Closing apps on your iPhone might seem simple, but there are different methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This guide will walk you through the various ways to close running apps, explain the differences, and help you choose the best method for your needs.
Why Close Apps on Your iPhone?
Before diving into the how, let's address the why. Many users believe closing apps improves battery life or performance. While force-quitting apps (completely shutting them down) can sometimes be helpful, iOS is generally very efficient at managing app resources. Modern iPhones are designed to pause background apps intelligently, minimizing battery drain and performance issues. In most cases, simply switching away from an app is sufficient.
However, there are scenarios where closing apps can be beneficial:
- Buggy or unresponsive app: If an app freezes or becomes unresponsive, closing it is necessary to regain functionality.
- Resource-intensive apps: If you're running multiple demanding apps simultaneously (e.g., gaming, video editing), closing less crucial apps can free up resources and improve performance.
- Privacy concerns: Some apps continue background activity even when you're not actively using them. Closing these apps can offer some degree of added privacy.
How to Close Apps on iPhone: The App Switcher Method
This is the standard and recommended way to close apps on iPhones running iOS and iPadOS.
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Swipe up from the bottom of the screen: This gesture brings up the App Switcher, displaying all your recently used apps as cards. On iPhones with a Home button, double-clicking the button achieves the same result.
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Locate the app you want to close: Find the app's card in the App Switcher.
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Swipe up on the app's card: Swipe upward and slightly off the screen. The app's card will disappear, indicating it's been closed.
Important Note: This method does not completely terminate the app. It pauses the app's activity. The app will still retain its data and session, allowing for quick resumption.
How to Force Quit an App on iPhone
Force quitting completely terminates an app, clearing its memory and data. This should only be used if an app is frozen or behaving erratically.
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Open the App Switcher: Use the swipe-up gesture (or double-click the Home button on older iPhones) to access the App Switcher.
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Locate the unresponsive app: Find the app's card.
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Hold down on the app's card: Press and hold on the app's preview until it slightly wiggles.
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Swipe up on the app's card: Swipe upward and slightly off the screen to force-quit the app.
Does Closing Apps Improve iPhone Battery Life?
The Reality of Background App Activity: While closing apps might seem to improve battery life, the impact is generally minimal. iOS intelligently manages background processes, pausing apps when not needed. Force-quitting apps constantly can actually be counterproductive, as it forces the system to reload the app from scratch when you reopen it, consuming more resources than simply letting iOS manage it.
Focus on Real Battery Drains: Instead of obsessively closing apps, concentrate on true battery drain culprits like:
- High screen brightness: Reduce screen brightness.
- Location services: Turn off location services for apps that don't require it.
- Background app refresh: Limit background app refresh for apps you rarely use.
- Cellular data: Use Wi-Fi whenever possible.
Should I Regularly Close My Apps?
No, there's no need to regularly close your apps. iOS manages app activity efficiently. Closing apps frequently won't significantly improve performance or battery life, and can even be detrimental. Focus on addressing actual performance issues or unresponsive apps instead of routinely closing everything.
When Should I Force Quit an App?
Force quit an app only when it's frozen, unresponsive, or behaving erratically. Otherwise, simply switching away from the app is usually sufficient.
What Happens When I Close an App?
Closing an app using the App Switcher pauses the app's background activity. Force-quitting completely terminates the app.
This guide offers a comprehensive understanding of how to close and force-quit apps on your iPhone. Remember, iOS is designed for efficient app management, so focus on addressing actual problems rather than constantly closing apps unnecessarily.
