how to close apps on iphone

Managing open applications on your iPhone can greatly enhance your device's performance and battery life. Whether an app is misbehaving, running in the background, or you simply want to tidy up your device's interface, knowing how to close apps on iPhone is a useful skill.

Understanding App Multitasking on iPhone

Before diving into the steps on how to close apps on iPhone, it’s important to understand how iOS handles multitasking. Unlike desktop systems, iOS suspends apps in the background for efficiency and quick access. This means that although the apps may appear open, they’re usually not consuming significant resources unless they're performing specific tasks like playing music or using location services.

How to Close Recent Apps on iPhone

Closing apps on recent iPhone models, particularly those without a Home button, involves a simple swipe gesture. Here’s how to close apps on iPhone models with Face ID:

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen to bring up the app switcher.
Scroll through your open apps, then swipe left or right to find the app you'd like to close.
Once located, swipe up on the app’s preview to close it.

For iPhones with a Home button, double-clicking the Home button will invoke the app switcher, allowing you to perform the same swiping gesture to close your apps.

Why Won’t An App Close and What to Do?

Occasionally, you may find that an app refuses to close. This can be due to a software glitch or a more serious application problem. When a stubborn app won't close using the regular method, here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

Force Restart Your iPhone: This can resolve many minor software issues. The process can differ slightly depending on your iPhone model.
Update the App: Head over to the App Store and check if there’s an update available for the problematic app.
Reinstall the App: Delete the app from your phone and then reinstall it from the App Store.
Reset All Settings: This doesn’t delete your data, but it returns system settings to default, which might help in some cases.

Guide Steps: How to Close Apps on iPhone

Swipe up from the bottom (Face ID models) or double-press the Home button (Home button models) to access the app switcher.
View all open app previews in the multitasking view.
Swipe through to locate the app you wish to close.
Swipe up on the app’s preview to shut the app down.
Repeat for any additional apps you want to close.

FAQ

Can closing apps on iPhone improve battery life?

Yes, but only for apps that are aggressively using resources like location tracking. Regular suspensions mean most apps don’t consume battery when not in use, negating the need for frequent closures.

What happens if I swipe up all apps from the app switcher?

This simply closes the apps’ processes from running in the background; it doesn’t delete them nor impact your saved data within these apps.

Does iOS need active management like Android?

Not typically. iOS is robust at managing resources, meaning it efficiently handles inactive apps without user intervention.