Closing apps on your iPhone can improve performance, free up memory, and extend battery life. While simply swiping up on an app in the App Switcher might seem sufficient, a true "force close" is sometimes necessary to resolve issues. This guide will clarify the difference and show you how to properly close apps on your iPhone, regardless of the iOS version you're using.
How to Close Apps on iPhone (App Switcher Method)
This method closes apps gracefully, freeing up some resources but not necessarily ending all background processes. It's the quickest and most common method.
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Swipe up from the bottom of the screen: On iPhones with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom and pause slightly in the middle of the screen. On iPhones without a Home button (iPhone X and later), swipe up from the bottom and hold for a moment. This reveals the App Switcher.
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View your open apps: You'll see a horizontal stack of app previews.
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Close an app: Swipe up on the app preview you want to close. It will disappear from the view. Repeat for any other apps you want to close.
This is NOT a force close. While it's effective for most situations, sometimes you need a more thorough approach.
How to Force Close an App on iPhone
Forcing an app to close completely ends all background processes associated with it. This is particularly useful if an app is frozen, unresponsive, or consuming excessive resources.
There are slight differences in how to force close apps depending on your iOS version:
Force Closing Apps on iPhones with a Home Button (iOS 11 and earlier)
This method is now outdated for most users, but included for completeness:
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Double-click the Home button: This will bring up the App Switcher.
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Locate the unresponsive app: Find the app you want to close.
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Swipe up on the app preview: This will force close the app.
Force Closing Apps on iPhones without a Home Button (iOS 12 and later)
This is the standard method for most modern iPhones:
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Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause: This will bring up the App Switcher.
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Locate the unresponsive app: Find the app you want to close.
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Swipe up on the app preview: This will force close the app. It's the same swipe-up gesture as closing an app normally, but within the App Switcher.
Why Force Close an App?
Several reasons may prompt you to force close an app:
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App is unresponsive or frozen: If an app is stuck on a loading screen or not responding to input, force closing is the best way to regain control.
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App is consuming excessive battery: Some apps might run background processes that drain your battery unnecessarily. Force closing can help mitigate this.
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Improving overall system performance: If your iPhone feels sluggish or slow, force closing resource-intensive apps can help free up RAM and improve responsiveness.
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Resolving app-specific issues: Sometimes, force closing an app is a necessary troubleshooting step to resolve glitches or bugs.
What Happens When You Force Close an App?
When you force close an app, it's completely terminated from memory. Any unsaved progress within the app will be lost. However, this is generally a better alternative to leaving a frozen or malfunctioning app running, potentially causing further issues.
Is it Necessary to Regularly Force Close Apps?
No, you don't need to regularly force close apps unless you're experiencing performance problems or an app is malfunctioning. iOS is designed to manage background processes efficiently. Force closing healthy apps won't provide significant performance improvements and might even reduce efficiency in some cases.
How Often Should I Restart My iPhone?
While force closing apps addresses individual app problems, restarting your iPhone is a more comprehensive way to refresh the entire system. Restarting your device once a week or so is good preventative maintenance.
By understanding the difference between closing and force closing apps, and when to utilize each method, you can better manage your iPhone's resources and improve its overall performance.
