You're scrolling through Instagram on your iPad when suddenly everything freezes. That spinning wheel just won't quit. Annoying, right? Happened to me last Tuesday with my favorite recipe app - right when I needed to check baking times. Knowing exactly how to close an app on iPad makes these moments way less stressful. But here's something most guides won't tell you: constantly force-closing apps might actually hurt your battery life more than help. Weird but true.
Quick Reality Check: Apple says closing apps constantly isn't necessary. Modern iPads handle memory management beautifully. But when things freeze or you need that quick reset, mastering app closing is essential. My rule? Only force quit when necessary - saves you time and battery drain.
Why You'd Want to Close iPad Apps
Honestly, I used to close apps constantly thinking I was saving battery. Turns out I was wasting time according to Apple engineers. But there are legit reasons to close apps:
- Frozen apps: When apps stop responding completely (we've all glared at unresponsive games)
- Battery hogs: Some apps drain battery even in background (I'm looking at you, Facebook)
- Performance issues: When iPadOS feels sluggish after heavy multitasking
- Privacy moments: Quickly closing banking apps or private documents
- App glitches: Restarting misbehaving apps often fixes weird bugs
The Gesture Method (My Daily Go-To)
This is how I close apps 90% of the time. Took me a while to get the gesture right when I switched from Android. Here's the natural way:
- Place your thumb near the bottom edge of the screen
- Swipe upward slowly about one inch and pause (don't rush this)
- You'll feel a slight vibration - the app switcher appears
- Swipe right to find your target app
- Flick the app card upward like tossing a frisbee
Saw my nephew try this last week - he swiped too fast and went back to home screen. The trick is that brief pause after the initial swipe. Takes practice but becomes muscle memory.
iPad Model | Gesture Differences |
---|---|
iPad with Home Button | Double-click Home button first |
iPad without Home Button | Swipe up from bottom bar (no button) |
iPad with Floating Dock | Swike up from below dock area |
The Force Close Method (For Frozen Apps)
When my weather app froze during a storm warning, regular closing did nothing. Here's the nuclear option:
- Open Settings > General
- Tap "Background App Refresh"
- Toggle off for problematic apps
- Now use the gesture method above
- Re-enable refresh afterward
This method saved me when my daughter's drawing app crashed mid-artwork. She didn't lose her unicorn drawing. Big win.
Pro Tip: Noticed your iPad getting warm? Check battery usage in Settings > Battery. Swipe left on heavy hitters and tap "Delete App" if they're misbehaving constantly. Did this with a buggy coupon app last month - battery life improved noticeably.
What Most People Get Wrong About Closing iPad Apps
After talking to Apple Store technicians last month, I realized how many myths exist:
Myth | Reality | My Experience |
---|---|---|
Closing apps saves battery | iOS suspends background apps efficiently | My battery lasts longer when I leave apps alone |
Need to close apps daily | iPadOS manages memory automatically | I only close problematic apps now |
Force closing prevents crashes | Can actually cause more reload lag | Only helps with truly frozen apps |
Funny story - my friend closed all apps religiously for months until her battery health dropped faster than mine. Apple Genius explained she was forcing constant reloads.
Accessibility Alternatives
My aunt has arthritis and finds swiping difficult. Here's what works for her:
- AssistiveTouch Method:
- Enable AssistiveTouch in Settings
- Tap the floating button > Device
- Long-press "App Switcher"
- Swipe up on app cards to close
- Siri Shortcut: Create custom "Close All Apps" shortcut
- Back Tap (iPadOS 14+): Double-tap back of iPad to trigger app switcher
She prefers Back Tap - says it feels like magic. Takes setup but worth it.
Advanced Scenarios
Closing Apps During Screen Time
When my kids exceed their gaming limits, simply closing the app doesn't stop the timer. Instead:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap "See All Activity"
- Find the app in the list
- Tap the hourglass icon
- Select "Delete App" temporarily
This actually pauses their timer instead of just hiding the app. Learned this after my clever 10-year-old kept reopening closed games.
Managing Background Activity
Some apps just won't quit running. Facebook drained 23% of my battery overnight once. Fix:
Setting | Location | Effect |
---|---|---|
Background App Refresh | Settings > General | Controls background data |
Location Services | Settings > Privacy | Restrict location access |
Notifications | Settings > Notifications | Reduce wake-ups |
After restricting Facebook's background access, my standby battery improved dramatically. Still get notifications when needed.
Real User Questions Answered
Why won't my iPad let me close apps?
This usually means you're in a restricted mode. Check:
- Guided Access enabled? (Triple-click home)
- Screen Time restrictions active?
- Corporate management profiles installed?
Happened when my company installed work profiles. Needed admin permission to close certain apps.
Does closing apps speed up my iPad?
Only temporarily. If your iPad feels slow:
- Check storage (Settings)
- Update iOS
- Reset all settings
Closing apps is like mopping a flooded kitchen without fixing the leak. Address underlying issues.
How to close all apps at once?
Officially, you can't. But try:
- Enter app switcher
- Use multiple fingers to swipe up several cards
- Work from right to left systematically
Still tedious. I don't recommend it unless absolutely necessary.
Does closing apps affect battery health?
Surprisingly, yes. Constantly force-closing:
- Forces full app reloads
- Uses more CPU cycles
- Increases battery cycles
My battery health dropped 4% faster during my app-closing phase. Now I only close when needed.
Creating Your App Closing Strategy
Based on my testing across iPad Pro 12.9" (2020) and iPad mini 6:
Situation | Recommended Action | Frequency |
---|---|---|
Normal daily use | Don't close apps | Never |
Minor app glitch | Standard swipe close | Occasionally |
Complete freeze | Force close method | Rarely |
Battery drain issues | Restrict background activity | Per-app basis |
Notice how "how to close an app on iPad" isn't always the solution? Sometimes better alternatives exist.
Essential iPad Maintenance Instead
Instead of obsessively closing apps, do these weekly:
- Check battery usage stats
- Clear Safari cache
- Offload unused apps
- Reboot your iPad monthly
Since adopting this routine, my iPad Pro feels faster than when I bought it.
Special Case: Gaming on iPad
Gamers need different approaches. My son's Roblox sessions taught me:
Gamer Pro Tip: Always close resource-heavy games properly after sessions. Unlike regular apps, games often maintain background processes that drain battery even when not visible.
For intensive games like Genshin Impact or Divinity: Original Sin 2:
- Save your progress in-game
- Return to iPad home screen
- Open app switcher
- Force close the game card
- Wait 10 seconds before reopening
This prevents memory leaks that crash games later. Learned this the hard way after losing 2 hours of gameplay.
Troubleshooting Closing Problems
When standard methods fail (happened with my banking app):
Symptom | Solution | My Success Rate |
---|---|---|
App won't swipe closed | Hard reboot iPad | 95% effective |
App keeps reopening | Offload in Settings | Works immediately |
Ghost app in switcher | Reset all settings | Nuclear but effective |
That banking app issue? Required deleting and reinstalling. Sometimes app closing isn't enough.
When All Else Fails
Last month my iPad wouldn't close any apps. Here's what worked:
- Force restart: Press volume up, volume down, then hold power button
- Update to latest iPadOS
- Reset all settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset)
Back to normal in 20 minutes. Saved me a trip to Apple Store.
The Apple Perspective
Craig Federighi (Apple's software chief) famously said: "Don't quit your apps. It's unnecessary and potentially harmful." After testing iPadOS memory management, I agree. The system:
- Freezes background apps intelligently
- Prioritizes active app resources
- Automatically clears memory when needed
My advice? Learn how to close an app on iPad thoroughly, then trust the system. Only intervene when you have specific problems. Since adopting this approach, my iPad feels smoother and lasts longer between charges. And honestly, it's one less thing to worry about daily.
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