The difference between closing an app and just leaving it

When you tap the home button or swipe away an app on your phone, you are not actually closing it — you are sending it to the background. The app keeps running, using your battery and data, and staying in your device's memory. A true close stops the app entirely until you open it again.

On most phones and computers, you have two ways to stop an app: the quick way (which just hides it) and the full close (which actually shuts it down). Which one you need depends on what the app is doing and why you want it gone. If an app is draining your battery, freezing your device, or using data in the background, a full close is what fixes it.

Key Takeaways

  • Swiping an app away on iPhone or Android only pauses it; the app continues running in the background and using battery and data.
  • On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or use the app switcher to close apps; on Android, swipe up twice or use the recent apps menu.
  • On Windows, close the window or use Task Manager to force-quit an app that will not respond; on Mac, use Command+Q or Force Quit from the Apple menu.
  • If an app keeps running after you close it, check your device settings to see whether you have given it permission to run in the background.

Closing apps on iPhone

On iPhone, swiping an app away from the screen does not close it — it only removes it from your view. To actually close an app, you need to use the app switcher. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment until you see all your open apps displayed as cards. Then swipe up on the app card you want to close.

If you have an older iPhone with a home button, double-tap the home button instead to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app you want to close. Either way, the app will shut down completely. The next time you open it, it will start fresh.

Some apps will reopen themselves even after you close them, especially if you have given them permission to run in the background. If this happens, go to Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh, and toggle off the apps you do not want running when they are closed.

Closing apps on Android

On Android, the process depends on which version you have and which phone manufacturer made your device. The most common way is to swipe up from the bottom of the screen twice — the first swipe brings up your recent apps, and the second swipe closes the app switcher entirely. You can also swipe up once to see recent apps, then swipe up on the specific app card to close it.

Some Android phones have a dedicated recent apps button (usually on the left or right side of the navigation bar). Tap that button to see your open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close. If an app refuses to close or keeps restarting, you may need to force-stop it through Settings: go to Settings, tap Apps, find the app, and tap Force Stop.

Like iPhone, Android apps can be set to run in the background even after you close them. Check Settings, tap Apps, select the app, and look for Battery or Background restrictions to prevent it from restarting on its own.

Closing apps on Windows

On Windows, the simplest way to close an app is to click the X button in the top-right corner of its window. This closes the app immediately. If the app is frozen or will not respond to the X button, you will need to force-quit it using Task Manager.

To open Task Manager, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, or right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager. Find the app you want to close in the list, click it once to select it, then click the End Task button at the bottom right. The app will shut down, even if it is not responding.

Some apps are set to run in the background after you close them, which means they will keep using your computer's resources. To stop this, go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Background Apps, and toggle off any apps you do not want running when closed.

Closing apps on Mac

On Mac, close an app by clicking the red button in the top-left corner of its window, or by pressing Command+Q while the app is active. Command+Q is the fastest way — it works for almost every app. If an app is frozen and will not close, use Force Quit instead.

To Force Quit an app on Mac, press Command+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit window. Select the app that is not responding and click Force Quit. The app will close immediately, even if it is stuck. You can also go to the Apple menu at the top left, select Force Quit, and choose the app from there.

Some Mac apps will reopen themselves when you restart your computer if you have them set to open at login. To prevent this, go to System Settings, tap General, then Login Items, and remove any apps you do not want to start automatically.

When an app will not stay closed

If you close an app and it immediately reopens, or if it keeps running in the background no matter what you do, the problem is usually permissions. Apps can be set to run in the background, refresh their data, or start automatically when your device turns on. These settings are what keep the app alive even after you close it.

On any device, go to your settings and look for Background App Refresh, Background Apps, or Startup Apps (the exact name varies by device). Find the app that will not stay closed and turn off its background permission. This tells the app it is not allowed to run unless you open it yourself. If the app still will not close, you may need to uninstall and reinstall it, or contact the app maker to report the problem.

Why you might want to close an app

Closing an app saves battery because it stops the app from using your device's processor and checking for updates or new data. If you notice your phone or computer is running slowly, or if your battery is draining faster than usual, closing unused apps can help. Apps that use location, camera, or microphone in the background drain battery especially fast.

Closing an app also frees up your device's memory, which can make other apps run faster. If you have many apps open at once, your device has to split its attention between all of them. Closing the ones you are not using gives more resources to the ones you are. Some apps also have bugs that cause them to freeze or crash — closing and reopening them usually fixes the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing an app delete my data or messages?

No. Closing an app only stops it from running. Your messages, photos, and other data saved in the app stay on your device. The next time you open the app, everything will be there. The only way to lose data is to uninstall the app or delete files manually.

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

Closing an app stops it from running but leaves it on your device. You can open it again anytime. Uninstalling removes the app entirely from your device, including all its files. If you uninstall an app, you will have to download it again from the app store to use it.

Will closing apps make my phone faster?

Closing unused apps can help, especially if they were running in the background and using battery or data. However, closing apps you are not currently using does not usually make a big difference in speed, because modern phones are designed to manage background apps automatically. If your phone is slow, the problem is usually a full storage drive or too many apps installed overall.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

On most phones, you can swipe up on multiple app cards in the app switcher to close them one by one, but there is no button to close all apps at once. On Windows, you can select multiple apps in Task Manager by holding Ctrl and clicking each one, then click End Task to close them all together.

Why does an app keep restarting after I close it?

The app probably has permission to run in the background or to start automatically. Check your device settings under Background Apps, Background App Refresh, or Startup Apps, find the app, and turn off its background permission. If it still restarts, the app may have a bug — try uninstalling and reinstalling it.