The quickest way to close an app on iPad

To close an app on iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle of the screen until the app switcher appears. Then swipe up on the app card you want to close. This works on any iPad running iPadOS 13 or later.

If you have an older iPad with a home button, double-click the home button instead. The app switcher will show all your open apps as cards. Swipe up on any card to close it.

You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on several cards in quick succession, or close all visible apps by swiping up on each one.

Key Takeaways

  • On newer iPads without a home button, swipe up from the bottom and pause to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app you want to close.
  • On older iPads with a home button, double-click the home button to see all open apps, then swipe up on the one you want to close.
  • Closing apps does not free up much memory on modern iPads, since the system manages background apps automatically.
  • You can close multiple apps at once by swiping up on several cards in sequence without leaving the app switcher.

How to use the app switcher on iPad without a home button

Start at the very bottom edge of your screen. Place your finger there and swipe upward. Do not swipe all the way to the top — stop about halfway up the screen and hold your finger still for a moment. The app switcher will appear, showing all your open apps as cards arranged in a grid or row depending on your iPad model and orientation.

Look for the app you want to close. Tap and hold on its card, then swipe upward. The app will disappear from the switcher. If you want to close another app, simply swipe up on its card without leaving the switcher.

Closing apps on older iPads with a home button

If your iPad has a physical home button at the bottom, double-click it once. The screen will show all your currently open apps as cards overlapping each other. Swipe upward on any card to close that app.

You can close multiple apps this way without returning to the home screen. Just keep swiping up on cards until you have closed everything you want to close, then press the home button once to return to your home screen.

When you might want to close an app

Modern iPads manage background apps automatically, so closing an app does not usually speed up your device or save battery life. The system suspends apps you are not using and only runs them when you open them again.

You might want to close an app if it is behaving strangely — freezing, crashing, or draining battery visibly. Closing and reopening it can sometimes fix the problem. You may also want to close apps if you are concerned about privacy and want to make sure a particular app is not running in the background.

If an app is stuck or not responding, closing it from the app switcher is faster than waiting for it to time out on its own.

Difference between closing an app and deleting it

Closing an app removes it from your list of open apps but does not remove it from your iPad. The app remains installed and you can open it again at any time by tapping its icon on your home screen or in the App Library.

Deleting an app removes it from your iPad entirely. To delete an app, press and hold its icon on the home screen, tap "Remove App," and then tap "Delete App." You would need to download it again from the App Store if you wanted it back.

Troubleshooting if the app switcher does not appear

If swiping from the bottom does not open the app switcher, make sure you are starting from the very bottom edge of the screen. The gesture needs to begin in the bottom inch or so of the display. Try again, swiping slowly and deliberately upward.

If you are using an iPad with a home button and double-clicking does not work, try pressing the home button once first to make sure you are on the home screen, then double-click. If the button feels stuck or unresponsive, it may need cleaning or repair.

On some iPad models, if you have Dock gestures enabled in settings, swiping from the bottom might open the Dock instead of the app switcher. Swipe higher up on the screen, or disable Dock gestures in Settings > Home Screen & Dock if you find this confusing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps make my iPad faster?

Not usually. iPadOS suspends apps automatically when you switch away from them, so they use very little power or memory. Closing an app only helps if the app is frozen, crashing, or visibly draining battery. For normal use, you do not need to close apps regularly.

Can I close all open apps at once?

There is no single button to close all apps at once. You have to swipe up on each app card individually in the app switcher. However, you can close several apps quickly by swiping up on multiple cards in succession without leaving the switcher.

What happens to my data when I close an app?

Closing an app does not delete your data. Any files, photos, or information stored in the app remain on your iPad. When you open the app again, it will be in the same state you left it, or it will reload from where it was last saved.

Why does an app keep appearing in my app switcher after I close it?

Some apps are designed to run in the background and may reopen automatically. This is normal for apps like Mail, Music, or Maps. If an app is misbehaving and keeps reopening, try closing it again, or restart your iPad by turning it off and back on.

Is there a difference between closing an app and swiping it away in the app switcher?

No, they are the same thing. Swiping up on an app card in the app switcher closes that app. Both terms describe the same action.