Close apps by swiping them away from the app switcher
The fastest way to close an open app on iPhone is to swipe it away from the app switcher — the screen that shows all your recently used apps. This does not delete the app from your phone; it just stops it from running in the background. You can reopen it anytime from your home screen or app library.
To open the app switcher, swipe up from the bottom of your screen and pause for a moment. On older iPhones with a home button, double-tap the home button instead. You will see thumbnails of your open apps stacked on top of each other.
Once the app switcher is open, find the app you want to close. Swipe up on its thumbnail to close it. The app will disappear from the switcher immediately. If you have many apps open, you can swipe up on multiple apps one after another to close several at once.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and hold to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app thumbnail to close it.
- Closing an app from the switcher stops it from running in the background but does not remove it from your iPhone.
- On iPhones with a home button, double-tap the home button to open the app switcher instead of swiping.
- You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on each one in quick succession.
- If an app is frozen or not responding, closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem.
Why you might want to close apps
Closing apps that you are not using can help your iPhone run more smoothly, especially if you have many apps open at once. Some apps use battery power or data in the background even when you are not looking at them. Closing them can extend your battery life throughout the day.
If an app is frozen, not responding, or behaving strangely, closing it and reopening it usually fixes the problem. This is often faster than restarting your entire phone. You can close the problematic app, wait a few seconds, and then tap it again to reopen it fresh.
The difference between closing and deleting an app
Closing an app and deleting an app are two different things. When you close an app from the app switcher, it stops running but remains on your phone. You can open it again whenever you want by tapping its icon on your home screen or in your app library.
Deleting an app removes it from your iPhone entirely. To delete an app, press and hold its icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App," and then tap "Remove from Home Screen" or "Delete App." If you delete an app, you will need to download it again from the App Store if you want to use it later. For most situations, closing an app is what you actually want to do.
What happens when you close an app
When you swipe an app away from the app switcher, it stops running immediately. Any unsaved work in that app may be lost, so close apps only when you are sure you do not need to save anything. Most apps save your progress automatically, but some do not.
After you close an app, it stays on your phone and takes up the same amount of storage space. Closing it does not free up storage — it only stops it from using your phone's memory and battery. If you want to actually remove an app to free up space, you need to delete it instead.
Troubleshooting when an app will not close
Occasionally an app will not close when you swipe it away, or it will reappear in the app switcher immediately. This usually means the app is stuck or your phone needs a restart. Force-close the app by trying to swipe it away again, this time with a faster, more deliberate motion.
If the app still will not close, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Slide it to turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on. After the restart, the stuck app should close normally.
Managing apps on older iPhones with a home button
If your iPhone has a physical home button at the bottom, the process is slightly different. Double-tap the home button to open the app switcher instead of swiping from the bottom. You will see the same thumbnails of open apps.
Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close, then swipe up on its thumbnail just as you would on a newer iPhone. The app will close and disappear from the switcher. The rest of the process works the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps really save battery on iPhone?
Closing apps saves battery only if those apps were actively running in the background and using power. Most modern apps are designed to pause when you switch away from them, so closing them may not make a noticeable difference. However, some apps — particularly those using location, music, or video — do drain battery in the background, so closing those can help.
Will closing an app delete my data or messages?
No. Closing an app does not delete any data stored in that app. Your messages, photos, notes, and other information stay on your phone. When you reopen the app, everything will be there. The only exception is unsaved work you were actively creating at the moment you closed the app.
Can I close all my apps at once?
You can close multiple apps quickly by swiping up on each one in succession, but there is no button to close all apps at once. If you want to close many apps, open the app switcher and swipe up on each thumbnail one by one. It takes only a few seconds.
What if I accidentally close an app I was using?
Simply tap the app icon on your home screen or in your app library to reopen it. Your data and any saved progress will still be there. The only thing you may lose is work you had not saved yet, so if you close an app by accident, reopen it right away to check.
Is it bad to leave apps open in the app switcher?
No, leaving apps in the app switcher does not harm your phone. Modern iPhones are designed to manage open apps efficiently. You do not need to close apps regularly unless one is frozen, draining your battery noticeably, or you want to free up your phone's active memory temporarily.