Close apps by swiping them away or using your device's app switcher
The way you close an app depends on what device you're using. On phones and tablets, you swipe up from the bottom of the screen or use a dedicated button to see all open apps, then swipe each one away. On computers, you click the X button in the corner of the window or use keyboard shortcuts. Closing apps frees up your device's memory and battery, and stops background processes that may be running without you realizing it.
Most people think apps are closed when they tap the home button or click away from them — but they're actually still running in the background. Your device keeps them in memory so they open faster next time. This is usually fine for one or two apps, but too many open at once will slow everything down.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones and iPads, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see all open apps, then swipe each one upward to close it.
- On Android phones, swipe up from the bottom twice, or tap the recent apps button, then swipe each app away.
- On Windows computers, click the X button in the top right corner of any window, or press Alt+F4 on your keyboard.
- On Mac computers, click the red circle in the top left corner of the window, or press Command+Q to close the entire app.
- Closing apps regularly helps your device run faster and use less battery, especially if you have many apps open at once.
Close apps on iPhone and iPad
Swipe up from the very bottom of your screen and hold for a moment. You'll see all your open apps displayed as cards. Swipe upward on any app card to close it — the card will disappear. You can close multiple apps this way before swiping down to return to your home screen.
If you have an older iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 or earlier), double-tap the home button instead. The open apps will appear as cards, and you swipe upward on each one to close it. When you're done, tap the home button once to go back.
Close apps on Android phones
Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and hold for a moment. This opens your recent apps view. You'll see all the apps you've used recently as cards or in a list. Swipe upward on any app to close it, or tap the X button if your phone shows one.
Some Android phones have a dedicated recent apps button — usually three vertical lines or a square icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap that button to see your open apps, then swipe or tap to close the ones you don't need. If you want to close all apps at once, look for a "Close all" button, usually at the bottom of the screen.
Close apps on Windows computers
Look at the top right corner of any window. You'll see an X button. Click it to close that app. The window will disappear and the app will stop running.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt+F4 while the app window is active — this closes whatever app you're currently using. If you have multiple windows open from the same app, Alt+F4 closes only the current window, not the entire app. To close the app completely, close all its windows or use the File menu and select Exit or Quit.
Close apps on Mac computers
Look at the top left corner of the window. You'll see a red circle. Click it to close that window. The window disappears, but the app may still be running in the background.
To fully close the app, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q, or click the app's name in the menu bar at the top of the screen and select Quit. This stops the app completely. If you only click the red circle, the app stays open and will reopen faster next time, but it still uses some of your computer's memory.
When you should and shouldn't close apps
Close apps if your phone or computer is running slowly, your battery is draining quickly, or you simply don't need them open anymore. Closing unused apps frees up memory and stops background processes — things like location tracking, notifications, or data syncing that happen even when you're not actively using the app.
You don't need to close apps constantly. Modern phones and computers are designed to manage open apps automatically. Closing and reopening an app actually uses more battery than leaving it open, so there's no benefit to closing an app you plan to use again in the next few minutes. The real benefit comes from closing apps you won't use for a while, especially ones that drain battery in the background.
Force-close an app that's frozen or not responding
If an app is frozen and won't respond to normal closing, you can force it to close. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to see open apps, then swipe up on the frozen app with a quick, firm motion. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps or Application Manager, find the app, and tap Force Stop.
On Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, click Task Manager, find the app in the list, click it, and click End Task. On Mac, press Command+Option+Escape, click the frozen app, and click Force Quit. Force-closing should be a last resort — use it only when an app won't respond to normal closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app delete my data or unsaved work?
Closing an app does not delete your data. However, if you had unsaved work in that app — like a document you were editing or a message you were typing — that work may be lost. Most apps save your work automatically, but some don't. If you're worried about losing something, save it before closing the app.
Why does my phone still feel slow after I close apps?
Closing a few apps usually won't make a noticeable difference. If your phone is still slow, restart it completely — turn it off and back on. This clears your device's memory and stops all background processes. If it's still slow after that, you may have too many apps installed, or your storage may be full.
Will closing apps make my battery last longer?
Closing apps that run in the background — like location services, email, or social media apps — can help your battery last longer. Closing an app you just used briefly won't make much difference. The biggest battery drain usually comes from screen brightness and apps that constantly use your location or internet connection.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
On most phones, you can swipe away multiple apps one after another in the recent apps view, but there's no button to close all apps at once. On Android, some phones have a "Close all" option at the bottom of the recent apps screen. On computers, you can close multiple windows quickly by clicking the X on each one or using Alt+F4 repeatedly.
What's the difference between closing an app and deleting it?
Closing an app stops it from running but keeps it installed on your device. Deleting an app removes it completely — you'd have to reinstall it from your app store to use it again. Closing is temporary; deleting is permanent.