The three ways to close an app on iPad

You can close an app on iPad in three ways: swipe it away from the multitasking view, use the dock, or simply open a different app. The method you choose depends on what you're doing and which iPad model you have. Most people use the swipe method because it's the fastest once you know where to find the multitasking view.

Closing an app doesn't delete it — it just stops the app from running in the background. The app stays on your home screen and you can open it again whenever you want. On newer iPads, many apps pause automatically when you switch away, so closing them manually is often optional rather than necessary.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe left from the right edge on older models) to see all open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
  • On iPad Pro models with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the app switcher faster.
  • Closing an app removes it from memory but does not delete the app from your iPad or erase any data it saved.
  • You do not need to close apps regularly — iPad manages background activity automatically, and closing apps does not significantly extend battery life.

Closing apps using the multitasking view on newer iPads

On iPad Pro models from 2018 onward and iPad Air models from 2020 onward, swipe up from the bottom center of the screen with one finger. Hold the swipe for a moment until you see a row of app cards appear. Each card shows a thumbnail of the app as it was when you last used it.

Once the multitasking view is open, find the app you want to close and swipe up on its card. The card will disappear, and the app closes. You can close multiple apps in one session by swiping up on each one. When you're done, swipe down or tap the home screen to exit the multitasking view.

Closing apps on older iPad models

On iPad Air 2 and earlier, iPad mini 4 and earlier, and regular iPad (5th generation and earlier), double-tap the home button to open the multitasking view. You'll see a row of app cards at the bottom of the screen. Swipe left or right to scroll through the apps if you don't see the one you want to close.

Once you find the app, swipe up on its card to close it. The card will disappear from the multitasking view. You can close several apps this way before exiting the multitasking view by pressing the home button or tapping the screen below the app cards.

Using the dock to close apps quickly

If an app is pinned to your dock (the row of apps at the bottom of the home screen), you can close it without opening the multitasking view. Long-press the app icon in the dock until a menu appears. Tap "Remove from Dock" to take it out of the dock, or look for a "Close" or "Quit" option if your iPad shows one.

This method is faster if you only need to close one or two apps and you know they're in the dock. However, removing an app from the dock doesn't close it — it just hides the shortcut. To actually close the app, you still need to use the multitasking view method described above.

What happens when you close an app

Closing an app stops it from running and removes it from your device's active memory. Any unsaved work in that app is usually lost, though most modern apps save your progress automatically as you work. The app's icon remains on your home screen, and all data the app has stored (photos, notes, settings, login information) stays on your iPad.

When you close an app, you're not uninstalling it or deleting any files. You're simply telling iPad to stop running that particular program. Opening the app again later will launch it fresh, and it will load any saved data from before you closed it.

When you actually need to close apps

You don't need to close apps regularly to keep your iPad running well. iPad's operating system manages memory automatically and pauses apps that aren't in use. Closing apps manually won't noticeably extend your battery life or speed up your device in most cases.

Close an app if it's frozen or not responding — closing and reopening it often fixes the problem. Close an app if you want to force it to reload from scratch, which can help if it's displaying outdated information. Close an app if you're concerned about privacy and want to make sure it's not running in the background, though you can also check which apps have permission to run in the background in Settings under General > Background App Refresh.

Troubleshooting: App won't close

If an app won't close using the standard swipe method, try force-closing it instead. On iPad Pro with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom and hold until the app switcher appears, then swipe up on the app card and hold for a moment longer. On older models, double-tap the home button, find the app, and swipe up firmly on its card.

If the app still won't close, restart your iPad. Press and hold the power button and volume button together (or just the power button on older models) until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the device. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This clears the app from memory even if the normal close method didn't work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps save battery on iPad?

Not significantly. iPad pauses apps automatically when you switch away from them, so they use very little power in the background. Closing apps manually might save a small amount of battery in specific cases — for example, if an app has a bug that keeps it running even when paused — but for most users, the difference is negligible.

Will closing an app delete my data?

No. Closing an app does not delete any data it has saved. Your photos, notes, messages, login information, and settings all stay on your iPad. The only thing that disappears is any work you were doing in the app that you hadn't saved before closing it.

What's the difference between closing an app and deleting it?

Closing an app stops it from running but leaves it on your iPad. Deleting an app removes it from your device entirely, including all the data it stored. To delete an app, long-press its icon on the home screen and tap "Remove App," then choose "Delete App." Closing is temporary; deleting is permanent.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

You can close them quickly one after another using the multitasking view, but you can't select and close several at the same time. Open the multitasking view, then swipe up on each app card you want to close. It takes only a few seconds to close several apps this way.

Why does my app keep running after I close it?

Some apps are designed to run in the background even after you close them — for example, music apps, GPS navigation, and messaging apps. If you don't want an app running in the background, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, find the app, and toggle it off. This stops it from running when you're not actively using it.