How do I close an app?
What's coming up?
If you’ve used a computer, you may already know about clicking on the little X (or red button) in the corner of a program to close it. There are no such buttons on smartphone apps, so how do you do close an app?
In this activity, you’ll learn about the times when you need to close apps, and how to do it.
Start activityDo you even need to close an app?
Smartphones are designed so that you never need to close an app when you’ve finished using it. The app sits there quietly, ready to be used again when you want it.
But nothing’s perfect, and sometimes an app doesn’t work properly. Closing an app and starting it again can fix problems.
Closing apps on Apple devices
On the next slide is a video that will show you how to close an app on an Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad. If you don’t have an Apple device, you can skip this video and watch the next one instead.
On the next slide, click the play button on the video to watch it. You can also click anywhere on the video to pause or restart it.
Closing apps on an iPhone or iPad
This demonstration video is approximately 1 minute and 40 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to close an app using an Apple iPad or iPhone. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.
Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of a typical Apple iPhone, but the steps will be similar on an Apple iPad. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.
Voiceover: "It's easy to close an app on an iPhone. There are just three steps. First, press the Home button twice, quickly."
The left-hand panel zooms to the bottom of the iPhone and highlights the location of the Home button. We watch as it is tapped twice. This opens up an app history list, showing a number of mini versions of the most recently used apps, with the most recent app on the top of the pile.
Voiceover: "You will see a smaller version of the last app you used. To its left, and underneath it, is the app you used before that. Swipe gently to the right and you'll see more apps, in the reverse order you used them."
The left-hand panel shows an arrow pointing to the right indicating a gentle swipe, and we see the app on the top slide over to the right to reveal the apps underneath.
Voiceover: "These may be apps you used a long time ago, even before you last switched the phone off. That means not all these apps are still open. Find the app you want to close and use a finger to swipe it up towards the top of the screen. The app will move up and off the screen."
The left-hand panel shows an app in the middle of the pack that we want to close. A pink arrow pointing up demonstrates the direction to swipe your finger. We watch as the app rises out of the pack and disappears at the top of the screen, and the remaining apps shuffle up to close up the space it left behind.
Voiceover: "If the app was still open, it is now closed. If it was not open, it is now removed from your app history. Press your iPhone's home button again to return to the main screen."
The left-hand panel shows the Home button being tapped once to close the apps history list.
Voiceover: "Closing apps is useful if an app stops responding, or your device is suddenly running slower than usual."
Video ends.
Closing apps on Android devices
On the next slide is a video that will show you how to close an app on an Android device. The steps may vary between Android phone models, but will be similar enough for you to follow along.
On the next slide, click the play button on the video to watch it. You can also click anywhere on the video to pause or restart it.
Closing apps on an Android smartphone or tablet
This demonstration video is approximately 2 minutes and 5 seconds in duration. It demonstrates how to close an app using an Android device. There is text and animation on stage throughout the video.
Once the video starts, the intro panel fades and we see the screen is split into two parts. On the left-hand side is an animation of an Android smartphone, such as a Samsung, but the steps will be similar on an Android tablet. On the right-hand side, there is text displayed, which is the script for the voiceover track.
Voiceover: "Here's how to close an app on an Android phone. There are just four steps. First, find the Overview key on your phone. This is also sometimes called the Recents key or the Applications key. It is usually shaped like a square, or sometimes a stack of squares. Tap the Overview key."
The left-hand panel zooms into the phone's screen and highlights a small, square icon. We watch as it is tapped and a stack of mini app pages is displayed.
Voiceover: "You will see a small version of the last app you used. Behind it, and higher up, is the app you used before that."
The left-hand panel highlights the app underneath the top app, as it is partially hidden by the top app.
Voiceover: "The older the app, the further behind it appears. Swipe gently down and you'll see more and more apps in the reverse order you used them."
The left-hand panel shows a pink arrow pointing down, indicating the direction to slide your finger gently down the screen to reveal the apps further back in the stack.
Voiceover: "These may be apps you used a long time ago, even before you last switched off the phone. That means not all these apps are still open. Find the app you want to close, and swipe it to the right of the screen. It will move off the screen."
The left-hand panel shows a pink arrow pointing to the right-hand side of the screen, indicating the direction to swipe the app you want to close. The app then moves out of the pack and disappears off the screen's right-hand side. The remaining apps shuffle together to close the gap it left behind.
Voiceover: "If the app was still open, it is now closed. If it wasn't still open, it has now been removed from your app history."
The left-hand panel zooms to the bottom of the phone' screen and highlights the Home button.
Voiceover: "Press your phone's Home button to return to the main screen."
The left-hand panel shows the app history closing and we return to the Home screen.
Voiceover: "Closing apps is useful if an app stops responding, or your device is suddenly running slower than usual."
Video ends.
When things go haywire
If an app seems to be misbehaving, closing and restarting it will often fix the problem.
If it doesn’t, try restarting your Android phone, or switching off your iPhone then switching it on again.
eSafety tip
It’s a good idea to close apps that need passwords, including banking, shopping, social media and billing apps, such as those with gas and electricity providers.
Closing the app logs you out of your account, so no-one else with access to your phone can use it.
Congratulations!
You’ve completed the How do I close an app? activity. You've should now know when you need to close and app, and how to do it.
Next up, we'll learn how to get rid of apps from your device, in the How do I delete an app? activity.
