Why you might want to close an app, and when it actually matters

Closing an app on iPhone stops it from running in the background and using your phone's memory and battery. Most of the time, iOS handles this automatically — apps pause when you switch away from them, and the system closes them if it needs the memory for something else. You do not need to close apps constantly to keep your phone working well.

There are real reasons to close an app manually: if an app is behaving strangely (freezing, crashing, or draining battery), closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem. If an app is using location or microphone in the background when you do not want it to, closing it stops that when ready. If you are troubleshooting a connection issue — like an app that will not load new messages — a full close and restart can help.

Closing an app is different from deleting it. Closing stops it from running right now. Deleting removes it from your phone entirely. This guide covers closing only.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones) to see all open apps, then swipe up on the app you want to close.
  • Closing an app does not delete it — it just stops it from running in the background until you open it again.
  • You do not need to close apps regularly to keep your iPhone running well; iOS closes them automatically when needed.
  • Close an app manually when it is freezing, crashing, draining battery unusually fast, or using location or microphone when you do not want it to.

How to close an app on iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X and newer)

On iPhones with Face ID — that is, iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer — swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. This opens the app switcher, which shows all the apps currently running in the background.

Find the app you want to close. Swipe up on that app's card or thumbnail. The app will disappear from the list and close when ready. You can close multiple apps this way by swiping up on each one in turn.

To exit the app switcher without closing anything, swipe down or tap the home screen area at the bottom.

How to close an app on iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 and older)

On iPhones with a home button — iPhone 8, 7, 6, and older models — swipe up from the very bottom of the screen. Hold your finger there for a moment, then release. This opens the app switcher.

Find the app you want to close. Swipe up on that app's card. The app will close and disappear from the list. You can close several apps in one session by swiping up on each one.

To exit the app switcher, press the home button or swipe down.

What happens when you close an app

When you close an app, it stops running when ready. Any unsaved work in that app is usually lost — for example, if you were typing a message in a notes app and did not send it, that text will be gone when you reopen the app. Some apps save drafts automatically, but not all.

Closing an app does not delete any data the app has stored on your phone. Photos, messages, settings, and other information the app saved stay on your phone. The next time you open the app, it will still have all that data.

The app will not reopen on its own. It stays closed until you tap its icon to open it again.

When closing an app actually solves a problem

If an app is freezing or not responding, close it and reopen it. This clears the app's temporary memory and often fixes the problem. Wait a few seconds after closing before you tap to reopen.

If an app is draining your battery much faster than usual, close it and check your battery settings to see if the problem stops. Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps have used the most power in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. If one app stands out, close it and consider whether you need to use it as often.

If an app keeps asking for permission to use your location or microphone and you do not want to grant it, closing the app stops those requests when ready. You can then decide whether to delete the app or change its permissions in Settings > Privacy.

Why closing apps does not speed up your iPhone

A common belief is that closing apps makes your iPhone faster. This is not how iOS works. iOS is designed to manage background apps efficiently — when you switch to a different app, the previous one pauses and uses almost no battery or processing power. iOS only keeps apps in memory if they are not taking up space that something else needs.

Closing apps constantly can actually make your iPhone slower, because each time you reopen an app, your phone has to load it fresh from storage, which takes more power than keeping it paused in memory.

The exception is if an app has a genuine bug and is using resources even when paused. In that case, closing it helps. But for normal use, you can leave apps running in the background without worry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing an app delete my photos or messages?

No. Closing an app stops it from running, but does not delete any data it has stored. Your photos, messages, and other information stay on your phone. The next time you open the app, everything will be there.

Do I need to close apps every day to keep my iPhone working well?

No. iOS closes apps automatically when it needs the memory, and paused apps use almost no battery. Closing apps constantly can actually make your phone slower because it has to reload them each time. Close an app only if it is misbehaving or using resources you do not want it to use.

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

Closing stops the app from running right now, but the app stays on your phone. Deleting removes the app entirely from your phone. If you close an app, you can open it again by tapping its icon. If you delete an app, you have to read it again from the App Store.

Can I close multiple apps at once?

You can close them one at a time in the app switcher by swiping up on each one. There is no button to close all apps at once. If you want to close many apps, swipe up on each card in turn — it takes only a few seconds.

Why does my app keep crashing even after I close it?

If an app crashes repeatedly, the problem may be with the app itself, not your phone. Check the App Store to see if an update is available — outdated apps crash more often. If an update exists, install it. If the app still crashes after updating, consider deleting it and downloading it fresh, or contact the app maker for support.