The quickest way to close an app depends on your iPad model

On newer iPads with Face ID (iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch from 2018 onward, iPad Air 4 and later, iPad 7th generation and later), swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause for a moment until the app switcher appears. Then swipe up on the app card you want to close. On older iPads with a Home button, double-tap the Home button to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app you want to remove.

You do not need to close apps regularly to keep your iPad running smoothly. iOS automatically manages memory and suspends apps running in the background. Closing an app only becomes necessary if it is frozen, draining battery unusually fast, or behaving erratically.

Key Takeaways

  • Newer iPads use a swipe-up gesture from the bottom of the screen to access the app switcher, while older models with a Home button require a double-tap of that button.
  • Once the app switcher is open, swiping up on an app card closes it completely.
  • Closing apps is not necessary for performance, but may help if an app is frozen or misbehaving.
  • Force-closing an unresponsive app requires holding the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then releasing and waiting for the app to restart.

Closing apps on iPad Pro and newer iPad Air models

On iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch models from 2018 onward, and iPad Air 4 and later, the process is the same. Start at the bottom edge of the screen and swipe upward with one finger. Hold your finger on the screen for about half a second after you begin the swipe. The app switcher will appear, showing thumbnail cards of your open apps arranged in a grid.

Once the app switcher is visible, locate the app you want to close. Swipe upward on its card with a quick flick of your finger. The card will disappear, and the app will close. You can close multiple apps in succession by repeating this action for each one.

Closing apps on iPad with a Home button

If your iPad has a physical Home button at the bottom of the screen, double-tap that button to open the app switcher. The screen will show cards representing each open app, arranged in a row that you can scroll through horizontally.

Find the app you want to close and swipe upward on its card. The app will close immediately. You can also swipe left or right to navigate through the cards if you have many apps open.

Force-closing a frozen or unresponsive app

If an app is frozen and will not respond to normal touches, you can force it to close. On iPad Pro and newer iPad Air models, press and hold the top button and either volume button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until the power-off slider appears on the screen. Release the buttons without sliding the power-off control. Your iPad will return to the home screen and the app will close.

On iPad with a Home button, press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears. Release the button without sliding the control. The app will close and your iPad will return to normal operation.

What happens when you close an app

Closing an app stops it from running and removes it from your device's active memory. The app's data and settings remain on your iPad — closing an app does not delete it or erase any information you saved within it. When you open the app again, it will restart from where you left off, or from its home screen if enough time has passed.

Apps that are closed but still installed will continue to receive notifications and can still run background tasks if you have given them permission to do so in Settings. Turning off background app refresh for specific apps in Settings > General > Background App Refresh will prevent them from running in the background even when closed.

When you should and should not close apps

You do not need to close apps to improve iPad performance. Modern iPads manage memory automatically, and closing apps does not free up storage space or significantly extend battery life. Closing apps is useful only in specific situations: when an app is frozen or unresponsive, when it is draining battery unusually fast, or when it is behaving erratically.

If you notice an app consistently misbehaves, try closing and reopening it first. If the problem persists, restart your iPad by turning it off and back on. If the app continues to malfunction after a restart, you may want to delete and reinstall it from the App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps make my iPad faster?

No. iPadOS manages memory automatically and suspends apps running in the background. Closing apps does not improve performance or speed. Close an app only if it is frozen or misbehaving.

Will closing an app delete my data?

No. Closing an app stops it from running but does not delete any data, files, or settings saved within that app. When you reopen it, your information will still be there.

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 to close them in sequence.

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

Closing an app stops it from running temporarily. Deleting an app removes it from your iPad entirely. To delete an app, press and hold its icon on the home screen, tap "Remove App," then tap "Delete App" and confirm. You can reinstall deleted apps from the App Store.