The quickest way to close an app on iPhone
To close an app on iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app card you want to close. The app disappears from the switcher and stops running in the background. On newer iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later), this swipe-up gesture works the same way. On older iPhones with a home button, double-tap the home button instead to open the switcher, then swipe up on the app.
You do not need to close most apps regularly. iOS manages background activity automatically, and closing an app does not free up meaningful storage space — it only stops the app from running in memory. Close an app mainly when it is frozen, draining battery unusually fast, or misbehaving in some way.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app card to close it.
- On iPhones with a home button, double-tap the home button to open the switcher instead of swiping up.
- Closing apps does not free up storage or significantly improve battery life in most cases, since iOS manages background activity automatically.
- Close an app when it is frozen, crashing repeatedly, or using unusual amounts of battery, not as a regular maintenance habit.
- Safari tabs close separately from the Safari app itself — swipe up on Safari to close the entire browser, or use the tab switcher within Safari to close individual tabs.
Closing Safari tabs versus closing the Safari app
Safari tabs and the Safari app are two different things. Closing the Safari app (by swiping up on it in the app switcher) closes the entire browser but does not necessarily close your tabs — they reopen the next time you launch Safari. To close individual tabs without closing Safari, open Safari and tap the tab switcher icon (two overlapping squares in the bottom right corner), then swipe up on the tab you want to close.
If you want to close all Safari tabs at once, tap and hold the tab switcher icon, then select "Close All Tabs" from the menu. This clears your open tabs but leaves Safari running. To close Safari completely and all its tabs, use the app switcher method described above.
When an app is frozen and will not close
If an app does not close when you swipe up on it, or if the app switcher itself is not responding, force-close the app instead. On iPhones with Face ID, press and hold the side button and either volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then release. Swipe the slider to turn off the phone, wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on.
On iPhones with a home button, press and hold the top (or side) button until the power-off slider appears, then swipe to shut down. Wait a few seconds and press the top button again to restart. This forces every app to close, not just the frozen one. If a single app keeps freezing, try closing it this way, then opening it again to see if the problem returns.
Closing background app refresh for specific apps
Some apps run in the background even when you are not using them, which can drain battery. You can stop individual apps from refreshing in the background without closing them. Go to Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. You will see a list of apps with toggles next to each one. Turn off the toggle for any app you do not want running in the background.
This is different from closing an app — the app stays installed and does not disappear from your home screen, but it stops checking for new information or updates when you are not actively using it. Turning off background refresh for apps like email, news, or weather can noticeably improve battery life if those apps were refreshing frequently.
Clearing an app from memory without uninstalling it
Closing an app removes it from active memory, but the app remains installed on your phone and you can open it again anytime. This is different from deleting the app, which removes it entirely. If you want to keep an app installed but want to make sure it is not running, close it using the app switcher method, and it will stay closed until you tap its icon again.
If an app is using too much storage space and you want to remove it but keep your data, some apps let you offload them instead of deleting them. Go to Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage, find the app, and tap "Offload App." This removes the app but keeps your data, so you can reinstall it later without losing your information.
Checking which apps are currently running
The app switcher shows you every app currently running in the background. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly to see all open apps as cards. The order they appear in reflects how recently you used them — the most recent app is on the left. You can swipe left or right to see more apps, and swipe up on any card to close it.
Having many apps open in the switcher does not slow down your phone the way it would on a computer. iOS suspends apps you are not using and only keeps the most recently used ones actively running. You can leave dozens of apps in the switcher without noticing a performance difference.
Why your iPhone might feel slow even after closing apps
If your iPhone feels sluggish, closing apps usually will not fix it. The real culprits are often a full storage drive, too many notifications, or apps running heavy background tasks. Check your storage by going to Settings, tapping General, then iPhone Storage. If you are using more than 90 percent of your available space, delete photos, videos, or apps you no longer need.
Another common cause is too many apps refreshing in the background at once. Turn off background refresh for apps you do not need constant updates from, as described above. If slowness started after you updated iOS, restart your phone by powering it off and back on — sometimes a restart clears temporary files that slow things down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps save battery on iPhone?
Closing apps saves very little battery in most cases. iOS suspends apps automatically when you are not using them, so they consume minimal power. Close an app only if it is actively misbehaving or you notice it draining battery in Settings. Turning off background refresh for specific apps saves more battery than closing them repeatedly.
What happens to my data if I close an app?
Closing an app does not delete your data. Any information the app saved — messages, photos, settings — stays on your phone. The next time you open the app, your data is still there. Closing an app only stops it from running; it does not uninstall it or erase anything.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
You can close apps one at a time by swiping up on each card in the app switcher, but there is no built-in way to close all apps at once. If you want to force-close everything, restart your phone by powering it off and back on. This closes every app and clears temporary files.
Why does an app keep reopening after I close it?
Some apps reopen because they are set to launch at startup or because another app is triggering them. Check Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh to see if the app is enabled. You can also go to Settings, tap General, then Startup Items to see which apps launch automatically when you restart your phone.
Is it bad to leave apps open in the app switcher?
No. Having many apps in the app switcher does not harm your phone or drain battery significantly. iOS manages them automatically by suspending apps you are not actively using. You can leave the switcher full without any performance penalty.