The fastest way to close an app depends on what device you're using
Closing an app means stopping it completely so it is no longer running in the background. On most devices, closing an app is a single action — swipe it away on a phone, click the X button on a computer, or use a keyboard shortcut. The method changes based on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac, but the goal is the same: shut down the program so it stops using your device's memory and battery.
Many people think an app is closed when they just tap the home button or click away from it. That is not always true. On phones especially, apps often keep running in the background even after you stop looking at them. A real close stops the app entirely.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then swipe up on the app card to close it.
- On Android phones, swipe up from the bottom twice, or open the recent apps menu and swipe the app away to the side.
- On Windows computers, click the X button in the top-right corner of the app window, or press Alt+F4 as a keyboard shortcut.
- On Mac computers, click the red circle in the top-left corner of the window, or press Command+Q to close the entire app.
- Closing apps regularly can free up memory and battery life, especially if you have many apps running at once.
How to close an app on an iPhone
On an iPhone, the app switcher shows all the apps you have open. To reach it, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and pause for a moment. You will see cards showing each open app stacked on top of each other. Find the app you want to close and swipe upward on its card. The card will disappear, and the app is now closed.
If you have an older iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 or earlier), double-tap the home button instead. The app switcher will appear the same way, and you swipe up on the card to close it.
A common mistake is swiping too quickly from the bottom. If you swipe and release immediately, you will just go to the home screen instead of opening the switcher. Swipe slowly and hold for a second before releasing.
How to close an app on an Android phone
Android phones have a few ways to close apps depending on which version you have. The most common method is to swipe up from the bottom of the screen twice. The first swipe brings up your recent apps. The second swipe opens the full recent apps list, which shows all open apps as cards. Swipe the app you want to close to the left or right, and it will disappear.
On some Android phones, you can also press and hold the home button (or the pill-shaped button at the bottom) to open the recent apps menu directly. Then swipe the app away to close it.
If neither of those works on your phone, go to Settings, then Apps or Application Manager, find the app in the list, and tap Force Stop. This closes the app immediately, though it is a slower method than swiping.
How to close an app on a Windows computer
On Windows, the simplest way to close an app is to click the X button in the top-right corner of the window. Every app window has this button. Click it once, and the app closes.
If you prefer using your keyboard, press Alt+F4 while the app window is open. This keyboard shortcut closes whatever app you are currently using. It works in almost every Windows program.
If an app is frozen and will not close, right-click the app's name in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select Close Window. If that does not work, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find the frozen app in the list, click it, and then click End Task.
How to close an app on a Mac
On a Mac, click the red circle button in the top-left corner of the app window. This closes the window. However, closing the window does not always close the app completely — the app may still be running in the background.
To close the app entirely, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q. This quits the app and removes it from memory. You can also click the app's name in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Quit [App Name].
If you only click the red button, you will see the app name still appears in the menu bar or in the dock at the bottom. That means the app is still running. Press Command+Q to fully close it.
Why you should close apps regularly
Closing apps frees up memory on your device. When many apps run at the same time, your phone or computer has to work harder to keep them all in memory, which slows down everything else you are doing. Closing apps you are not using makes your device faster and more responsive.
On phones especially, closing apps saves battery life. Apps running in the background use power even when you are not looking at them. If your battery drains quickly, closing unused apps can help it last longer.
You do not need to close every app after every use. Close the ones you know you will not need for a while, or close apps if you notice your device is running slowly or your battery is draining fast.
The difference between closing and force-stopping an app
Closing an app normally (using the methods above) is the standard way to stop an app. Force-stopping is stronger — it stops the app immediately without letting it save anything or finish what it was doing. Use force-stop only if an app is frozen, crashing, or will not close the normal way.
On Android, you force-stop an app through Settings > Apps, then tap the app and select Force Stop. On Windows, you use Task Manager and click End Task. On iPhone and Mac, there is no force-stop option — if an app will not close normally, restart your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing an app delete my data or unsaved work?
Closing an app does not delete the app itself or your account information. However, if you had unsaved work open in the app, that work will be lost. Most apps save your data automatically, but if you made changes you have not saved, close the app carefully or save first.
What happens if I close an app by accident?
Nothing bad happens. You can open the app again immediately by tapping or clicking it. All your account data and saved files remain on your device. Closing an app is completely reversible.
Should I close all my apps every day?
You do not need to close every app daily. Close apps if your device is slow, your battery is draining fast, or you know you will not use them for a while. Restarting your device once a week or once a month closes all apps at once and is often more helpful than closing them individually.
Why does an app still show in my recent apps list after I close it?
Recent apps lists show apps you have used recently, not apps currently running. An app can appear in your recent list even after you close it. This is normal and does not mean the app is still running.
Can I close an app from the home screen without opening it?
No. To close an app, you have to open the app switcher or recent apps menu first. You cannot close an app directly from the home screen. However, you can uninstall an app from the home screen by pressing and holding its icon, though that removes it completely rather than just closing it.