Close apps by swiping them away from the app switcher
The fastest way to close an app on iPad is to open the app switcher and swipe the app off the screen. The app switcher shows you every app currently running, and swiping removes it from memory. This is the method most people use because it takes two seconds and works the same way on every iPad model.
To open the app switcher, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause for a moment — do not swipe all the way to the top in one motion, or you will just go to the home screen instead. You will see a row of app cards. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close, then swipe up on that card to remove it. The app closes immediately.
If you have multiple apps open, you can close several at once by swiping up on multiple cards in the same session. This is useful if your iPad is running slowly or if you want to clear out apps you are no longer using.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
- Closing apps from the app switcher removes them from your iPad's memory and can improve performance if many apps are running.
- You can close multiple apps in one session by swiping up on several cards without closing the app switcher.
- Closing an app does not delete it — the app remains on your home screen and can be opened again at any time.
- Some apps may continue running background tasks even after you close them, depending on what permissions you have granted.
What happens when you close an app
When you swipe an app away, it stops running and is removed from your iPad's active memory. This frees up resources that the app was using, which can make your iPad feel faster if you had many apps open at once. However, closing an app does not delete any of your data or settings — the next time you open it, everything will be exactly as you left it.
Some apps continue to run small background tasks even after you close them, such as checking for new messages or playing music. These background activities are separate from the main app and are controlled by the permissions you granted when you first installed the app. If you want to prevent an app from running in the background entirely, you can change its background app refresh setting in Settings.
Use Settings to stop apps from running in the background
If an app keeps running tasks even after you close it, you can turn off its background app refresh in Settings. Open Settings, scroll down and tap the name of the app you want to control, then look for a Background App Refresh toggle. If the toggle is on (green), the app can continue running in the background. Turn it off to stop that behavior.
Not every app has a background app refresh setting — only apps that Apple or the developer has set up to use this feature will show the toggle. Mail, Messages, and Music are common examples of apps that use background refresh. Turning off background refresh for an app will not close it, but it will prevent it from checking for new information or performing tasks when you are not actively using it.
Be aware that turning off background refresh may affect how the app works. For example, if you turn off background refresh for Mail, new messages may not arrive until you open the app yourself. Consider which apps truly need background refresh and which ones you can manage without it.
Force-close an app that is frozen or not responding
If an app is frozen, crashing, or not responding to touches, you can force it to close using the app switcher. Open the app switcher the same way — swipe up from the bottom and pause — then find the frozen app and swipe up on it. This will close the app even if it is not responding normally.
After you force-close an app, wait a few seconds before opening it again. This gives your iPad time to clear the app's memory and reset. If the app continues to crash or freeze, try restarting your iPad by holding down the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to turn off your iPad. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
Understand the difference between closing and deleting
Closing an app and deleting an app are two completely different actions. Closing an app stops it from running but leaves it installed on your iPad — you can open it again whenever you want. Deleting an app removes it from your iPad entirely, and you would need to reinstall it from the App Store if you wanted to use it again.
You close apps from the app switcher by swiping up on them. You delete apps by pressing and holding an app icon on your home screen, tapping Remove App, and confirming that you want to remove it. Most of the time, you only need to close apps, not delete them. Delete an app only if you no longer want it on your iPad.
Close all open apps at once
iPad does not have a built-in button to close all apps at once. You must close them individually by opening the app switcher and swiping up on each card. If you have many apps open, this takes a minute or two, but it is the only way to close everything.
A faster approach is to restart your iPad, which closes all running apps automatically. Hold down the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, slide it to turn off your iPad, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. When your iPad restarts, no apps will be running, and your device will have a fresh start.
Why you might want to close apps regularly
Closing apps regularly can help your iPad run more smoothly, especially if you use many apps throughout the day. Each open app uses some of your iPad's memory and processing power, so closing the ones you are not actively using frees up those resources. If your iPad feels slow or sluggish, closing several apps is often a quick fix.
You do not need to close every app immediately after using it — modern iPads are designed to manage multiple open apps without problems. However, if you notice your iPad is running slowly, apps are crashing, or your battery is draining faster than usual, closing some apps and restarting your device can help. Pay attention to which apps seem to cause problems and consider turning off their background refresh or deleting them if they continue to cause issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app delete my data?
No. Closing an app stops it from running but does not delete any data, settings, or files associated with that app. When you open the app again, everything will be exactly as you left it. Your data is only deleted if you remove the app from your iPad entirely.
Will closing apps make my iPad battery last longer?
Closing apps can help, but the effect is usually small. Apps that are closed but still running background tasks will continue to use some battery. If you want to extend battery life, turning off background app refresh for apps you do not need to monitor constantly is more effective than closing apps manually.
Can I close multiple apps at the same time?
You can close multiple apps in one session by swiping up on several app cards without closing the app switcher, but you must swipe each one individually. There is no way to select multiple apps and close them all with one action.
What should I do if an app keeps crashing after I close it?
Try force-closing the app, waiting 30 seconds, and opening it again. If it continues to crash, restart your iPad. If the problem persists, try turning off background app refresh for that app in Settings, or delete and reinstall the app from the App Store.
Is it bad to leave apps running in the background?
Leaving apps running is not harmful to your iPad, but it does use memory and battery. If your iPad is running slowly or your battery is draining quickly, closing unused apps and turning off background refresh for apps you do not need can help improve performance.