How to close an app on Apple TV

To close an app on an Apple TV device, swipe up from the bottom of the Siri Remote touchpad. This brings up the app switcher — a row of recently used apps displayed at the top of your screen. Find the app you want to close, swipe up on it, and it will shut down immediately.

If you are using an older Apple TV remote without a touchpad, press and hold the Menu button instead. This opens the app switcher in the same way. Locate the app, highlight it, and press the Play/Pause button to close it.

Apps on Apple TV do not stay running in the background the way they do on a phone. When you close an app this way, it stops completely. The next time you open it, it will start fresh.

How to close an app on iPhone or iPad

On an iPhone or iPad, close an app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. This opens the app switcher, showing thumbnails of your recently used apps. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close, then swipe up on its thumbnail to shut it down.

If you have an older iPhone with a home button, double-tap the home button instead to open the app switcher. Then swipe up on the app you want to close.

Closing an app this way stops it from running, but it does not delete the app from your device. The app remains installed and ready to open again whenever you need it.

How to close an app on Mac

On a Mac, close an app by clicking the red close button in the top-left corner of the app window. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q to quit the app immediately.

You can also right-click the app icon in the Dock and select "Quit" from the menu. If an app is not responding, force-quit it by pressing Command+Option+Escape, selecting the frozen app, and clicking "Force Quit."

When you close an app on Mac, it stops running but remains installed on your computer. You can reopen it anytime from the Applications folder or Spotlight search.

Key Takeaways

  • On Apple TV, swipe up from the bottom of the Siri Remote touchpad to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app you want to close.
  • On iPhone and iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the app switcher, then swipe up on the app thumbnail to close it.
  • On Mac, click the red close button in the top-left corner of the window or press Command+Q to quit an app.
  • Closing an app stops it from running but does not remove it from your device — the app remains installed for future use.
  • If an app is frozen or not responding on Mac, use Command+Option+Escape to force-quit it.

Why you might need to close an app

Closing an app can help free up memory and improve performance if your device is running slowly. It also stops an app from using battery power or data in the background, which is useful if an app is draining resources without you realizing it.

On Apple TV, closing unused apps keeps your device responsive and prevents the app switcher from becoming cluttered with too many open programs. On iPhone and iPad, closing apps can extend battery life during the day, though modern iOS devices manage background activity fairly well on their own.

When force-quitting is necessary

If an app freezes, stops responding, or displays an error message, force-quitting is often the fastest way to recover. On iPhone and iPad, force-quit by swiping up from the bottom and holding on the app thumbnail until options appear, then tap "Remove." On Mac, use Command+Option+Escape to open the Force Quit window.

After force-quitting, wait a few seconds before reopening the app. This gives your device time to clear the app's memory and reset. If the app continues to crash or freeze, try restarting your device entirely.

Differences between closing and deleting an app

Closing an app temporarily stops it from running but leaves it installed on your device. You can open it again immediately. Deleting an app removes it completely from your device, and you would need to reinstall it from the App Store if you want to use it again.

If you want to remove an app permanently, you delete it rather than close it. On iPhone and iPad, press and hold the app icon on your home screen and select "Remove App," then choose "Delete App." On Mac, drag the app to the Trash or use an app uninstaller. On Apple TV, highlight the app, press and hold the Siri Remote touchpad, and select "Delete."

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing an app delete my data or settings?

No. Closing an app does not delete any data, settings, or saved information. Your login details, preferences, and any content you created in the app remain intact. The next time you open the app, everything will be exactly as you left it.

Will closing an app stop notifications from that app?

Closing an app stops it from running, but notifications may still arrive depending on how the app is configured. To stop notifications entirely, you need to disable them in your device's settings rather than just closing the app.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

On iPhone and iPad, you can close multiple apps by opening the app switcher and swiping up on each app one at a time. There is no built-in way to close all apps simultaneously, but closing them individually takes only a few seconds.

What happens if I close an app while I'm in the middle of something?

If you close an app while working on something, unsaved changes will be lost. Most modern apps auto-save your work, but some do not. If you are worried about losing progress, save your work before closing the app.