Close apps by swiping up from the bottom of your screen

To close an app on iPhone, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and pause in the middle. You will see all your open apps displayed as cards. Find the app you want to close, then swipe it up and off the top of the screen. The app will shut down immediately.

This method works on all modern iPhones with Face ID — that is, iPhone X and newer models. If you have an older iPhone with a home button, you can double-press the home button instead to see your open apps, then swipe up on the app card to close it.

You do not need to close apps regularly to keep your iPhone running well. iOS manages background activity automatically, and closed apps use no battery or data. Most people close apps only when one is frozen or behaving strangely.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to see all open apps, then swipe any app card upward to close it.
  • On iPhones with a home button, double-press the home button instead, then swipe up on the app you want to close.
  • Closing apps is not necessary for performance — iOS handles background apps efficiently on its own.
  • Close an app only if it is frozen, crashing, or using unexpected amounts of battery or data.
  • Force-closing an app (holding the app icon until a menu appears, then tapping "Remove App") is different from closing it normally and should only be done if the app will not respond.

What happens when you close an app

When you close an app by swiping it away, the app stops running and exits your memory. Any unsaved work in that app is usually lost, so close only when you are finished using it or when it is not responding.

Closed apps do not run in the background, but they also do not stay "closed" permanently. The next time you tap the app icon, it opens fresh. If the app was in the middle of a task — like downloading a file or uploading a photo — that task stops when you close it.

When to close an app versus force-closing it

Normal closing (swiping the app away) is what you do when you are done using an app or want to free up memory. It is the standard way to exit.

Force-closing is different and should only be used when an app is frozen, not responding to taps, or crashing repeatedly. To force-close an app, hold your finger on the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap "Remove App" and select "Remove from Home Screen" — or on some iPhones, tap and hold, then swipe up on the app preview. Force-closing can interrupt tasks the app was performing, so use it only when the app is stuck.

Closing multiple apps at once

If you want to close several apps quickly, swipe up from the bottom to see all open apps, then swipe up on each one individually. There is no button to close all apps at once, so you will need to close them one by one.

Some people close all their apps before shutting down their iPhone, but this is not necessary. Your iPhone handles this automatically when you power it off.

Apps that should stay open in the background

Some apps are designed to run in the background even when you are not looking at them. Music apps, navigation apps, fitness trackers, and messaging services often need to stay active to work properly. Closing these apps will stop them from working — for example, closing Apple Maps while using turn-by-turn navigation will stop the directions.

If you close an app that needs to run in the background, it will not automatically restart. You will need to open it again manually. Check the app's settings if you want to control what it does in the background without closing it completely.

Troubleshooting apps that will not close

If swiping an app away does not work, your iPhone may be temporarily stuck. Try swiping up again more slowly, making sure you start from the very bottom edge of the screen. If the app still will not close, restart your iPhone by holding the side button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off.

If a specific app repeatedly will not close or keeps crashing, try deleting and reinstalling it. Open the App Store, search for the app, tap your profile icon in the top right, find the app in your list, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it. This often fixes apps that are behaving strangely.

Checking which apps are using the most battery

If your battery is draining quickly, you can see which apps are using the most power. Go to Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Usage. The list shows which apps have used the most battery in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. Apps at the top of this list are the ones consuming the most energy.

If an app is using far more battery than it should, close it and consider reinstalling it. Occasionally an app will develop a bug that makes it run constantly in the background, draining your battery even when you are not using it. Closing and reinstalling usually fixes this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to close apps to save battery?

No. iOS manages background activity automatically, and closed apps use no battery. Closing apps does not meaningfully extend your battery life. If your battery is draining quickly, check Settings > Battery > Battery Usage to see which apps are actually consuming power, then close only those ones if needed.

What is the difference between closing an app and deleting it?

Closing an app stops it from running but keeps it installed on your iPhone. Deleting an app removes it completely from your phone. You can reinstall a deleted app from the App Store anytime. Closing is temporary; deleting is permanent until you reinstall.

Will closing an app delete my data or messages?

Closing an app does not delete your data. Messages, photos, and other information stay on your iPhone. However, if you were in the middle of typing something in the app when you closed it, that unsaved text will be lost. Most apps save your work automatically, but check before closing if you have made changes.

Can I close an app while it is downloading or uploading?

Yes, but the download or upload will stop. If you close an app that is in the middle of downloading a file, that download will pause or cancel. Some apps can resume downloads when you reopen them, but not all. Check the app's behavior before closing it during a download.

Why does an app keep opening even after I close it?

Some apps are set to launch automatically when you restart your iPhone or when certain conditions are met. If an app keeps reopening, go to Settings, find the app's name, and look for background activity or launch settings. You can also try force-closing the app and then deleting and reinstalling it if the problem continues.