatically, and the frozen program will close.
On an iPad with a home button, press and hold the power button at the top until the power-off slider appears. Again, do not slide it off — just release and wait for the restart. This force-closes whatever program was causing the problem.
When closing programs actually helps
Closing programs works best when a single program is misbehaving. If one app freezes, drains your battery unusually fast, or crashes when you open it, close it and reopen it. Most of the time this fixes the problem without restarting your whole iPad.
Closing programs does not usually speed up your iPad the way it does on a computer. iPad programs are designed to pause when you switch away from them, so they use very little power or memory in the background. Closing them saves battery only if they are actively running or have a bug that keeps them awake.
If your iPad is slow or your battery drains quickly even after closing programs, the problem is usually something else — too many programs installed, not enough storage space, or a program with a genuine bug. Restarting your whole iPad often works better than closing individual programs in these cases.
Restarting your iPad versus closing programs
Restarting your iPad is different from closing a program. When you restart, your entire device shuts down and turns back on, which clears out everything running in memory. Closing a program only stops that one app.
If closing a misbehaving program does not fix the problem, restart your iPad. Press and hold the power button and volume down button together until the power-off slider appears. Slide it to the right to turn off your iPad. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This often solves problems that closing programs alone cannot fix.
Programs that run in the background
Some programs are designed to keep running even when you are not looking at them. Music apps, GPS navigation, fitness trackers, and messaging programs often run in the background so they can play sound, track your location, or alert you to new messages.
These programs use battery and memory even when you are using something else. If you want to stop them, close them through the app switcher the same way you would close any other program. They will stop running until you open them again. If a background program is draining your battery unusually fast, closing it and checking whether the battery drain improves can help you identify which app has a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to close programs to keep my iPad running well?
No. iPad programs pause automatically when you switch away from them, so they do not slow down your device the way open programs do on a computer. You only need to close a program if it is frozen, misbehaving, or draining your battery unusually fast.
What happens if I force-close a program I was using?
You will lose any work you have not saved. The program closes when ready and completely. When you reopen it, you start fresh. Always save your work before force-closing a program, or use the app switcher method instead, which closes the program more gently.
Can closing programs damage my iPad?
No. Closing programs through the app switcher is safe and designed to work this way. Force-closing is also safe — it is the same thing that happens when your iPad runs out of battery. You will not harm your device by closing programs.
Why does my program keep crashing even after I close it?
If a program crashes repeatedly, the problem is usually with the program itself, not your iPad. Try restarting the program. If it keeps crashing, restart your whole iPad. If it still crashes, the program may need an update — check the App Store to see if a newer version is available.
Should I close programs before I charge my iPad?
No. Closing programs before charging does not help your battery charge faster or last longer. Your iPad charges at the same speed whether programs are open or closed. You can charge your iPad while using it normally.