The fastest way to close an app on your iPhone
To close an app on your 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 closes completely. On iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), double-tap the home button instead to open the switcher, then swipe up on the app.
Most people think they need to close apps to save battery or improve performance, but iPhones are designed to manage apps automatically. Closing an app does not speed up your phone or save significant battery. However, closing an app is useful when it is frozen, misbehaving, or you want to force it to start fresh the next time you open it.
The method you use depends on which iPhone model you have, because the home button was removed starting with iPhone X. Both methods work the same way once you see the app switcher — you are just getting there differently.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-tap the home button on older iPhones) to see all your open apps at once.
- Swipe up on any app card to close it; the app will shut down completely and stop running in the background.
- Closing apps is not necessary for battery life or speed, but it fixes frozen or misbehaving apps.
- You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on each one without leaving the switcher.
Closing apps on iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer models
On these iPhones, there is no home button, so you open the app switcher by swiping up from the very bottom edge of the screen. Start your swipe at the bottom center and drag upward slowly — you should see app cards appear as you swipe. Stop when you can see the apps you want to close.
Once the app switcher is open, find the app you want to close and swipe up on its card. The card will fly off the screen and the app closes. You can close multiple apps in one session by swiping up on each one. When you are done, swipe down or tap the home screen to exit the switcher.
If your swipe does not open the switcher, you may have swiped too quickly or from the wrong spot. The swipe needs to start at the very bottom edge of the screen, not in the middle. Try again more slowly, starting lower on the screen.
Closing apps on iPhone 8 and earlier models with a home button
On these iPhones, press the home button twice quickly (a double-tap, not a long press). The app switcher will open and show you all your open apps as cards. You may need to swipe left or right to find the app you want to close.
Once you see the app card, swipe up on it to close the app. The card disappears and the app shuts down. You can close several apps before exiting the switcher. When you are finished, press the home button once to return to your home screen.
Do not hold down the home button — that opens Siri instead. You need a quick double-tap to open the switcher.
What happens when you close an app
When you close an app, it stops running immediately and is removed from your device's active memory. Any unsaved work in that app is lost, so close an app only when you are sure you do not need to save anything. Most apps save your progress automatically, but some do not.
The next time you open the closed app, it starts fresh from the beginning or from the last saved state. If the app was frozen or crashing, closing and reopening it often fixes the problem because the app starts with a clean slate.
Closed apps do not run in the background and do not use battery power. However, iPhones manage background apps efficiently on their own, so closing apps manually rarely makes a noticeable difference to your battery life.
When you should close an app
Close an app if it is frozen and not responding to taps. Closing and reopening it usually unfreezes it. Close an app if it is crashing repeatedly or behaving strangely — this forces it to reload and often solves the problem.
Close an app if you want to clear its temporary data or reset it to its default state. Some apps store information in memory that persists until you close them, so closing the app clears that data.
You do not need to close apps to improve battery life or speed. iPhones are designed to manage open apps automatically, and closing them manually has little effect on performance. If your battery drains quickly, the problem is usually a specific app using too much power, not the number of open apps.
Closing all apps at once
There is no button to close all apps at once on any iPhone model. You must close apps one by one using the app switcher. Open the switcher, swipe up on each app card individually, and repeat until all apps are closed.
Closing all apps is rarely necessary and does not provide any real benefit. If your phone is running slowly, restarting it (turning it off and back on) is more effective than closing individual apps. A restart clears the device's memory completely and often solves performance problems.
Troubleshooting if the app switcher will not open
If swiping up from the bottom does not open the app switcher on a newer iPhone, make sure you are swiping from the very bottom edge of the screen, not from the middle. The swipe zone is narrow — about half an inch from the bottom. Start your swipe lower and try again.
If you are using an older iPhone with a home button and double-tapping the home button does not work, make sure you are tapping quickly twice, not holding it down. A long press opens Siri instead of the app switcher. Try tapping faster.
If the app switcher still will not open, restart your iPhone. Turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. This often fixes problems with the home button or gesture controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps save battery on my iPhone?
No, closing apps manually does not significantly save battery. iPhones automatically manage background apps and suspend them when they are not in use. If your battery drains quickly, check which apps are using the most power in Settings > Battery, not how many apps are open.
Will closing an app delete my data or messages?
Closing an app does not delete your data or messages. The app and all its stored information remain on your phone. When you reopen the app, your data is still there. However, any unsaved work you were doing in the app at the moment you closed it will be lost.
Can I close an app without using the app switcher?
No, the app switcher is the only way to close an app on iPhone. You cannot close an app by swiping it away from the home screen or by any other method. Pressing the home button or swiping to the home screen only hides the app — it does not close it.
What is the difference between closing an app and force-closing it?
Closing an app through the switcher is a normal close. Force-closing is done through Settings and is used only when an app is completely frozen and will not respond. For most situations, closing through the switcher is all you need.
Why does an app keep appearing in my app switcher after I close it?
Apps you use frequently may reappear in the switcher because iOS automatically relaunches them in the background. This is normal behavior and does not mean the app did not close. If an app is misbehaving, close it again or restart your iPhone.