For whatever reason, there are times that you may want to close all the background apps on your iPhone. While it would be handy if you could close all of your opened iPhone apps in one go, that isn’t part of Apple’s design. However, you can speed up the process by using several fingers to close multiple apps at a time.
Here’s how to do it.
How to Close Opened Apps Simultaneously on Your iPhone
While no feature allows you to close all your opened apps at the same time, you can close several apps simultaneously on your iPhone or iPad.
Just access the App Switcher as you normally would (which we’ve explained below). Then use multiple fingers to swipe multiple apps off the screen at once. Based on our tests, you can simultaneously close up to five apps. However, this is unnatural and difficult to do with one hand.
The way to access the App Switcher and close apps varies depending on the device you’re using. On an iPhone with a Home button:
On an iPhone without a Home button:
3 Images ExpandExpandExpandYou Don’t Always Need to Close Your iPhone Apps
Many people have a habit of closing unused apps in the background every time they use their iPhone, for fear of using too much battery or taking up too much system resources. However, this isn’t necessary.
MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAYRelated: Why You Shouldn’t Constantly Close Apps on Your iPhone
After you switch apps, it is true that they remain active for a short time, but then they go into a suspended state. When this happens, they’re not actively running or taking up system resources, so there’s no need to close them.
In fact, Apple doesn’t recommend closing apps unless they’re frozen or are not responding properly.
Clutter or Function?
Many of us feel like having too many unopened apps in the background makes our iPhones feel cluttered. However, the point of having an App Switcher is to make it easy for you to access recently opened apps, saving you time and effort. So it shouldn’t matter how many unused apps lie dorman in the background.
How to Close Apps on iPad and iPhone Read NextShareTweetShareEmail Related TopicsAbout The AuthorRachel Melegrito(156 Articles Published)Rachel Melegrito left her career as a university instructor to become a full-fledged content writer. She loves anything Apple —from iPhones, to Apple Watches, to MacBooks. She is also a licensed occupational therapist and a budding SEO strategist.
MoreFrom Rachel MelegritoJoin our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals!