Why background apps matter and how to shut them down
Background apps are programs running on your device even when you are not actively using them. They drain battery, slow down your device, and use data without you realizing it. Closing them is straightforward — the steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac.
Most of the time you do not need to close apps manually. Modern devices manage background activity automatically. But if your phone is sluggish, your battery drains fast, or you want to stop a specific app from running, you can force it closed in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe up on each app card to close it; on Android, open Recent Apps and swipe left or right to close each one.
- On Windows, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find the app in the list, click it, and click End Task at the bottom right.
- On Mac, press Command+Option+Esc to open Force Quit, select the app, and click Force Quit.
- Closing apps manually does not permanently stop them from running in the background — they will restart the next time you open them or when your device restarts.
- If an app keeps draining battery or data even when closed, you may need to change its background permissions in your device settings.
Closing apps on iPhone
On iPhone, background apps appear as cards in the app switcher. To close one, swipe up from the very bottom of your screen — not from the edge, but from the bottom center. You will see thumbnail cards of all your open apps stacked on top of each other.
Swipe up on each app card you want to close. The card will disappear, and the app will shut down. You can close one app or multiple apps in a row. When you are done, press the Home button or swipe up from the bottom again to exit the app switcher.
Closing apps on iPhone rarely improves battery life because iOS manages background activity well on its own. Close an app only if it is misbehaving or if you want to force it to refresh the next time you open it.
Closing apps on Android
Android phones vary by manufacturer, but the basic method is the same. Open your Recent Apps by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding for a moment, or by tapping the three-line menu button (called the app drawer) and selecting Recent Apps. You will see cards of apps you have used recently.
Swipe left or right on each app card to close it, or tap the X button in the corner of the card if one appears. Some Android phones let you swipe up on the card instead. Close as many as you want, then press the Home button or swipe down to exit.
Like iPhone, Android manages background apps automatically, so closing them manually will not significantly improve performance. However, if a specific app is using too much battery or data, closing it and then changing its background permissions in Settings will have a real effect.
Closing apps on Windows
On Windows, use Task Manager to close any running program. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager immediately. If that does not work, right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, select Task Manager, and click it.
In the Task Manager window, you will see a list of all running programs. Find the app you want to close, click it once to select it, then click the End Task button in the bottom right corner. The app will shut down.
If an app is frozen or not responding, it may say "Not Responding" next to its name. Click it and press End Task — Windows will close it without saving any unsaved work in that program. After you close an app this way, you can open it again normally.
Closing apps on Mac
On Mac, press Command+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit window. You will see a list of all running programs. Click the app you want to close, then click the Force Quit button at the bottom right.
The app will shut down immediately. If the app is frozen and will not respond to normal closing, Force Quit is the way to force it closed without restarting your entire Mac. After you force quit an app, you can open it again by clicking its icon in the Dock or Applications folder.
Stopping apps from running in the background permanently
Closing an app manually stops it only until you open it again or your device restarts. If you want to prevent an app from running in the background at all, you need to change its permissions in your device settings.
On iPhone, go to Settings, scroll down to find the app name, tap it, and turn off Background App Refresh. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps, find the app, tap Permissions, and turn off permissions for location, camera, or microphone — whichever ones the app does not need. On Windows and Mac, go to Settings and look for Background Apps or Login Items to prevent programs from starting automatically when you turn on your device.
Changing permissions is more effective than closing apps manually because it stops the app from restarting on its own. However, some apps need background permissions to work properly — for example, a messaging app needs background permission to notify you of new messages even when the app is closed.
When closing apps actually helps
Closing background apps helps most when a specific app is misbehaving — using too much battery, draining data, or making your device slow. If your entire device is sluggish, the problem is usually not background apps but a full hard drive, too many browser tabs open, or a device that needs a restart.
If you close an app and your device still feels slow, restart your device completely. Turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears temporary files and gives your device a fresh start. A restart solves most performance problems faster than closing individual apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing background apps save my battery?
Closing apps manually saves very little battery on modern phones because iOS and Android already manage background activity. If a specific app drains battery even when closed, change its background permissions in Settings instead of closing it repeatedly.
What happens if I close an app I need?
Nothing bad happens. The app will simply stop running until you open it again. You will not lose data or break anything by closing an app. If the app needs to send you notifications, you may miss them until you open the app again.
Do I need to close apps before turning off my phone?
No. When you turn off your phone or computer, all running apps close automatically. You do not need to close them first. The device will shut down cleanly whether apps are open or closed.
Why do apps keep running in the background?
Apps run in the background to send you notifications, sync data, or check for updates. Your device allows this because many apps need background access to work properly. If an app is running too much, change its permissions in Settings rather than closing it every time.
Is it bad to force quit an app?
Force quitting an app is safe and will not damage your device. However, if you force quit an app while it is saving data, you may lose unsaved work. Use Force Quit only when an app is frozen or not responding normally.