Is your iPhone feeling sluggish? Are you experiencing unexpected battery drain? One of the simplest solutions is to close apps running in the background. While iOS is designed to manage apps efficiently, sometimes manually closing them can improve performance and battery life. This guide will walk you through various methods to effectively close apps on your iPhone, ensuring a smoother and more optimized mobile experience.
Why Close Apps on Your iPhone? Understanding the Benefits
While modern iPhones are designed to handle multitasking efficiently, there are still instances where closing apps can be beneficial. Leaving numerous apps running in the background can consume system resources, potentially leading to slower performance. Closing unused apps can free up RAM, allowing your iPhone to run more smoothly, especially when using resource-intensive applications like games or video editing software.
Another key benefit is improved battery life. Although iOS suspends apps in the background, some may still refresh content or use location services, contributing to battery drain. Closing these apps can help conserve power, extending the time between charges, particularly when you’re away from a power source. Finally, certain apps might encounter glitches or bugs that can be resolved by simply closing and restarting them.
Methods for Closing Apps on iPhones: Step-by-Step Instructions
Closing apps on your iPhone is a straightforward process that varies slightly depending on the model you own. Here’s a breakdown of the different methods for closing apps across various iPhone models.
Closing Apps on iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and Later)
iPhones equipped with Face ID, such as the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 series, utilize a gesture-based method for accessing the app switcher and closing applications.
- Access the App Switcher: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause briefly in the middle. This will bring up the app switcher, displaying all currently open apps.
- Browse Open Apps: Swipe left or right to navigate through the cards representing each open app.
- Close an App: Swipe up on the app card you want to close. This will remove it from the app switcher, effectively closing the application.
- Close Multiple Apps: Repeat the swipe-up gesture on each app you wish to close.
Closing Apps on iPhones with a Home Button (iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and Earlier)
Older iPhone models featuring a physical Home button utilize a different method for accessing the app switcher and closing apps.
- Access the App Switcher: Double-press the Home button. This will bring up the app switcher, displaying all currently open apps.
- Browse Open Apps: Swipe left or right to navigate through the cards representing each open app.
- Close an App: Swipe up on the app card you want to close. This will remove it from the app switcher, effectively closing the application.
- Close Multiple Apps: Repeat the swipe-up gesture on each app you wish to close.
Understanding App States: Suspended vs. Closed
It’s crucial to understand the difference between an app being suspended and being completely closed. When you switch away from an app without closing it, iOS typically suspends the app in the background. This means the app is still in memory but is not actively using CPU resources. It is in a dormant state, ready to resume quickly when you switch back to it.
However, some apps may continue to perform limited tasks in the background, such as refreshing content or checking for updates, depending on their settings and permissions. Completely closing an app, as described above, removes it from the app switcher and terminates its process, freeing up more resources and preventing it from running in the background.
When Should You Close Apps on Your iPhone? Best Practices
While closing apps can be beneficial in certain situations, it’s not always necessary or recommended to close every app after using it. iOS is designed to manage apps efficiently, and frequently closing and reopening apps can actually consume more battery life than leaving them suspended.
Here are some guidelines on when you should consider closing apps:
Experiencing Performance Issues: If your iPhone is running slowly or an app is unresponsive, closing unnecessary apps can free up resources and improve performance. Battery Drain: If you notice a significant decrease in battery life, closing apps that you’re not actively using can help conserve power. App Malfunctions: If an app is crashing, freezing, or exhibiting other unusual behavior, closing and restarting it can often resolve the issue. Privacy Concerns: If you’re concerned about an app tracking your location or accessing sensitive data in the background, closing it can prevent further activity. After Using Resource-Intensive Apps: Apps like games, video editors, or mapping applications can consume significant resources. Closing them after use can help improve overall performance.
Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions
Sometimes, closing apps might not resolve the issues you’re experiencing. Here are some common problems and potential solutions:
App Still Running in the Background: Ensure you’ve completely swiped up on the app card in the app switcher to close it. If the app reappears, it might be set to automatically restart or refresh in the background. Check the app’s settings and disable background app refresh if necessary. iPhone Still Slow: If closing apps doesn’t improve performance, consider restarting your iPhone. This can clear temporary files and resolve other system-level issues. Persistent Battery Drain: If battery drain persists even after closing apps, investigate which apps are consuming the most power by going to Settings > Battery. You can then adjust app settings, such as location services or background app refresh, to minimize battery usage.
- App Not Responding: If an app is completely frozen and won’t close, try force-restarting your iPhone. This can often resolve unresponsive app issues. The method for force-restarting varies depending on your iPhone model.
Closing apps on your iPhone is a simple yet effective way to manage resources, improve performance, and extend battery life. By understanding the different methods for closing apps and when it’s beneficial to do so, you can optimize your iPhone experience and ensure it runs smoothly. Remember to consider your specific needs and usage patterns to determine the best approach for managing your apps. So, go ahead and give it a try and see the difference it makes!
