How to Close Open Apps on iPhone 13?

The iPhone 13, one of the hallmark devices of 2023, offers numerous functionalities to its users.  

Closing open apps on iPhone 13 is quick and simple. To close apps, swipe up halfway from the screen’s bottom to access the app switcher, and then swipe up on an app’s preview to close it.

This method helps address frozen apps, boost system performance, and conserve battery. The process is straightforward and applies to the iPhone 13, 13 Pro Max, 13 Mini, and other models

Here we’ll explain why you may want to close iPhone apps, how iOS manages multitasking, and provide step-by-step instructions for how to close open apps on iPhone 13.

Key Takeaways

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher on iPhone 13 or later. Double click the home button on iPhone 8 or earlier.
• In the app switcher, swipe left/right to find the app to close, then swipe up on its card.
• On iPhone 13 or later, close all apps at once by swiping left to the end of the app cards, hold down, then tap “Close All”.
• Force closing apps can help if they are frozen or unresponsive. It can also free up system resources and save battery life in some cases.
• iOS and iPhone are very good at suspending apps when not in use, so force closing apps is not required for performance or battery in most cases.

Why Close Apps on iPhone 13?

How iPhone 13 Manages Open Apps

It’s important to understand that iOS and iPhone 13 do not work like a traditional computer. Apps left open on your iPhone screen are not necessarily running or using resources in the background.

When you press the home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go to your iPhone home screen, the app goes into a suspended state but is not fully closed. This allows you to easily return to right where you left off when you reopen the app.

Apps in this state use minimal battery and system resources. iOS is very good at managing background apps. Force closing iOS apps is generally not required for performance or battery reasons.

Optimizing iPhone Usage: Force Closing Apps and Beyond

Knowing when to force close iPhone apps can be crucial for maintaining your device’s performance. If you’re also interested in organizing your apps more efficiently, learn about grouping apps for better organization on iPhone.

Additionally, if you find your MacBook’s applications are cluttered, you might benefit from understanding app management on MacBook. For those unused apps that are taking up space, find out how to save space with the managing unused apps with offload feature on your iPhone.

How to Close Open Apps on iPhone 13 & Later

If you have an iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, or later iPhone model without a home button, closing an app just takes a swipe and tap. Here’s how:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen about halfway to open the app switcher. This shows all your recently used apps.
2. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close.
3. Swipe up on the app’s card to close the app. This forces the app to fully close.
4. The app will zoom up off the top of the screen when closed.

Repeat steps 2-4 to close additional apps as needed. Once done, tap any app icon to return to that app, or swipe up from the bottom to return to your iPhone home screen.

Closing a single app on iPhone 13 in this way takes just a few seconds!

How to Close Apps on the iPhone 13

You can also quickly close all open apps at once on iPhone 13 or later models:

1. Open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Swipe left through app cards until you reach the end.
3. Tap and hold on the top edge of the last app card.
4. All open app cards will start wiggling.
5. Tap the “Close All” button in the top-right corner to force close all apps.

This closes all apps at once, rather than having to swipe up on each one individually. Tap open any app you want to resume using it. This method makes it easy to start fresh with no apps running.

How to Close Apps on iPhone 8 and Earlier

If you have an older iPhone model with a physical home button like iPhone 8, 7, or earlier, the process is slightly different but still easy.

To close an app on these iPhones:

1. Double-click the home button to open the app switcher.
2. Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close.
3. Swipe up on the app’s card to force close it.

To close all running apps on iPhones with a home button:

1. Double-click the home button to see your most recent apps.
2. Swipe left through all apps.
3. When you reach the end, hold down on the screen.
4. All open apps will start to wiggle.
5. Tap the red minus icon on each app to close it individually, or tap “Close All” to force close everything.

And that’s all there is to it! Now you know how to easily close apps on any iPhone model with just a few taps.

When Should You Force Close iPhone Apps?

Now let’s recap when you may want to use these steps to force close apps on your iPhone 13 or earlier models:

• If an app becomes completely unresponsive, frozen, or won’t load properly, quickly closing it from the app switcher can help reboot the app. This is often faster than restarting your entire iPhone.
• Closing unused apps can help free up system resources like RAM and storage space. This can potentially improve general iPhone performance.
• Force closing apps not currently in use can help extend your iPhone’s battery life in some cases, especially if you have lots of apps running in the background.
• Quickly closing your current app keeps your iPhone usage tidy when jumping between different apps. iOS is quite good at suspending apps in the background when not in use, so force closing apps is not usually necessary for battery or performance.

How to Force Close Open Apps on iPhone 13?

Force closing an app is a way to completely close an app that has become unresponsive or is not working properly.

 To force close an app on your iPhone 13, follow these steps:

Understanding the App Switcher

The app switcher is a feature in iOS that allows users to view and manage all open apps. By swiping up from the bottom of the screen, you can open the app switcher and see all your recent apps in a card-like interface.

This feature is pivotal when you want to close or switch between apps on your iPhone 13. You can use the app switcher to switch between apps, close apps, or force close apps.

Accessing the App Switcher:

The app switcher is incredibly easy to access on the iPhone 13. Given that the home button no longer exists on this model, you’ll rely on gestures:

• From any screen, place your finger at the very bottom of the screen.
• Swipe up slightly and then pause. You’ll notice the app cards appearing, showcasing all the apps currently open or recently accessed.
• Swipe left or right to navigate through the various app cards.

The Card-Like Interface:

Each open app appears as a card in the switcher. The design is intuitive and allows users to see a preview of the app’s current state or last accessed page. This visual representation is beneficial when you’re quickly switching between tasks or looking for a specific app.

Closing Apps from the App Switcher:

While iOS efficiently manages apps running in the background, there are times when you might want to close an app manually. To do this:

• Access the app switcher.
• Locate the app card you want to close.
• Swipe up on the app card, and it will disappear, indicating the app has been closed.

Switching Between Apps:

The app switcher isn’t just for closing apps; it’s primarily designed for efficient multitasking:

• Access the app switcher.
• Scroll left or right to find the app you want to switch to.
• Simply tap on the app card, and you’ll be taken to that app immediately.

Force Closing Unresponsive Apps:

Every so often, an app might become unresponsive. The app switcher provides a quick way to force close such apps:

• Enter the app switcher.
• Find the unresponsive app.
• Swipe up on the app’s card to close it completely.
• You can then reopen the app from your home screen or app library.

Interaction with Face ID:

For devices equipped with Face ID, like the iPhone 13, the app switcher works seamlessly with facial recognition. When accessing the switcher, sensitive apps (like banking apps) might blur their previews for added security until Face ID confirms it’s you looking at the device.

When should I close open apps on iPhone 13?

You should close open apps on your iPhone 13 when:

• You are finished using an app.
• An app becomes unresponsive.
• You are experiencing performance issues.
• You need to free up system resources.

The Myth of Apps Running in the Background

There is a common myth that apps left open on your iPhone screen continue to run in the background, using up system resources and draining your battery. In reality, when you press the home button or swipe up to exit an app, iOS suspends the app while keeping it in memory.

This allows you to quickly switch between apps, but suspended apps are not running processes and have a negligible impact on battery life or performance. 

 Let’s debunk the myth of apps running in the background, especially in the context of the iPhone and its iOS.

What Happens When You Minimize an App?

When you press the home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (depending on your iPhone model) and send an app to the background, it doesn’t continue running in full capacity.

Instead, it enters a “suspended” state. In this state, the app isn’t actively running tasks or using CPU resources. It’s essentially frozen, waiting to be reopened.

Are All Apps Truly ‘Suspended’?

While most apps enter the suspended state, there are exceptions. Some apps, such as music apps (Spotify, Apple Music), navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze), or VOIP apps (Skype, WhatsApp calls), continue to run specific tasks in the background. iOS allows these apps to perform certain operations because they require them for their primary functions.

The Real Impact on Battery Life

Many believe that swiping away apps from the app switcher will save battery life. However, the process of constantly closing and reopening apps can, in fact, consume more energy.

When you remove an app from the background and then launch it again later, the iPhone has to load the app into memory afresh, which can use more power than simply resuming the app from its suspended state.

Background App Refresh

iOS has a feature called “Background App Refresh” which allows apps to check for updates and new content periodically.

While this might use some battery, Apple has optimized this feature to learn the times you use certain apps, aiming to refresh them shortly before you’re expected to open them. If battery consumption is a concern, this feature can be managed or turned off entirely in the settings.

Hence, only certain apps running active background tasks like music, navigation or uploads will continue to use battery and resources. But the average app does not continue running when backgrounded, so force closing iOS apps is generally not needed for battery or performance reasons. 

Helpful Tips and Tricks for New iPhone Users

For iPhone 13 users in 2023, understanding app management is crucial. Always ensure you update your apps regularly for optimal performance, and use the app switcher to swiftly navigate between your open apps. 

Here are some helpful tips and tricks for how to close open apps on iPhone 13:

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the app switcher. This lets you see all your open apps in one view.
• Swipe left or right to find the app you want to close. No need to close apps one by one – you can jump to any app.
• Swipe up on an app’s preview to force close it. The app will zoom up off the top of the screen when fully closed.
• For frozen or unresponsive apps, closing them from the app switcher provides a quick reboot. Much faster than restarting your iPhone.
• Close unused apps to free up system resources like RAM and storage space. This can improve general performance.
• Closing apps not in use can help extend battery life in some cases. Less apps running in the background means less battery drain.
• Tap and hold the top edge of the last app, then tap “Close All” to close all apps at once. Clears everything running in the background.
• Remember, iOS suspends apps intelligently when not in use. Forcing close apps is not required for most iPhone users. Just a useful tool in some cases!

FAQs:

Do open apps drain battery on iPhone 13?

While some background processes can use battery life, most apps are suspended in the background and don’t have a significant impact on battery usage.

How do I force close an unresponsive app on iPhone 13?

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the app switcher, then swipe up on the unresponsive app’s preview card to close it.

Should I close all apps when I’m done using my iPhone?

It’s not necessary. iOS is efficient at managing apps in the background. However, if you prefer a tidier app switcher or want to ensure certain apps aren’t running, you can close them.

Does closing apps improve performance?

Not necessarily. iOS already suspends apps that aren’t in use. Continuously closing and reopening apps might use more system resources.

How is the app switcher different on iPhone 13 compared to older models with a home button?

On the iPhone 13, you swipe up from the bottom to access the app switcher, whereas on older models with a home button, you would double-click the home button.

Conclusion

Managing how to close open apps on the iPhone 13 is a blend of user preference and understanding the efficiency of the iOS system. While force closing apps might seem like a way to boost performance or save battery, it’s crucial to recognize that iOS is already optimized for this.

Closing apps can be helpful in certain situations, but it isn’t something that needs to be done compulsively. With the methods provided, you’ll be able to manage your apps like a pro.