Knowing how to shutdown apps on iPhone keeps your device responsive and your battery lasting longer. This guide walks through the most reliable ways to close running apps and manage background activity with confidence.
Use the methods below depending on your iOS version and exactly what you want to achieve, from simple background swipe to deeper app management.
| Method | When to Use | Effect on App | Effect on Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Indicator Swipe (iOS 13 and later) | Quickly close foreground or recent apps | Stops app and removes it from recents | Frees memory and reduces background CPU use |
| App Switcher Card Tapping | Review multiple recent apps before closing | Force quits selected apps | Clears unstable app states and memory |
| Force Restart (unresponsive app) | App frozen or not responding | Closes app and reloads fresh instance | Resets app process and restores function |
| Settings App Management | Review overall app usage and storage | Offloads or deletes app with data option | Reclaims storage and can improve system speed |
Using the App Switcher to shutdown apps
The App Switcher gives a visual overview of recently used apps and lets you shut down any that are unnecessary. This method works consistently across iPhone models with Face ID or a home button.
How to open the App Switcher
Swipe up from the bottom edge and pause slightly in the middle of the screen on models without a home button. On older iPhones with a home button, double-click the button to bring up the switcher.
Closing apps from the switcher
Find the app card you want to remove, then flick it upward off the top of the screen. Each swipe removes that app from memory and helps free RAM and CPU cycles.
Force restarting to shutdown a frozen app
When an app stops responding, a regular close may not work. A force restart safely reboots the app without affecting your data or settings.
Force restart on iPhone 8 and later
Press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Force restart on iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
Hold both Volume Down and the Side button until the screen turns off and the Apple logo shows.
Force restart on iPhone 6s and earlier
Hold both Home and the Side button until the device restarts and the Apple logo appears.
Managing background app refresh to shutdown unnecessary activity
Background app refresh lets apps update content when they are not active, which can slow your device and use more battery. Adjusting these settings is a proactive way to shutdown wasteful background tasks.
Turn off background refresh globally
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle it off to stop all apps from refreshing in the background.
Customize per-app background refresh
Within the same menu, select individual apps and choose Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi and Cellular, or Never to limit when they run in the background.
Offloading and deleting apps to shutdown related processes
If you no longer use an app often, offloading or removing it can completely shutdown its background processes and reclaim storage.
Offload app from Settings
Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap the app, and choose Offload App. This removes the app but keeps your documents and data for reinstall later.
Delete app directly
Press and hold the app icon until it jiggles, then tap the Delete App button. This fully removes the app and stops any background services it was using.
Smart app management for everyday iPhone use
- Use App Switcher swipe for quick shutdown of apps you are done with during a session.
- Use force restart only when an app is frozen or unresponsive.
- Adjust Background App Refresh to limit unnecessary background activity.
- Offload apps you rarely use to stop background processes without losing data.
- Monitor battery and app usage in Settings to identify apps that need attention.
FAQ
Reader questions
Why do apps stay open after I swipe them away?
iOS keeps some apps in a suspended state for faster reopening, which can look like they are still running. Force quitting or restarting clears that state.
Does closing apps improve battery life on iPhone?
It helps when apps are actively misbehaving, but regularly closing well behaved apps rarely extends battery life and can sometimes use more resources when you reopen them.
Will force restarting an app delete my data?
No, a force restart only stops the app from responding and reloads it without removing documents, settings, or saved information.
Should I close apps every time I finish using them?
Not necessary for most apps, but it is useful when an app freezes, misbehaves, or shows high battery or CPU usage in Settings.