The fastest way to close an app on iPad

To close an app on iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app card you want to close. This works on any iPad with Face ID (iPad Pro 11-inch and larger, iPad Air 4th generation and newer, iPad 10th generation and newer). On older iPads with a home button, double-tap the home button instead, then swipe up on the app card.

You do not need to close apps regularly to keep your iPad running well. iOS automatically manages memory and stops apps from draining the battery when you are not using them. Closing an app only becomes necessary if it is frozen, behaving strangely, or consuming unusual amounts of power.

If an app is unresponsive and will not close using the standard method, force-quit it by holding down the power button and volume button together for a few seconds until the power-off slider appears, then release and wait for the iPad to restart. On older models with a home button, hold the top button until the slider appears instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on any app card to close it on newer iPads.
  • Double-tap the home button and swipe up on the app card on older iPad models with a physical home button.
  • You do not need to close apps to preserve battery life or performance — iOS handles this automatically in the background.
  • If an app freezes and will not close normally, force-quit it by holding the power and volume buttons until the power-off slider appears.

Closing apps on iPad with Face ID

On iPad Pro models from 2018 onward, iPad Air 4th generation and newer, and iPad 10th generation and newer, the app switcher appears when you swipe up from the very bottom of the screen. You need to start your swipe at the edge of the screen, not in the middle, or it will not register.

Once the app switcher opens, you will see cards representing each open app stacked on top of each other. Swipe up on any card to close that app. You can close multiple apps in one session by swiping up on each card in turn. The app switcher stays open until you tap elsewhere on the screen or swipe down to return to the home screen.

Closing apps on iPad with a home button

Older iPad models — including iPad Air 3rd generation and earlier, iPad mini 5th generation and earlier, and iPad 7th generation and earlier — use a different method. Double-tap the home button at the bottom center of the screen to open the app switcher.

The app cards will appear in a scrollable list. Swipe up on the card of the app you want to close. You can also swipe left or right to navigate through multiple app cards if there are more than fit on screen at once. Double-tap the home button again or tap the home button once to close the app switcher and return to the home screen.

Force-quitting a frozen or unresponsive app

If an app stops responding to touches, crashes repeatedly, or appears stuck on a loading screen, you may need to force-quit it. On iPad Pro 11-inch and larger, iPad Air 4th generation and newer, and iPad 10th generation and newer, hold down the power button and the volume-down button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until the power-off slider appears on screen — this usually takes about 10 seconds.

Release both buttons and wait for the iPad to restart. The app will close completely, and you can open it again once the iPad finishes restarting. This method forces the entire system to restart, so any unsaved work in other apps will also be lost.

On older iPad models with a home button, hold down the top button (power button) until the power-off slider appears. Release the button, wait a few seconds, then press the home button to unlock the iPad. This restarts the system and closes the frozen app.

When you should and should not close apps

Closing apps does not improve battery life on iPad. When you stop using an app and switch to another one, iOS automatically suspends it and stops it from running in the background. The app uses almost no power while suspended, so closing it manually makes no difference to how long your battery lasts.

You should close an app if it is behaving incorrectly — crashing, freezing, or showing error messages. You should also close an app if you notice the iPad getting hot or the battery draining unusually fast while a particular app is open. In those cases, close the app, restart your iPad, and then open it again to see if the problem goes away.

Closing apps before you hand your iPad to someone else can prevent them from seeing your open messages, emails, or other private information. If you are concerned about privacy, closing sensitive apps is a practical step, though signing out of accounts is more secure.

Checking which apps are currently open

You can see all open apps at any time by opening the app switcher. On newer iPads, swipe up from the bottom. On older iPads, double-tap the home button. The cards you see represent apps that are currently suspended in memory, not apps that are actively running and using power.

If you want to see which apps are using the most battery, go to Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Usage. This shows you the percentage of battery each app has used over the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. If one app is using far more battery than others, closing it and restarting your iPad may help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does closing apps make my iPad faster?

No. iOS manages memory automatically, and suspended apps use almost no processing power. Closing apps does not speed up your iPad. If your iPad feels slow, restarting it usually helps more than closing individual apps.

Will closing an app delete my data or unsaved work?

Closing an app does not delete any data stored on your iPad. However, if you have unsaved work open in the app — like a draft email or an unsaved document — that work will be lost when you close the app. Most apps save your work automatically, but check before closing if you are uncertain.

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

Closing an app stops it from running but leaves it installed on your iPad. You can open it again whenever you want. 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, then tap Delete App.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

You can close apps one at a time using the app switcher, but there is no built-in way to close all open apps simultaneously. You can swipe up on multiple app cards in quick succession to close several apps in one session, but you must do each one individually.

Why does my iPad still show an app as open after I closed it?

If you see an app card in the app switcher after closing it, the app may have automatically reopened or relaunched itself. Some apps are designed to restart when you switch away from them. If an app keeps reopening, try force-quitting it or restarting your iPad entirely.