The fastest way to close an app depends on what device you're using
On most phones and computers, closing an app means removing it from your device's active memory so it stops running in the background. The method changes depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. Each system has a slightly different process, but they all take less than a second once you know where to look.
Closing an app is different from deleting it. When you close an app, it stays on your device and you can open it again later. When you delete an app, you remove it entirely. This guide covers closing only — keeping the app but stopping it from running.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or swipe left on an app in the app switcher to close it.
- On Android, tap the back button or swipe up on the app in the recent apps menu to close it.
- On Windows, click the X button in the top-right corner of the app window, or use Alt+F4 as a keyboard shortcut.
- On Mac, click the red close button in the top-left corner of the app window, or press Command+Q to close the app completely.
- Closing apps can free up device memory and battery, but modern phones manage background apps automatically so closing is not always necessary.
Closing apps on iPhone
On iPhone, the method depends on which model you have. If your iPhone has a home button (iPhone 8 or older), double-tap the home button to see all open apps, then swipe up on the app you want to close. If your iPhone does not have a home button (iPhone X or newer), swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment until you see all your open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
You will see a stack of app cards on your screen. Find the app you want to close, then swipe it upward off the screen. The app will close immediately. You can close multiple apps this way by swiping each one up in turn.
If you want to close an app while you are using it, you can also swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (on newer iPhones) or swipe left from the right edge (on older iPhones) to access the app switcher, then swipe up on the app card.
Closing apps on Android
On Android phones, the method varies slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer and Android version, but the most common way is to tap the recent apps button. This button is usually at the bottom of your screen — it looks like a square or three vertical lines. Tap it to see all your open apps displayed as cards.
Find the app you want to close and swipe it upward off the screen. The app will close. You can also tap the X button that appears on some app cards, though not all Android phones show this button.
Another way to close an app on Android is to press the back button while you are inside the app. This closes the app and takes you back to your home screen. The back button is usually at the bottom left of your screen and looks like a left-pointing arrow.
Closing apps on Windows
On Windows computers, the simplest way to close an app is to click the X button in the top-right corner of the app window. This button is usually red or gray and closes the app immediately.
If you prefer using your keyboard, press Alt+F4 while the app window is open. This keyboard shortcut works on almost all Windows apps and closes them without opening a menu. If the app has unsaved work, Windows will ask you whether you want to save before closing.
You can also close an app by right-clicking its name in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and selecting "Close window" from the menu that appears. This method is useful if you have multiple windows of the same app open and want to close only one.
Closing apps on Mac
On Mac computers, close an app by clicking the red button in the top-left corner of the app window. This is the close button and it closes the app immediately. The button is usually next to a yellow button (minimize) and a green button (maximize).
You can also close an app by pressing Command+Q while the app is open. This keyboard shortcut works on almost all Mac apps. If the app has unsaved work, the app will ask you to save before closing.
If an app is not responding and you cannot close it normally, press Command+Option+Escape to open the Force Quit menu. Find the app in the list, click it, then click "Force Quit". This closes the app even if it is frozen, though you will lose any unsaved work.
When you should and should not close apps
Modern phones and computers manage background apps automatically, so you do not need to close apps to save battery or memory in most cases. Your device will pause apps that are not in use and restart them when you need them. Closing apps manually rarely makes a noticeable difference in performance on newer devices.
You should close an app if it is using too much battery, if it is running slowly, or if it is behaving strangely. You can check which apps are using the most battery on iPhone by going to Settings > Battery, and on Android by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage. On Windows, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Escape and look at the CPU and Memory columns. On Mac, open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities and look at the CPU and Memory columns.
Closing an app does not delete it or remove it from your device. The app will still be on your phone or computer, and you can open it again at any time. If you want to remove an app entirely, you need to delete or uninstall it separately.
What happens when you close an app
When you close an app, it stops running and is removed from your device's active memory. Any data the app was processing is lost unless you saved it first. If the app was downloading something, the download will pause or stop.
Some apps save your place automatically, so when you open them again, you will be where you left off. Other apps start fresh each time you open them. This depends on how the app was designed, not on how you closed it.
Closing an app does not sign you out of it. If you were logged into an app before closing it, you will still be logged in when you open it again. To sign out of an app, you usually need to go to the app's settings or account menu and select a sign-out or log-out option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to close apps on my phone?
No, closing apps is not harmful to your phone. Modern phones are designed to handle closing and opening apps repeatedly. Closing an app does not damage your device or the app itself. You can close and reopen apps as often as you need without causing problems.
Will closing an app delete my data?
Closing an app will not delete your saved data or account information. Your photos, messages, and other data stored in the app will remain on your device. If you had unsaved work open in the app when you closed it, that unsaved work will be lost, but your saved files will be fine.
Why is my app still running after I closed it?
Some apps restart automatically after you close them, especially if they have notifications turned on or if they are set to run in the background. This is normal behavior. If an app keeps restarting and you do not want it to, go to your device's settings and turn off notifications or background activity for that app.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
On most phones, you can close multiple apps by swiping each one individually in the recent apps menu. On some Android phones, you can tap a "Close all" button to close all open apps at once. On computers, you can use Alt+Tab (Windows) or Command+Tab (Mac) to switch between apps and close each one separately.
What is the difference between closing and force quitting an app?
Closing an app is the normal way to stop it, and the app closes cleanly. Force quitting is used when an app is frozen or not responding, and it closes the app immediately without letting it save or clean up. Use force quit only when an app will not close normally.