How to Force Quit Apps on Your iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide
Keeping your iPhone running smoothly often involves managing the apps you have open. Sometimes, an app can become unresponsive, drain your battery, or simply slow down your device. In such cases, knowing how to force quit an app is essential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps on how to close apps on various iPhone models, explain when you should (and shouldn’t) force quit apps, and offer some additional tips for optimizing your iPhone’s performance.
## Why Close Apps on Your iPhone?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why you might want to close an app in the first place:
* **Unresponsive App:** If an app freezes, becomes sluggish, or displays error messages, force quitting can often resolve the issue.
* **Battery Drain:** Although modern iPhones are designed to manage background app activity efficiently, a malfunctioning app can sometimes excessively drain your battery. Closing the app can prevent further battery loss.
* **Free Up Resources:** Force quitting an app releases the memory and processing power it was using, potentially improving the overall performance of your iPhone, especially if you have many apps running simultaneously.
* **Troubleshooting:** When troubleshooting an issue with your iPhone, closing all open apps is a common first step to isolate the problem.
## When *Not* to Force Quit Apps
It’s important to note that force quitting apps should not be a regular habit. iOS is designed to efficiently manage background app activity. When you switch between apps, those you’re not actively using are often suspended in the background. This means they’re not consuming significant resources or draining your battery.
Force quitting an app forces it to completely shut down. The next time you open the app, it will need to reload all its data, which can actually *increase* battery consumption and slow down the launch process compared to simply resuming the app from its suspended state. Therefore, only force quit an app if you are experiencing problems with it.
## How to Close Apps on iPhone: Step-by-Step Instructions
The method for closing apps varies depending on the iPhone model you have. Here’s a breakdown for iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later) and iPhones with a Home button.
### Closing Apps on iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later)
This includes iPhone X, XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max (and future models without a Home button).
1. **Swipe Up from the Bottom of the Screen:** From the Home screen (or within an app), gently swipe up from the very bottom edge of the screen to the middle, but don’t release your finger. This will bring up the App Switcher.
2. **Release Your Finger:** Once the App Switcher appears, release your finger. You will see a carousel of app previews, showing all the apps currently open in the background.
3. **Swipe to Find the App:** Swipe left or right to scroll through the app previews until you find the app you want to close.
4. **Swipe Up on the App Preview:** Once you’ve located the app, swipe up on its preview card. This will force quit the app, removing it from the App Switcher.
5. **Repeat for Other Apps (Optional):** If you want to close multiple apps, repeat steps 3 and 4 for each app.
6. **Return to the Home Screen:** Once you’ve closed the desired apps, you can return to the Home screen by swiping up from the bottom of the screen again or tapping on the Home Indicator (the thin bar at the bottom of the screen).
**Troubleshooting Tips for Face ID iPhones:**
* **Make sure you swipe up from the very bottom edge:** If you start your swipe too high on the screen, you might trigger the Control Center or Notification Center instead of the App Switcher.
* **Swipe smoothly and deliberately:** A hesitant or jerky swipe might not register properly.
* **Try restarting your iPhone:** If the App Switcher is not working correctly, restarting your iPhone can often resolve the issue. To restart, press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button (power button) until the Apple logo appears.
### Closing Apps on iPhones with a Home Button (iPhone SE (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), iPhone 8 and earlier)
This includes iPhone SE (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and original iPhone.
1. **Double-Press the Home Button:** Quickly press the Home button twice. This will open the App Switcher, displaying a carousel of app previews.
2. **Swipe to Find the App:** Swipe left or right to scroll through the app previews until you find the app you want to close.
3. **Swipe Up on the App Preview:** Once you’ve located the app, swipe up on its preview card. This will force quit the app, removing it from the App Switcher.
4. **Repeat for Other Apps (Optional):** If you want to close multiple apps, repeat steps 2 and 3 for each app.
5. **Return to the Home Screen:** Once you’ve closed the desired apps, press the Home button again to return to the Home screen.
**Troubleshooting Tips for Home Button iPhones:**
* **Make sure you double-press quickly:** If you press the Home button too slowly, it might not register as a double-press.
* **Ensure the Home button is functioning properly:** If the Home button is damaged or not responding, you may need to have it repaired or use AssistiveTouch (see below).
* **Try restarting your iPhone:** As with Face ID iPhones, restarting your device can often resolve issues with the App Switcher. To restart, press and hold the Side button (power button) until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. After it’s completely off, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
## Alternative Methods for Closing Apps (If the Standard Methods Don’t Work)
If the standard methods for closing apps aren’t working, here are a few alternative approaches you can try:
### 1. Using AssistiveTouch (for iPhones with a malfunctioning Home Button)
If your iPhone has a Home button that isn’t functioning correctly, you can use AssistiveTouch to simulate the Home button functionality.
1. **Enable AssistiveTouch:**
* Go to **Settings** > **Accessibility** > **Touch** > **AssistiveTouch**.
* Toggle the **AssistiveTouch** switch to the **On** position.
2. **Customize the AssistiveTouch Menu (Optional):** You can customize the AssistiveTouch menu to include a “Home” button shortcut.
* Tap **Customize Top Level Menu**.
* Tap one of the icons and choose **Home** from the list.
3. **Use AssistiveTouch to Access the App Switcher:**
* Tap the **AssistiveTouch button** (the virtual button that appears on your screen).
* If you’ve customized the menu, tap **Home** twice quickly.
* If you haven’t customized the menu, tap **Device** and then tap **Home** twice quickly.
4. **Close Apps as Usual:** Once the App Switcher is open, swipe left or right to find the app you want to close and swipe up on its preview.
### 2. Force Restarting Your iPhone
A force restart can sometimes resolve more persistent issues that prevent you from closing apps normally. This is different from a regular restart and can be particularly helpful if your iPhone is frozen or unresponsive.
* **For iPhone 8 and later (including iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation):**
* Press and quickly release the **Volume Up** button.
* Press and quickly release the **Volume Down** button.
* Press and hold the **Side button** (power button) until the Apple logo appears.
* **For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus:**
* Press and hold both the **Side button** (power button) and the **Volume Down** button simultaneously.
* Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears.
* **For iPhone 6s and earlier (including iPhone SE 1st generation):**
* Press and hold both the **Home button** and the **Side button** (power button) simultaneously.
* Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears.
After your iPhone force restarts, try closing apps again using the standard methods.
## Tips for Optimizing iPhone Performance
In addition to knowing how to close apps, here are some tips for keeping your iPhone running smoothly:
* **Keep iOS Updated:** Apple regularly releases iOS updates that include performance improvements and bug fixes. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS by going to **Settings** > **General** > **Software Update**.
* **Manage Storage:** A full storage drive can significantly slow down your iPhone. Delete unnecessary apps, photos, videos, and other files to free up space. You can check your storage usage by going to **Settings** > **General** > **iPhone Storage**.
* **Disable Background App Refresh (Use Sparingly):** While iOS is designed to manage background app refresh efficiently, you can selectively disable it for apps that you don’t need to update in the background. Go to **Settings** > **General** > **Background App Refresh** and toggle the switch for each app.
* **Note:** Disabling Background App Refresh entirely can impact the functionality of some apps, such as those that rely on real-time updates. Consider disabling it only for apps that you rarely use or that you know don’t require background updates.
* **Clear Safari History and Website Data:** Over time, Safari can accumulate a large amount of browsing history and website data, which can impact performance. Clear this data by going to **Settings** > **Safari** > **Clear History and Website Data**.
* **Reduce Motion:** Reducing the amount of animation and motion on your iPhone can improve performance, especially on older devices. Go to **Settings** > **Accessibility** > **Motion** and toggle the **Reduce Motion** switch to the **On** position.
* **Reset All Settings (Use as a Last Resort):** If you’re still experiencing performance issues after trying the above tips, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will revert all settings to their default values but will not erase your data. Go to **Settings** > **General** > **Transfer or Reset iPhone** > **Reset** > **Reset All Settings**.
* **Important:** Make sure you have a backup of your iPhone before resetting all settings, as you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward.
* **Check Battery Health:** If your iPhone’s battery health has significantly degraded, it can impact performance. You can check your battery health by going to **Settings** > **Battery** > **Battery Health**. If the maximum capacity is significantly low (e.g., below 80%), consider replacing the battery.
* **Limit Widgets:** Widgets on your Home Screen and Today View can consume resources. Limit the number of widgets you use to only those that are essential.
* **Turn Off Location Services (When Not Needed):** Apps that constantly use location services can drain your battery and impact performance. Disable location services for apps that don’t need them by going to **Settings** > **Privacy** > **Location Services** and choosing the appropriate setting for each app (e.g., “While Using the App” or “Never”).
* **Avoid Overheating:** Prolonged exposure to heat can damage your iPhone and impact performance. Avoid leaving your iPhone in direct sunlight or in a hot car. If your iPhone becomes excessively hot, turn it off and let it cool down before using it again.
## Conclusion
Knowing how to properly close apps on your iPhone is a valuable skill for troubleshooting issues, managing battery life, and optimizing performance. By following the steps outlined in this guide and implementing the additional tips, you can keep your iPhone running smoothly and efficiently. Remember to only force quit apps when necessary, as iOS is designed to manage background app activity intelligently. Regular maintenance and proactive optimization will help ensure a positive and productive iPhone experience.