Should You Close iPhone Apps or Let Them Run

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Detailed view of the iPhone screen showing the settings app icon.
Credit: pexels.com, Detailed view of the iPhone screen showing the settings app icon.

Closing iPhone apps can actually slow down your device, as it takes a few seconds to reload each app when you need it again. This can be frustrating, especially if you're in the middle of something.

If you have a lot of apps open at once, closing them can help free up memory and make your iPhone run more smoothly. However, if you're using an iPhone 6s or later, the operating system is designed to handle multiple apps running in the background without a noticeable impact on performance.

In fact, closing apps on an iPhone 6s or later can even cause more harm than good, as it can lead to a phenomenon called "context switching", where the device spends more time switching between apps than it would if the apps were simply running in the background.

iPhone Basics

To close an app on your iPhone, you need to open the App Switcher first, which shows previews of recent apps you can tap to switch between. Depending on your iPhone model, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause near the center for models with Face ID, or double-click the Home button for models with a Home button.

Credit: youtube.com, Should You Close Apps On Your iPhone?

If an app seems stuck or not responding, closing it is a simple troubleshooting step. Closing apps that run in the background when you're done using them is also a good idea, especially for apps like music players, navigation apps, and audio recorders.

To tidy up your App Switcher, you can remove apps that you don't use very often by swiping up on their previews. This makes it easier to swap between apps you use more frequently.

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Should You Close iPhone Apps?

You shouldn't constantly close iPhone apps, as it goes against the way iOS is designed. Closing apps all the time can make the App Switcher less useful, forcing you to launch apps through your Home screen or Spotlight search every time.

The App Switcher is meant to make it easy to access apps you just had open, but when it's always empty, it wastes your time, especially for apps that aren't on your primary Home screen or Dock.

Credit: youtube.com, Don’t Close Your iPhone Apps - Your Battery Will Thank You

Closing apps can also drain your battery faster, as it forces your phone to reload apps unnecessarily. In fact, Apple has confirmed that closing apps does not help battery life and can actually make it worse.

You should only close apps that are frozen or not responding, as this is a simple troubleshooting step. You can also close apps that run in the background when you're done using them, like music players or navigation apps.

However, closing apps that are still running in the background can make switching between them take longer, as your phone has to reload the app each time. This can be frustrating, especially if you use apps frequently.

Closing apps can also make them load slower, as your phone has to start from scratch each time. This can be a problem if you like to check your social media page every 2 seconds.

Apple's Perspective

Apple doesn't recommend closing all your apps regularly. They think it's unnecessary, and their support page on how to close apps states that you should only close an app if it's unresponsive.

Discover more: Close Apps in Iphone 4

Credit: youtube.com, Why You Shouldn't Close iPhone Apps

Closing apps all the time won't help your iPhone. In fact, Apple's Senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, replied to a user's question with "No and No" when asked if closing iOS apps frequently is a good idea and necessary for battery life.

The lack of a Close All button on the App Switcher also suggests that Apple doesn't think you need to close all your apps regularly. It's likely because they don't think it would make a significant difference in your iPhone's performance.

Thomas Goodwin

Lead Writer

Thomas Goodwin is a seasoned writer with a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and business. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex concepts, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the tech industry. Thomas's writing portfolio spans a range of topics, including Azure Virtual Desktop and Cloud Computing Costs.

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