The quickest way to close an app on iPhone
To close a running app on iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app card you want to close. On iPhone X and newer models, swipe up from the bottom and pause briefly to see all your open apps displayed as cards. On iPhone 8 and earlier, double-tap the home button instead to open the switcher.
The app you close will stop running in the background immediately. It will not delete any of your data or settings — the next time you open it, everything will be exactly as you left it. Closing an app is different from deleting it, which removes the app from your phone entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly to see all open apps as cards on iPhone X and newer, or double-tap the home button on iPhone 8 and earlier.
- Swipe up on any app card to close it — the app stops running but your data inside it stays saved.
- Closing apps does not free up storage space, but it can help if an app is frozen or behaving strangely.
- Most iPhones manage background apps automatically, so you rarely need to close apps unless one is misbehaving.
Step-by-step for iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer
Start with your home screen or any open app. Place your finger at the very bottom edge of the screen and swipe upward in one smooth motion. Hold your finger in place for about half a second — you will see the app switcher appear, showing thumbnail cards of all your open apps arranged in a grid or stack depending on your iPhone model.
Find the app you want to close and swipe upward on its card. The card will disappear, and the app is now closed. You can close multiple apps by repeating this step for each one. When you are done, swipe down or tap the home screen to exit the app switcher.
Step-by-step for iPhone 8 and earlier (including iPhone 7, 6S, 6)
Press the home button twice quickly — not a long press, just two quick taps. The app switcher will open, showing your running apps as cards along the bottom of the screen. Swipe left or right to scroll through the cards if you have more apps open than fit on one screen.
Tap and hold on the app card you want to close until a small red circle with a minus sign appears in the top corner. Tap that red circle to close the app. Alternatively, you can swipe upward on the app card itself to close it directly without waiting for the minus sign to appear.
When closing apps actually helps
Closing an app is most useful when an app is frozen, crashing, or behaving strangely. If an app stops responding to your taps, closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem because it forces the app to start fresh. This is different from restarting your entire phone, which takes longer but solves more serious issues.
You do not need to close apps regularly to keep your iPhone running well. Modern iPhones manage background apps automatically and will suspend or stop apps that are using too much battery or memory. Closing apps does not free up storage space on your phone — storage is only freed when you delete an app or remove files like photos and videos.
The difference between closing and force-quitting an app
Closing an app through the app switcher is a normal close. If an app is completely frozen and will not respond even after you close it and reopen it, you can force-quit it instead. Force-quitting is more aggressive and tells the app to stop immediately without saving any unsaved work.
To force-quit an app, open the app switcher the same way you would to close an app normally, then press and hold on the app card until options appear. Tap "Remove App" or "Force Quit" depending on your iPhone model. Most of the time, a normal close is enough — force-quit is only necessary if the app is truly stuck.
What happens to your data when you close an app
Closing an app does not delete any of your data. Messages you typed but did not send, photos you were editing, or notes you were writing will still be there the next time you open the app — as long as the app has not crashed. If an app crashes, you may lose unsaved work, which is why saving your progress as you go is a good habit.
Some apps automatically save your work in the background, so closing them is completely safe. Other apps only save when you explicitly tap a save button or close the app normally. If you are unsure whether an app saves automatically, close it and reopen it to check — your data will still be there if the app saved it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps make my iPhone faster?
Closing apps does not make your iPhone faster in most cases. Your iPhone manages background apps automatically and suspends ones you are not using. Closing an app only helps if that specific app is frozen, crashing, or using excessive battery. If your iPhone feels slow overall, restarting it is more effective than closing individual apps.
Will closing an app delete my messages or photos?
No. Closing an app does not delete any data stored inside it. Your messages, photos, notes, and other content remain saved. The only exception is unsaved work — if you were typing a message and did not send it, or editing a photo and did not save it, that unsaved work may be lost if the app crashes.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
You can close apps one at a time using the app switcher, but there is no built-in way to close all open apps simultaneously. You can swipe up on each app card individually, which takes only a few seconds if you have several apps open. Most people do not need to close all apps at once.
What if an app will not close?
If swiping up on an app card does not close it, try force-quitting instead. Press and hold on the app card until options appear, then tap "Remove App" or "Force Quit". If the app still will not close, restart your iPhone by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on.
Is it bad to leave apps running in the background?
No. Your iPhone is designed to handle background apps efficiently. Apps that are not actively in use are suspended and use very little battery or memory. You only need to close an app if it is misbehaving or if you want to ensure it is not running for privacy reasons.