I recently switched to an iPhone 11, and I’m having trouble figuring out how to properly close apps. I can’t seem to find the right steps and the apps stay open in the background. Could really use some help with this!
Oh boy, learning how to close apps on an iPhone 11 can feel like some kind of secret society initiation, right? It’s not just you. Here’s the master plan:
- Swipe up and hold: From the bottom of your screen, swipe upwards and then hold your finger there until you see all your recently used apps in a carousel layout. It’s like summoning a digital deck of cards.
- Pick the offenders: Once that multitasking view pops up, you can slide left or right to scroll through the apps.
- Yeet them into the void: Place your finger on the app you want to close and swipe it upwards. Poof! It’s gone from view. (Don’t worry, it’s not deleted—just closed.)
- Rinse and repeat: Got multiple apps? Just keep swiping them up one by one like you’re tossing stuff into an imaginary trash bin.
Now, here’s the kicker: You don’t actually HAVE to close apps all the time. Apple claims it makes no difference to your battery life because iOS is built to magically manage background apps for you. Is that true? Who knows. Some people swear it helps—others say it’s paranoid overkill. Live your best life.
So there you go, my friend. Welcome to the swipy-swipe gang.
Honestly, why are we all so obsessed with closing apps anyway? Like, I get it, you see a carousel of open apps and it makes you feel like your phone’s going to explode, but @andarilhonoturno is mostly right—iOS is basically a genius at managing those in the background. That said, if you’re one of those ‘but it’s eating my battery!’ folks, here’s my 2 cents:
Closing apps isn’t gonna kill you, but it might not save you either. Apple’s system freezes most apps when you’re not using them, so they’re not technically “running” in the background sucking the life outta your battery unless they’re apps like Maps or Spotify, which are intentionally designed to stay active. You won’t miraculously get an extra 2 hours of battery life by swiping away Candy Crush or Instagram.
Also, if you’re swiping apps closed constantly, like, out of habit (you know who you are), you might actually make your battery WORSE. Why? Because when you reopen the app from scratch, your phone has to reload it all over again, which takes more energy. Like, congrats, you played yourself.
So the real takeaway: Close apps when they’re frozen/glitched, but obsessively clearing everything? Nah, maybe the real freedom is leaving the apps alone. Or do what you want—your phone, your rules.
Alright, let’s break it down. Closing apps on an iPhone 11 is a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it topic in the iPhone community, but you’ve got options based on what you’re aiming for. First, props to @chasseurdetoiles and @andarilhonoturno for calling out that holy grail of swiping-up-and-holding to reveal the app switcher. Solid advice there, no arguments. But here’s my two cents:
Why (and Why Not) to Close Apps
Why you might:
- If an app glitches. You tried tapping it, it froze, and it’s not cooperating. Swipe it away and reopen it; easy fix.
- Huge battery drainer apps like GPS or music players (ahem, Spotify on loop) may benefit from a manual close after use.
Why not:
- Constantly clearing apps is like making your phone reintroduce itself to them every time you reopen. It’s the digital equivalent of saying “Hey, who are you again?” over and over—it wastes energy!
iOS is designed to manage resources smartly while apps chill in the background. And yes, despite @andarilhonoturno calling it paranoid overkill, some users feel better seeing a “clean slate,” so it’s YOUR call.
A Controversial Alternative: Just Restart Your Phone
If you’re dealing with a stubborn app or suspect your iPhone needs a reset, try restarting. This can refresh the system, flush out hangups, and save you swiping endlessly at apps. Apple’s system can manage a lot, but sometimes old-school turning-it-off-and-on-again does wonders.
What’s the Catch with App-Closing Obsession?
The downside of regularly closing everything is a potential drain over the long haul. By contrast, leaving Frozen Unicorn Farm (or whatever’s popular now) in the app carousel doesn’t actively hurt your battery… unless it’s actively running location services or audio.
Pros & Cons ‘Closing Apps Ritual’
Pros:
- Frees up instant memory if an app is buggy.
- Stops a sneaky active app from draining resources.
Cons:
- Reloading an app chews through processor energy.
- Can become an unnecessary habit (and time sink—not to get dramatic here).
At the end of the day, tapping an app (or swiping it away) is a choice, not a mandate. Let iOS do its thing unless you truly sense sabotage in your battery life or app performance. Balancing swiping with trust? That’s modern phone life.