Close Down Apps Properly Guide For Devices

Understanding Why Closing Apps Properly Matters

When you finish using an app on your phone or tablet, you might think pressing the home button or swiping it away closes the app completely. However, that's often not the case. Many apps continue running in the background, using your device's battery, memory, and internet connection even when you're not actively using them. According to studies from mobile performance researchers, a typical smartphone user may have 20-30 apps running simultaneously at any given time, with many of them consuming resources unnecessarily.

Closing apps properly involves understanding the difference between suspending an app and truly shutting it down. When an app is suspended, it remains in your device's memory and can quickly resume where you left off. When properly closed, the app releases all the resources it was using. This distinction matters because devices have limited processing power, memory, and battery capacity. The average smartphone battery can drain 15-20% faster when multiple apps run in the background continuously.

Beyond battery drain, apps running in the background can also affect your device's performance. Your phone or tablet slows down as it juggles multiple processes. You might notice lag when opening other apps, slower internet speeds, or delayed notifications. Additionally, some apps may collect location data, access your contacts, or use your internet connection while running invisibly. Understanding how to close apps properly gives you better control over your device's performance and your privacy.

Learning to close apps properly applies to all devices—smartphones, tablets, and computers. Each platform has slightly different methods, but the principle remains the same: you want to stop processes that consume resources when you're finished using them. This guide explores specific techniques for different devices and explains what happens when apps stay running.

Practical Takeaway: Regularly closing apps properly can extend your battery life by 20-30% and improve overall device performance. Start paying attention to which apps you use most frequently and make closing them part of your routine.

How to Close Apps on iPhones and iPads

Apple devices handle app closing differently depending on which model you own and which operating system version runs on your device. For iPhones and iPads with Face ID (iPhone X and newer), closing apps requires a specific gesture. You swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle, which brings up the app switcher showing all your recently used apps as cards. Once the app switcher appears, you can swipe up on any app card to close it. Each upward swipe removes one app from memory.

For older iPhones and iPads with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), the process differs. Double-press the home button to open the app switcher, which displays thumbnails of your recent apps. Then swipe up on the app thumbnail you want to close. This gesture signals to iOS that you want to fully quit the app rather than just minimize it. You can close multiple apps by repeating this swipe-up motion on each one.

It's worth noting that Apple's iOS is designed to manage background processes quite efficiently compared to some other operating systems. Apple limits what apps can do in the background and automatically suspends most apps when you switch away from them. However, some apps—like music players, navigation apps, or fitness trackers—are designed to continue running in the background. These apps have permission to do so because their function requires continuous operation. Closing these apps through the app switcher will stop them completely, which may interrupt services like music playback or GPS navigation.

Apple's Settings app allows you to see which apps are using battery power and which apps have used location services. To check this information, go to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Usage. This shows you which apps drain the most power. You may want to close power-hungry apps more often. You can also check Settings > Privacy > Location Services to see which apps requested location access.

Practical Takeaway: Make it a habit to close your most-used apps daily, especially before charging your device. Use the Battery Usage section in Settings to identify which apps drain power fastest, and prioritize closing those.

Closing Apps on Android Devices

Android devices offer several methods for closing apps, and the specific steps may vary slightly depending on your manufacturer and Android version. The most straightforward method involves using the recent apps screen. To access this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold (on newer Android versions), or tap the square or recent apps button if your device has physical navigation buttons. This displays thumbnail previews of apps you've recently used.

Once the recent apps screen appears, you can close individual apps by swiping them to the side or tapping an X button if one appears. On many Android devices, you can also swipe up on an app card to close it. To close all apps at once, look for a "Clear All" button, usually located at the bottom of the recent apps screen. Tapping this removes all recently used apps from memory simultaneously. However, some apps automatically restart after being closed, especially if they have special permissions or are set to run in the background.

Android provides more transparency about background processes than some other systems. You can access detailed information through Settings > Apps or Settings > Applications. This section shows all installed apps and allows you to see how much storage each uses, when it was last opened, and what permissions it has. For apps you don't use regularly, you can force stop them here by opening the app details and tapping "Force Stop." This completely halts the app and prevents it from running in the background.

Android's battery settings also display which apps consume the most power. Navigate to Settings > Battery to see a breakdown of battery usage by app. This information helps you identify which apps to close more frequently. You can also check Settings > Apps > Permissions to see which apps requested access to sensitive features like your camera, microphone, contacts, or location. Apps with broad permissions may consume more resources, especially if they run in the background.

Practical Takeaway: Use Android's app management settings to identify battery-hungry apps and apps with excessive permissions. Close these apps after using them, and consider whether you still need apps that request many permissions.

Managing Background App Refresh and Permissions

Even after you close an app properly, some apps may continue running certain processes if they have background activity permissions enabled. On iPhones and iPads, this feature is called Background App Refresh. When enabled for a specific app, that app can update its content while you're not using it. For example, a weather app might refresh weather data every few hours, or an email app might check for new messages in the background. While this feature provides convenience, it drains battery and uses data.

To manage Background App Refresh on iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You'll see a list of apps with toggle switches. Turn off Background App Refresh for apps you don't need to update constantly. You might keep it on for important apps like email or calendar, but disable it for games, social media, or news apps. This simple setting change can noticeably extend battery life. Research shows that disabling Background App Refresh on 10-15 apps can improve battery performance by 10-15%.

Android devices handle background activity through permissions and settings found in Settings > Apps. For each app, you can review what permissions it has and restrict background activity if available. Some Android versions include a Battery Saver or Power Saving mode that automatically limits background activity for all apps except essential ones. Enabling this mode, especially when your battery drops below 20%, significantly reduces background drain.

Location permissions deserve special attention because they consume substantial battery and data. Many apps request location access but only need it while you're actively using them. Go through your location permissions settings and change apps from "Always" to "Only While Using." This allows apps to access your location only when you have them open. Similarly, review which apps have access to your microphone and camera. Disable these permissions for apps that don't need them.

Practical Takeaway: Audit your app permissions monthly. Change location access from "Always" to "Only While Using" for most apps, disable Background App Refresh for non-essential apps, and remove microphone and camera permissions from apps that don't need them.

Properly Closing Apps on Computers and Laptops

Computer and laptop apps require different closing techniques than mobile apps because they typically consume more resources and operate differently. On Windows computers, the simplest method is clicking the X button in the top-right corner of an app window. This closes the app and stops all its processes. However, some apps may continue running in the system tray even after you