Why and how to close apps running in the background

Closing an app means stopping it completely, not just switching away from it. On most phones and computers, apps keep running in the background even after you stop looking at them — they use battery, memory, and sometimes data. Closing them frees up those resources and can make your device faster.

The method depends on what device you use. On an iPhone, you swipe up from the bottom. On Android, you tap a button. On Windows, you use the Task Manager. On a Mac, you use Force Quit. Each one takes about 10 seconds once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • Apps running in the background use battery and memory even when you are not looking at them, so closing unused apps can improve device speed.
  • On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
  • On Android, tap the square or recent apps button at the bottom, then swipe up on the app or tap the X to close it.
  • On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the app name, and click End Task.
  • On Mac, press Command+Option+Esc to open Force Quit, click the app, and click Force Quit.

Closing apps on iPhone

On an iPhone running iOS 13 or newer, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and hold for a moment. You will see a row of app cards — these are the apps currently open. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close.

Once you see the app card, swipe up on it. The card will disappear, and the app is now closed. You can close multiple apps this way by swiping up on each one. When you are done, tap the home screen or swipe down to exit this view.

If you have an older iPhone running iOS 12 or earlier, double-tap the home button instead of swiping up from the bottom. The same app cards will appear, and you swipe up on each one to close it.

Closing apps on Android

On most Android phones, look at the bottom of the screen. You will see three buttons: a home button (usually a circle or house), a back button (usually an arrow), and a recent apps button (usually a square or two overlapping rectangles). Tap the recent apps button.

You will see a list or stack of app cards showing everything currently open. To close one, swipe up on the card or tap the X button if one appears on the card. The app will close immediately. You can close multiple apps by swiping up on each one.

Some Android phones have a slightly different layout — Samsung phones, for example, sometimes show the recent apps button in a different spot. If you cannot find it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen with two fingers, and the recent apps view should appear.

Closing apps on Windows

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard. The Task Manager window will open immediately. You will see a list of running programs, with the currently active one highlighted at the top.

Click the name of the app you want to close. It will highlight in blue. Then click the button labeled End Task in the bottom right corner of the window. The app will close within a few seconds.

If you want to close multiple apps, click the first one, hold Ctrl, and click the others to select them all. Then click End Task once, and all selected apps will close together. When you are done, you can close the Task Manager window itself by clicking the X in the top right corner.

Closing apps on Mac

Press Command+Option+Esc on your keyboard. The Force Quit Applications window will open. You will see a list of all running apps, with the currently active one highlighted.

Click the name of the app you want to close. It will highlight in blue. Then click the button labeled Force Quit in the bottom right corner. The app will close immediately.

You can also close an app the traditional way: click the app name in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click Quit. This is gentler on the app and gives it a chance to save work. Use Force Quit only when an app is frozen or not responding.

When an app will not close

Sometimes an app freezes and will not respond to the normal close command. On any device, the force quit or end task method will close it anyway — that is what those tools are for. The app may lose unsaved work, but it will stop running.

After force quitting, wait a few seconds before opening the app again. This gives your device time to fully release the memory and resources the app was using. If the app keeps freezing, try restarting your device entirely — turn it off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.

Apps that restart automatically

Some apps are designed to restart themselves after you close them. This is common with messaging apps, email apps, and apps that send notifications. Closing them will work, but they may open again on their own within minutes.

If you want to stop an app from restarting, you need to turn off its background activity in your device settings, not just close it. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle off the app. On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find the app, tap Battery, and choose Restrict. On Windows and Mac, look in the app's own settings for a background activity or startup option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing an app delete it from my phone or computer?

No. Closing an app stops it from running, but the app itself stays on your device. You can open it again anytime. To actually remove an app, you have to uninstall it, which is a different process.

Should I close all my apps every day?

You do not have to. Modern phones and computers manage background apps fairly well on their own. Close apps if your device is running slowly, your battery is draining fast, or you notice an app using a lot of memory. Otherwise, closing them occasionally is fine.

What is the difference between closing an app and putting it in the background?

Putting an app in the background means switching away from it — you tap home or swipe to another app. The app keeps running. Closing an app stops it completely. Closing uses fewer resources, but background apps are still useful for notifications and quick switching.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

Yes. On iPhone, swipe up on multiple app cards one after another. On Android, swipe up on multiple cards. On Windows, hold Ctrl and click multiple apps in Task Manager, then click End Task once. On Mac, click multiple apps in Force Quit while holding Ctrl, then click Force Quit once.

Why does my device slow down if I do not close apps?

Apps running in the background use memory and processing power. If too many apps are open at once, your device has less memory available for the app you are currently using, which makes it slower. Closing unused apps frees up that memory.