Why and when to close apps on your iPhone

Closing apps on iPhone stops them from running in the background and using your phone's memory and battery. You do not need to close apps constantly — iOS is designed to manage them automatically. But closing an app can help if it is draining your battery, acting slowly, or using data you did not expect.

The most common reason to close an app is when it freezes or stops responding. If an app is stuck on a loading screen or will not let you tap anything, closing it and reopening it usually fixes the problem. You might also close an app if you notice your phone getting hot, your battery dropping fast, or your internet slowing down while a particular app is open.

iPhone handles background apps differently depending on which model you have and which version of iOS it runs. The steps below work on all recent iPhones, but the exact appearance of your screen may vary slightly.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones) to see all running apps, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
  • You do not need to close apps regularly — iOS closes them automatically when your phone needs memory, and closing them does not significantly extend battery life.
  • If an app is frozen or unresponsive, closing it and reopening it usually solves the problem without restarting your phone.
  • Some apps continue to run limited functions in the background even after you close them, depending on what permissions you have given them.

Closing apps on iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X and newer)

On iPhones with Face ID — that is, iPhones without a home button — you close apps from the App Switcher. Swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and pause for a moment. You will see cards showing all the apps currently running.

Once you see the app cards, swipe up on the card of any app you want to close. The card will disappear, and the app will stop running. You can close multiple apps one after another without returning to the home screen. When you are done, swipe down or tap the home screen to exit the App Switcher.

If you have trouble swiping from the bottom, make sure you are starting at the very edge of the screen where it meets the frame. A swipe that starts too high will not trigger the App Switcher.

Closing apps on iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier)

On older iPhones with a home button, double-press the home button to open the App Switcher. You will see cards of all running apps arranged side by side. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close.

Once you see the app card, swipe up on it. The card will disappear and the app will close. You can close several apps in a row, then press the home button once to return to your home screen.

What happens when you close an app

When you close an app, it stops running immediately. Any unsaved work in that app is usually lost — for example, if you close a note-taking app without saving, your draft will disappear. Most apps save your place automatically, so reopening them will show you where you left off, but not all do.

Some apps continue to perform limited tasks even after you close them, if you have given them permission to do so. For example, a music app might continue playing audio, or a navigation app might continue tracking your location. These background activities are controlled by the permissions you set in Settings, not by whether the app is open.

Closing an app does not delete it from your phone or remove any saved data like photos, messages, or login information. It only stops the app from running right now. The next time you tap the app icon, it will open normally.

When closing apps actually helps your battery and performance

Closing apps has a smaller effect on battery life than many people think. iOS automatically closes apps when your phone needs memory, and most apps use very little power when they are not actively on your screen. However, closing an app can help in specific situations.

If your phone is getting hot or your battery is draining noticeably fast, close any app you were just using and check whether the problem stops. If it does, that app may have a bug or may be using more resources than it should. If your phone stays hot or your battery keeps draining, the problem is likely something else — try restarting your phone by turning it off and back on.

Closing apps before you lock your phone for the night will not meaningfully extend your battery life. The battery drain from closed apps is minimal. If you want to improve overnight battery life, turn on Low Power Mode in Settings instead.

Forcing an app to close if it is frozen

If an app is completely frozen and will not respond to taps, closing it from the App Switcher may not work. In that case, you can force the app to close. On iPhones with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom to open the App Switcher, find the frozen app, and press and hold its card until a menu appears. Tap "Remove App" or "Close". On iPhones with a home button, double-press the home button, find the app, and swipe up on its card with extra force.

If forcing an app closed does not fix the problem and the app keeps freezing when you reopen it, try restarting your phone. Turn off your iPhone completely, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This clears your phone's memory and often fixes apps that are stuck.

Managing which apps run in the background

You can control whether individual apps are allowed to run in the background at all. Open Settings, scroll down and tap the name of the app you want to change, then look for an option called "Background App Refresh". Turn it off to prevent that app from running tasks when it is not open on your screen.

Turning off Background App Refresh for an app means it will not check for new messages, update its data, or perform other tasks until you open it. This can save battery and data, but it also means you might not see notifications from that app as quickly. Most people leave Background App Refresh on for messaging and email apps but turn it off for games and other apps that do not need to stay current.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to close apps every day to keep my iPhone running well?

No. iOS automatically manages apps and closes them when your phone needs memory. Closing apps manually does not significantly improve performance or battery life in normal use. Close an app only if it is frozen, draining your battery noticeably, or using data unexpectedly.

Will closing an app delete my photos, messages, or other data?

No. Closing an app only stops it from running. All your data — photos, messages, login information, saved documents — stays on your phone. When you reopen the app, your data will be there.

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

Closing an app stops it from running right now but leaves it installed on your phone. Deleting an app removes it completely from your phone. To delete an app, press and hold its icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App", then tap "Delete App".

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

Some apps have permission to run limited tasks in the background, like playing music or checking for messages. This is controlled by the permissions you gave the app in Settings, not by whether you closed it. To stop this, open Settings, find the app, and turn off "Background App Refresh".

My app is frozen and will not close from the App Switcher. What do I do?

Try force-closing the app by pressing and holding its card in the App Switcher until a menu appears, then tap the close option. If that does not work, restart your phone by turning it off and back on. This clears your phone's memory and usually fixes frozen apps.