Free Guide to Closing Running Apps on Your Device

Understanding What Running Apps Are and Why Closing Them Matters

Running apps are programs and applications that are currently active on your device, either in the foreground (the app you're actively using) or in the background (apps working behind the scenes). When you open an app and then switch to another one, the first app often continues running in the background. This guide explains what that means and why you might want to close these apps.

Every app that runs on your device uses system resources. These resources include your device's RAM (random access memory), processing power, and battery. Think of RAM like your device's short-term memory—it can only hold so much information at once. When too many apps run simultaneously, your device may slow down, freeze, or respond sluggishly to your commands. Additionally, background apps consume battery power, which means your device's battery drains faster.

Different devices handle background apps differently. Android phones and iPhones have built-in systems to manage apps, but these systems don't always close every app you're no longer using. Some apps are designed to keep running in the background to provide notifications, location services, or data synchronization. For example, your email app might check for new messages in the background, or your weather app might update forecasts periodically. However, some apps consume resources unnecessarily when you're not using them.

Understanding which apps are running helps you make informed decisions about your device's performance. A device with fewer active apps typically runs faster and uses less battery. However, closing certain apps might mean missing notifications or losing functionality you depend on. The goal of learning to close running apps is to find the balance between performance and functionality that works for your specific needs.

Practical Takeaway: Open your device's settings and look for the "Running Apps" or "Active Applications" section to see which programs are currently using your device's resources. This awareness is the first step toward managing your device's performance.

How to Close Running Apps on Android Devices

Android devices provide several methods to close running apps, ranging from simple to more detailed approaches. The most straightforward method involves using the Recent Apps button or gesture. On most Android phones, you can access recently used apps by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding (on newer models) or by tapping the Recent Apps button on the navigation bar. This action shows you thumbnails of apps you've used recently. To close an app, swipe the thumbnail upward or to the side, and the app closes.

For more control over background apps, you can access the Settings menu. Navigate to "Settings" > "Apps" or "Application Manager" (the exact name varies by manufacturer and Android version). This section displays all installed apps on your device. Select any app you want to close, and you'll see options including "Force Stop." Tapping this button immediately closes the app and prevents it from running in the background. Be aware that force stopping some apps, like messaging services, might prevent them from sending notifications until you manually open them again.

Another useful feature is the Battery Manager or Battery Saver mode available on most Android devices. You can find this in Settings, often under "Device Care," "Battery," or "Power Management." This feature shows you which apps consume the most battery power and allows you to restrict background activity for specific apps. When you restrict an app, it only runs when you're actively using it. You can also enable Battery Saver mode, which automatically limits background app activity to extend your battery life.

For users who want to prevent apps from running automatically when you restart your device, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] and look for options like "Disable," "Don't allow in background," or toggle off "Allow background activity." However, some system apps cannot be disabled. If you're unsure whether it's safe to close a particular app, a good rule is to avoid closing apps with system names (those beginning with "Android" or your phone manufacturer's name) unless you know what they do.

Practical Takeaway: Use the Recent Apps view as your primary method for closing apps you've finished using, and reserve the Settings > Apps menu for managing which apps can run in the background permanently.

How to Close Running Apps on Apple iPhones and iPads

Apple devices manage running apps somewhat differently than Android devices. iPhones and iPads are designed to automatically close apps when they're not in use, so manual closing is less frequently necessary. However, you still have the option to close apps manually using the App Switcher. To access the App Switcher, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold until you see app cards appear (on iPhone X and newer), or double-tap the Home button (on older iPhones with Home buttons).

Once the App Switcher is open, you'll see cards representing each running app. These cards show a preview of the app's current state. To close an app, swipe the card upward. This action closes the app completely. You can close multiple apps by swiping up on several cards in succession. Notably, Apple's design means that most apps don't actually drain significant battery when running in the background, because the operating system suspends them automatically. However, some apps (like navigation, music streaming, or fitness apps) are designed to continue running for specific purposes.

If you want to prevent specific apps from using data or running functions in the background, you can adjust settings through the Settings app. Navigate to "Settings" > "General" > "Background App Refresh." Here, you can toggle the feature off entirely, or you can scroll down to see individual apps and disable background activity for specific ones. Disabling background app refresh means certain apps won't update or send notifications unless you actively open them. This feature can significantly extend battery life if you're selective about which apps need background access.

You can also check which apps have used the most battery by going to "Settings" > "Battery" > "Battery Usage." This information shows you over the past 24 hours and the past 10 days which apps consumed the most power. If you see an app using unusually high battery, you can investigate why. Sometimes an app is malfunctioning and consuming excessive resources, in which case you might close it or delete it from your device entirely.

Practical Takeaway: Use the App Switcher to close apps you've finished using, and navigate to Settings > Background App Refresh to prevent specific apps from consuming battery when you're not actively using them.

Managing Background Apps Without Force-Closing Everything

A common mistake users make is closing all running apps in an attempt to improve performance. In reality, modern devices are designed to handle multiple running apps, and force-closing apps can sometimes decrease efficiency rather than improve it. Here's why: some apps need to run in the background to function properly. If you close your email app completely, it won't send you notifications about new messages. If you close your messaging app, you'll miss texts. Additionally, many apps are designed to relaunch themselves automatically, so closing them might just cause your device to restart them immediately, using more resources in the process.

A better approach is selective management. Close apps you've finished using and aren't likely to open again in the near future. Keep apps running that provide important functionality, like communication apps, calendar apps, or navigation. You can further optimize by adjusting permissions and background activity for apps individually. For example, you might allow your bank app to run only when you're using it, but allow your messaging app to run in the background to receive notifications.

Another strategy involves using your device's built-in storage and memory management features. On Android, some devices have a "Storage Manager" that identifies and removes cached data from apps, freeing up space without closing the apps. On iPhones, you can manage app storage by going to "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage" (or "iPad Storage"). This section shows your installed apps and their sizes. You can uninstall apps you no longer use, which frees up storage and means fewer apps running on your system overall.

Battery Saver modes on both Android and iOS devices provide another layer of management without requiring you to manually close apps. When enabled, these modes restrict background activity for all non-essential apps while still allowing important apps to function. This approach balances performance, battery life, and functionality without requiring extensive manual intervention. You can enable Battery Saver mode whenever you anticipate heavy use or extended periods away from a charging source.

Practical Takeaway: Instead of force-closing all apps, focus on closing apps you've actively finished using and adjusting background activity settings for apps you want to keep but don't need running all the time.