How to Close Apps on iPad (All Models)

Closing apps on an iPad is a basic skill that helps you free up memory, fix a frozen app, or simply tidy up your app switcher. This guide covers every method for closing apps on modern iPads with Face ID, older iPads with a Home button, and iPads with a keyboard or trackpad. You don’t need any special tools or settings—just your iPad and a few seconds.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPad (any model)
• Your Apple ID password if you plan to force-quit an app and then sign back in (not usually required)
• Optional: a keyboard or trackpad if you want to use those shortcuts

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Close an App from the App Switcher (All iPads)

1. Open the App Switcher by swiping up from the very bottom edge of the screen and pausing in the middle. On iPads with a Home button, double-press the Home button instead.
2. Wait for the app cards to appear in a horizontal row. You’ll see all your recently used apps as cards.
3. Scroll through the cards by swiping left or right until you find the app you want to close.
4. Close the app by swiping the card up and off the top of the screen. The card will disappear, and the app is now closed.
5. Repeat for any other apps you want to close. When you’re done, tap anywhere on the screen (or press the Home button) to exit the App Switcher.

Method 2: Close an App Directly from the Screen (iPad with Face ID)

1. Start with the app open on your screen.
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge with one finger, but instead of pausing, keep swiping all the way up and off the screen. This is a quick flick gesture.
3. Release your finger—the app will close immediately, and you’ll land on the Home Screen.

Method 3: Close an App Using a Keyboard or Trackpad (iPadOS 13.4 and later)

1. Connect a keyboard or trackpad to your iPad via Bluetooth or the Smart Connector.
2. Press Command (⌘) + Tab to open the App Switcher (the same one you see with the swipe gesture).
3. Hold the Command key and press Tab repeatedly to cycle through the apps. Release the keys to select an app.
4. With the app selected, press the Delete (⌫) key on your keyboard to close it. This works in the App Switcher view.
5. Alternatively, with a trackpad, hover over the app card in the App Switcher and swipe up with two fingers on the trackpad to close it.

Method 4: Force-Quit a Frozen App

1. If an app is unresponsive (won’t respond to taps or swipes), try the normal close first. If that doesn’t work, force-quit.
2. Open the App Switcher using the swipe-up-and-pause gesture (or double-press Home).
3. Find the frozen app in the card row.
4. Swipe that card up and off the top of the screen. This is the same gesture as a normal close, but it’s called “force-quit” when the app is stuck.
5. Wait a few seconds, then tap the app icon on the Home Screen to reopen it. It should start fresh.

Common Mistakes

• Swiping too fast on the bottom edge: If you swipe up quickly without pausing, you’ll just go to the Home Screen instead of opening the App Switcher. Make sure to pause in the middle of the screen.
• Swiping sideways on an app card: This does nothing in the App Switcher. You must swipe the card upward to close it.
• Closing all apps regularly: This is not necessary and can actually slow down your iPad because it has to reload apps from scratch each time. iOS manages memory well on its own.
• Using the Home button to close an app: Pressing the Home button only sends the app to the background—it does not close it. You need to use the App Switcher.
• Forgetting that the App Switcher is scrollable: If you don’t see the app you want, swipe left or right in the card row to find it.

Tips

• Only close apps when you need to: Close an app if it’s misbehaving, if you want to clear its background activity (like a game that keeps running), or if you’re about to sell or give away your iPad. Otherwise, let iOS handle memory.
• Use the multitasking gestures: With four or five fingers, you can pinch to go to the Home Screen or swipe left/right to switch between apps. These don’t close apps, but they make navigation faster.
• Check for app updates: If an app frequently freezes, updating it via the App Store might fix the issue.
• Restart your iPad occasionally: If you notice sluggishness, a simple restart (hold the power button, then slide to power off) can clear temporary glitches better than closing individual apps.
• Use the keyboard shortcut: If you have a keyboard, Command+Tab is the fastest way to switch apps, and pressing Delete while in the switcher closes the selected app.

Troubleshooting

If the app won’t close with a swipe: Try swiping up more forcefully, or use the force-quit method (swipe the card up and off the top). If that still doesn’t work, restart your iPad by holding the power button and either the volume button (Face ID models) or just the power button (Home button models) until the slider appears, then slide to power off. Turn it back on after a few seconds.

If the App Switcher doesn’t open: Make sure you’re starting the swipe from the very bottom edge of the screen. If you have a case or screen protector that covers the edge, remove it temporarily. Also, check that you haven’t disabled the gesture in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Callout (or similar). The default is on.

If closing an app doesn’t fix a problem: The app might be corrupted. Delete the app from your iPad (press and hold the icon, then choose Delete App), then reinstall it from the App Store. This will remove its data, so make sure you have any important documents backed up.

If your iPad is very slow after closing many apps: This is normal because iOS has to reload everything. Give it a few minutes, or restart the iPad to clear the memory completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does closing apps save battery life?
A: Not really. iOS suspends apps in the background, so they use minimal power. Closing and reopening apps can actually use more battery because of the extra processing.

Q: How do I close multiple apps at once?
A: There’s no official way to close multiple apps simultaneously. You have to swipe each card up individually. However, you can use two fingers to swipe up on two cards at the same time if you’re quick.

Q: Will closing an app delete its data?
A: No. Closing an app simply stops it from running. Your documents, settings, and progress are saved on the iPad. Only deleting the app removes its data.

Q: Why can’t I swipe up on an app card?
A: Make sure you’re using one finger and swiping upward, not sideways. If the card is stuck, try a faster, more forceful swipe. If that fails, restart your iPad.

Q: Does closing apps improve performance?
A: Generally, no. iOS is designed to keep apps in a suspended state for quick switching. Closing apps can make things feel slower because the next time you open them, they have to load from scratch.

Q: How do I close apps on iPadOS 15 or later?
A: The method is the same as for iPadOS 13 and 14. Swipe up from the bottom and pause to open the App Switcher, then swipe cards up to close. On iPads with a Home button, double-press Home first.

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