Learn How to Close Down Apps on Your Device
Understanding Why You Might Want to Close Apps
Every device—whether a smartphone, tablet, or computer—runs multiple programs at the same time. These programs, called applications or "apps," continue using your device's resources even when you're not actively looking at them. When you have many apps running in the background, your device may slow down, use more battery power, and consume your data plan more quickly.
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According to mobile usage studies, the average smartphone user has between 80 and 100 apps installed, but typically uses only about 30 regularly. Many of these unused apps continue to run processes in the background, consuming memory and battery life. On older devices or those with limited storage, this background activity becomes more noticeable. A device running 15 background apps may drain its battery 20-40% faster than one with just a few essential apps active.
Closing apps serves several practical purposes. First, it frees up your device's random access memory (RAM), which is the temporary storage your device uses to run programs. Second, it stops unnecessary data usage from apps that sync or refresh content continuously. Third, it reduces battery drain. Some apps, like location services or social media platforms, work constantly to update information, refresh feeds, or track your location—all while consuming power.
Beyond performance, closing apps gives you better privacy control. When an app runs in the background, it may collect location data, access your contacts, or connect to the internet without your direct knowledge. By closing apps you're not using, you limit what information these programs can gather about you.
Practical Takeaway: Regularly closing unused apps can extend battery life by several hours and improve your device's overall speed and responsiveness.
How to Close Apps on iOS Devices (iPhone and iPad)
Apple's iOS operating system handles app management differently depending on which version of iOS your device runs. For devices using iOS 12 or newer (released in 2018 and later), the process is straightforward and takes just seconds per app.
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To close an app on a modern iPhone or iPad, start by going to your home screen. You can do this by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or pressing the home button if your device has one. Next, swipe up from the bottom of the screen again, but this time do it slowly and deliberately from the very bottom edge of the screen. This gesture opens the App Switcher—a view showing all your currently open apps as cards or thumbnails stacked on top of each other.
Once the App Switcher is open, you'll see previews of your running apps. To close a specific app, touch and hold its card or thumbnail. A menu will appear with options. Look for the "Remove App" option or a minus symbol. Tap this to close the app. You can close multiple apps by repeating this process. Simply swipe through the App Switcher to find each app you want to close, then use the remove option for each one.
For older iOS devices running versions before iOS 12, the process differs slightly. Double-press the home button to open the App Switcher. Instead of cards, you'll see a horizontal row of app icons at the bottom of your screen. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close. Once you see it, swipe upward on that app's preview to close it.
It's worth noting that Apple designed iOS to manage apps efficiently in the background. Closing apps is not always necessary for daily use. However, if you notice your device running slowly, getting warm, or draining battery faster than usual, closing unused apps can help resolve these issues.
Practical Takeaway: On modern iPhones and iPads, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold an app card, then tap "Remove App" to close it quickly.
How to Close Apps on Android Devices
Android devices, made by Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and other manufacturers, offer multiple ways to close apps. The method you use depends on your device model and Android version, but all approaches accomplish the same result.
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The most common method uses the "Recent Apps" or "Overview" button. On most Android devices, you'll find this as a button at the bottom of your screen—it typically looks like a square or rectangle outline. Tap this button to see all your currently open apps displayed as cards. Scroll through the list to find the app you want to close. Once you locate it, swipe the card upward or to the side, or tap the "X" button if one appears on the card. The app will close immediately.
Some Android devices use gesture navigation instead of buttons. If your device uses gestures, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen and hold briefly. This opens the same Recent Apps view. Then swipe or close apps using the same methods described above.
An alternative method involves using your device's Settings menu. Open Settings, then navigate to "Apps" or "Application Manager"—the exact name varies by device. You'll see a list of all installed apps. Find the app you want to close, tap it, and look for a "Force Stop" button. Tapping this immediately closes the app. Note that "Force Stop" is more aggressive than the normal closing method and should only be used if an app is frozen or misbehaving.
For users who prefer a more hands-off approach, Android includes a feature that automatically manages apps. Open Settings, go to "Battery" or "Device Care," and look for options like "Adaptive Battery" or "Battery Optimization." These features automatically limit background activity for apps you don't use frequently, so you don't have to manually close them.
Android devices from different manufacturers may have slightly different names for these features. Samsung devices call it "Device Care," while Google Pixel devices use "Adaptive Battery." Regardless of the specific terminology, the concept remains the same: you're closing running apps or limiting their background activity.
Practical Takeaway: Press or swipe to access Recent Apps, then swipe an app card upward to close it, or use Settings > Apps > Force Stop for apps that freeze or malfunction.
Closing Apps on Windows and Mac Computers
Closing applications on computers works differently from mobile devices because computers typically display one or two programs at a time rather than maintaining dozens in the background. However, the principle remains: closing unused programs frees up system resources and improves performance.
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On Windows computers, you have several methods to close applications. The simplest approach is to look for an "X" button in the top-right corner of the application window. Click this button to close the program immediately. Alternatively, you can right-click on the application's name in the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen) and select "Close window" or "Close all windows."
For applications that freeze or stop responding, Windows provides the Task Manager tool. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager. You'll see a list of all running applications. Find the frozen or problematic app in the list, click it to select it, and then click the "End Task" button. This forces the application to close. Task Manager also displays how much memory and processing power each app is using, helping you identify which programs consume the most resources.
On Mac computers, closing applications is equally straightforward. Look for the red circle button in the top-left corner of the application window and click it to close the app. Alternatively, click on the application's name in the menu bar at the top of the screen and select "Quit [Application Name]."
For Mac apps that stop responding, use the Force Quit feature. Press Command + Option + Esc simultaneously to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select the unresponsive app and click "Force Quit." This immediately closes the program.
On both Windows and Mac, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to close the currently active window. On Windows, press Alt + F4. On Mac, press Command + Q. These shortcuts work in almost every application and offer a quick way to close programs without using your mouse.
Practical Takeaway: Click the X button to close desktop apps normally, or use Task Manager (Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and Force Quit (Mac: Command + Option + Esc) to stop unresponsive programs.
What Happens When You Close an App: What You Should Understand
Closing an app removes it