Learn How to Close Apps on Your Devices

Understanding App Closing Across Different Devices

Closing apps on your devices is a basic skill that can help manage your phone or tablet's performance and battery life. Different types of devices use different methods to close applications, and understanding these differences matters whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or tablet. Apps run in the background on most modern devices, which means they continue using processing power and battery even when you're not actively looking at them. Knowing how to properly close apps gives you control over which programs are running at any given time.

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Mobile devices have different operating systems, and each system has its own way of handling apps. An iPhone uses Apple's iOS system, while most Android phones use Google's Android system. Windows tablets and iPads have their own approaches as well. The method you use to close an app on one device may not work the same way on another device. For example, swiping up to close an app works differently on newer iPhones compared to older models. Understanding your specific device type is the first step toward managing your apps.

When you close an app, you're typically removing it from your device's active memory. This action tells your device to stop running that program in the background. However, the app itself remains installed on your device—closing an app is different from uninstalling it. Uninstalling removes the app completely from your device, while closing just stops it from running temporarily. You can reopen a closed app by tapping its icon again.

Many people don't realize that modern devices are designed to manage apps automatically. Your phone or tablet handles closing apps in the background without you doing anything. However, there are times when you might want to manually close an app—for example, if it's not responding correctly, using too much battery, or running slowly.

• Different devices require different closing methods
• Closing an app is different from uninstalling it
• Closed apps can be reopened by tapping their icon
• Modern devices manage many apps automatically

Takeaway: Understanding your device type and how it manages apps helps you take control of performance when needed.

Closing Apps on iPhones: Step-by-Step Instructions

If you use an iPhone, the method for closing apps depends on which version you have. iPhones from 2017 and newer (iPhone X and later models) use Face ID and have a different app-closing method than older iPhones with home buttons. Knowing which iPhone model you own matters because the process differs between these versions. You can find your iPhone model by going to Settings, then General, then About. This information tells you exactly which method to use.

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For iPhone X and newer models, closing an app uses a swiping motion. Start by opening the app you want to close. Once the app is open, press and hold one of the buttons on the side of your phone—usually the volume button. Keep holding until you see the app switcher screen appear. Alternatively, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle, which also brings up the app switcher. Once you see the app switcher showing all your open apps, find the app you want to close and swipe it upward. The app will disappear from the screen, indicating it has closed.

For older iPhone models with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), the process is simpler. Double-press the home button at the bottom center of your phone. This action brings up the app switcher showing thumbnails of your open apps. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close. Once you locate it, swipe upward on that app's thumbnail. The app will disappear from the app switcher, meaning it has been closed. After closing, press the home button once more to return to your normal home screen.

If an app is frozen or not responding on your iPhone, you may need to force close it. This method works on all iPhone models. For iPhone X and newer, press and hold the side button and one volume button together until the power-off slider appears. Release the buttons and wait for the phone to power down. Then press and hold the side button again to turn your phone back on. For older iPhones with home buttons, press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears, then follow the same steps.

• iPhone X and newer: swipe up from the bottom or press and hold side button, then swipe apps up
• iPhone 8 and earlier: double-press home button, then swipe apps up
• Force close works on all iPhones when apps are frozen
• Check your model in Settings > General > About

Takeaway: Identify your iPhone model, then use the appropriate method—swiping for newer models or the home button for older ones.

Closing Apps on Android Phones and Tablets

Android devices, which include phones from Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, and many other manufacturers, have a standard method for closing apps. Most Android phones use a similar process, though the buttons or gestures might be located slightly differently depending on your specific model. Understanding the basics of closing apps on Android helps you manage any Android device you use, whether it's your own phone or someone else's tablet.

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The most common way to close apps on Android is through the recent apps screen. To access this screen, look at the bottom of your phone. You should see three buttons or gestures: a back button (usually an arrow or triangle), a home button (usually a circle), and a recent apps button (usually a square or stack of rectangles). Tap the recent apps button—it's typically on the right side of these controls. Your phone will show thumbnails of apps you've recently used. Swipe left or right through these apps to find the one you want to close. Once you find it, swipe it upward off the screen. The app will disappear, meaning it has closed.

Some newer Android phones use gesture controls instead of buttons. If your phone doesn't have visible buttons at the bottom, it likely uses gestures. To access recent apps on a gesture-controlled phone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment. Release your finger, and the recent apps screen will appear. Then follow the same process—swipe the app you want to close upward to remove it. This method works on phones from Samsung (with One UI), Google Pixel phones, and many others using newer Android versions.

For Android devices where an app is frozen or not responding, you have a force-close option. Go to Settings on your Android device. Find Apps or Application Manager (the name varies by device). Scroll through your list of apps and find the one that's not responding. Tap on it to open its details page. You should see a button labeled "Force Stop." Tap this button to force the app to close. This method works when normal closing doesn't work because the app has stopped responding to commands.

• Use the recent apps button or swipe up from the bottom
• Swipe apps upward to close them
• Gesture controls work differently on newer phones but accomplish the same goal
• Use Force Stop in Settings when an app is frozen

Takeaway: Locate your recent apps button or use the swipe gesture, then swipe apps upward to close them quickly.

Closing Apps on iPads and Tablets

iPads and tablets work similarly to phones but often have slightly different methods because of their larger screens. iPad models with Face ID (iPad Pro models from 2018 onward and iPad Air from 2022 onward) use the same closing method as newer iPhones. iPads with older home buttons use the same process as older iPhones. Understanding your iPad model helps you use the right method. Check your model by going to Settings, General, and About, just like on iPhones.

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For iPads with Face ID, closing an app involves swiping up from the bottom or using the side buttons. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to bring up the app switcher. You'll see multiple app cards displayed. Swipe left or right to navigate through your open apps. Find the app you want to close and swipe it upward. The app card will disappear from the switcher, indicating the app has closed. After closing apps, you can tap elsewhere on the screen or