The fastest way to close an app on iPhone
To close an 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. This works on any iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X and newer). If you have an iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), double-tap the home button instead to see your open apps, then swipe up on the app you want to close.
The app closes immediately and returns you to your home screen or the app you were using before. You do not need to confirm or tap anything else — the swipe action closes it completely.
Key Takeaways
- On newer iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see open apps, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
- On older iPhones with a home button, double-tap the home button to see open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
- Closing an app does not delete it — it just stops it from running in the background.
- Most apps do not need to be manually closed, but closing one can help if it is frozen or using too much battery.
How to close an app on iPhone with Face ID
Start at your home screen or inside any open app. Place your finger at the very bottom of the screen and swipe upward in one smooth motion. Hold the swipe for about half a second — do not release immediately. You will see a row of app cards appear, showing all the apps currently running in the background.
Find the app you want to close in this row. Swipe up on that app card — the same upward motion you just used. The card will disappear, and the app closes. If you have many apps open, you can swipe left or right to scroll through the cards and find the one you need.
If you swipe up too quickly or too slowly, you might open Control Center instead (which shows your brightness and volume controls). If that happens, just swipe down to close Control Center and try again with a slower, more deliberate upward swipe from the very bottom edge.
How to close an app on iPhone with a home button
Press the home button twice quickly — this is called a double-tap. You will see a row of app cards appear at the bottom of the screen, showing the apps you have used recently. These are the apps currently running in the background.
Look for the app you want to close in this row. Swipe up on that app card. The card will disappear, and the app closes. You can swipe left or right to see more apps if the one you want is not visible in the current view.
After you close the app, press the home button once to return to your home screen, or just tap anywhere on the screen to go back to what you were doing.
When you actually need to close an app
Most of the time, you do not need to manually close apps on iPhone. The operating system manages background apps automatically and stops them from using battery or memory when you are not using them. Closing an app does not free up permanent storage space — it only stops it from running right now.
Close an app if it is frozen and not responding to taps, or if it is draining your battery noticeably. You can tell an app is draining battery by going to Settings, tapping Battery, then Battery Usage. If one app is using far more battery than others, close it and see if the problem improves.
If an app keeps crashing or behaving strangely, close it, wait a few seconds, and open it again. This often fixes temporary glitches. If the problem continues, try restarting your iPhone instead — this closes all apps at once and can solve deeper issues.
The difference between closing and deleting an app
Closing an app stops it from running right now but does not remove it from your iPhone. The app icon stays on your home screen, and you can open it again whenever you want. All your data inside the app — saved games, messages, photos, settings — remains exactly as it was.
Deleting an app removes it from your iPhone entirely. You have to download it again from the App Store if you want it back. Some apps, like Mail and Settings, cannot be deleted because they are built into iOS.
If you want to remove an app from your home screen but keep it on your iPhone, you can hide it instead. Press and hold the app icon, tap Remove App, then choose Remove from Home Screen. The app stays on your iPhone and you can find it in the App Library, but it no longer takes up space on your home screen.
Troubleshooting if an app will not close
If you swipe up on an app card and nothing happens, try again with a slower, more deliberate swipe. Make sure you are swiping upward on the app card itself, not on the background. If you are using an iPhone with a home button and the app does not close after swiping up, double-tap the home button again to refresh the list.
If an app still will not close, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button (or top and bottom buttons on older models) until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press the side button again to turn it back on. This forces all apps to close and often fixes stubborn problems.
If a specific app keeps freezing or refusing to close, try deleting and reinstalling it. Open the App Store, search for the app, and tap Get to download it again. This replaces the broken version with a fresh copy from Apple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app save battery?
Closing an app saves battery only if that app was actively running in the background and using power. Most apps do not drain battery when you are not using them, so closing them makes little difference. If you notice one app using much more battery than others in Settings, closing it may help.
Will closing an app delete my data?
No. Closing an app does not delete any data. Your saved games, messages, photos, and settings stay on your iPhone. When you open the app again, everything will be exactly as you left it.
What is the difference between closing an app and force-quitting it?
Closing an app using the app switcher is the normal way to stop it. Force-quitting is a stronger action you use when an app is completely frozen and will not respond. To force-quit, open the app switcher, press and hold the app card for a few seconds, then tap Force Quit from the menu that appears.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
Yes. Open the app switcher, then swipe up on each app card you want to close. You can close them one at a time, or use two fingers to swipe up on two cards simultaneously if you want to close them faster.
Why does my iPhone show apps in the switcher even after I close them?
The app switcher shows recently used apps, not just currently running ones. An app can appear in the switcher even after you close it. This is normal and does not mean the app is still running.