Do you ever feel like your iPad is running a little sluggish? Maybe apps are crashing, or the battery is draining faster than usual? Often, the culprit is a bunch of apps running in the background, even if you're not actively using them. Closing these apps can free up memory, improve performance, and even extend your battery life.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through precisely how to close all apps on your iPad, whether you have a Home button or not. Let's get started!
Step 1: Identify Your iPad Model (and its Home Button Status!)
Before we dive in, let's figure out what kind of iPad you have, as this will determine the method you use.
- Take a quick look at your iPad's front:
- Do you see a circular button below the screen? If so, you have an iPad with a Home button. This includes older iPad models, some iPad Airs, and some iPad mini models.
- Is the screen edge-to-edge, with no button below it? If that's the case, you have a newer iPad model without a Home button. This applies to most recent iPad Pro models, and newer iPad Air and iPad mini models.
Don't worry, we'll cover both scenarios in detail!
Step 2: Accessing the App Switcher (The Key to Closing Apps)
The "App Switcher" (sometimes called the "multitasking view" or "recents screen") is where you'll find all your currently open applications. Getting there depends on your iPad model.
For iPads with a Home Button:
- Press the Home Button Twice: Simply and quickly double-press the physical Home button located below your iPad's screen.
- You'll see a row of app previews, appearing as cards, scrolling horizontally. These are your recently used applications.
For iPads without a Home Button:
- Swipe Up from the Bottom: Place your finger at the very bottom edge of your screen (where the Dock usually is) and swipe upwards slowly.
- Don't swipe all the way to the middle of the screen to open the Home Screen. Instead, pause your finger halfway up the screen.
- You'll see the same row of app previews, appearing as cards, scrolling horizontally.
Step 3: Closing Individual Apps from the App Switcher
Now that you're in the App Switcher, closing apps is incredibly easy.
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Swipe an App Card Upwards: Once you see the app previews, locate the app you want to close.
- Place your finger on the app's preview card and swipe it upwards off the screen.
- You'll see the card disappear with a smooth animation. This signifies that the app has been closed from the background.
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Close Multiple Apps (Efficiently!): While you can only close one app at a time with a single finger, there's a neat trick if you want to close several quickly.
- Use two or even three fingers simultaneously! Place multiple fingers on different app cards and swipe all of them upwards at the same time. This is a real time-saver if you have a lot of apps open.
Step 4: Understanding What "Closed" Means (and What it Doesn't)
It's important to clarify what "closing" an app from the App Switcher actually does.
- It quits the app from running in the background. This means it's no longer consuming RAM (random access memory) or CPU cycles, which are vital for your iPad's performance.
- It does NOT delete the app from your iPad. The app icon will still be on your Home Screen, and all its data (documents, settings, etc.) will remain intact. You can reopen the app at any time, and it will launch fresh.
- It does NOT prevent notifications. Even if an app is closed, it might still send you notifications if you have them enabled (e.g., messages from a chat app). This is managed by iOS's notification system, not by the app itself running in the background.
When Should You Close Apps?
While closing apps can be beneficial, you don't necessarily need to close all of them all the time. iOS is pretty good at managing background processes. However, there are specific situations where it's highly recommended:
- When your iPad is running slow or sluggish: If you notice lag, stuttering, or slow response times, closing some background apps can often provide an immediate boost.
- When an app is misbehaving or frozen: If an app is unresponsive, crashing, or acting strangely, force-closing it from the App Switcher and then reopening it is often the first troubleshooting step.
- To save battery life (in extreme cases): While background activity is generally optimized, some apps can be battery hogs. If you're on low battery and need to stretch it, closing all unnecessary apps can help.
- Before a major task: If you're about to edit a video, play a graphics-intensive game, or do something that requires a lot of processing power, closing other apps can ensure maximum resources are available for that task.
Advanced Tip: Background App Refresh
Beyond actively running apps, some apps use "Background App Refresh" to update their content even when not actively open. While this is convenient, it can also consume resources.
- To manage Background App Refresh:
- Go to Settings ($ \rightarrow $ General $ \rightarrow $ Background App Refresh.
- Here you can:
- Toggle it off entirely: This will prevent all apps from refreshing in the background.
- Select "Wi-Fi" or "Wi-Fi & Cellular Data": This allows apps to refresh only when connected to a specific network type.
- Toggle individual apps on/off: If you find a specific app consuming too much data or battery in the background, you can disable its Background App Refresh without affecting others.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to know which apps are running in the background?
You can see all apps currently "running" (or more accurately, in the background) by opening the App Switcher (double-press Home button or swipe up and pause).
How to close a frozen app on iPad?
Open the App Switcher, find the frozen app's card, and swipe it upwards off the screen to force close it.
How to stop apps from running in the background automatically?
While you can't completely stop apps from ever being in the background, you can manage their ability to refresh content via Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
How to clear RAM on iPad?
Closing apps from the App Switcher is the primary way to clear RAM (memory) on your iPad.
How to tell if an app is truly closed?
Once you swipe an app's card up and off the App Switcher, it is considered closed. If you open the App Switcher again and don't see its card, it's closed.
How to restart an app after closing it?
Simply tap on its icon on the Home Screen or in the Dock. It will launch fresh.
How to close all apps at once on iPad?
Unfortunately, there's no "close all" button. You have to swipe each app card upwards individually, though you can use multiple fingers to close several quickly.
How to save battery life by closing apps?
Regularly closing apps you're no longer using, especially those that are resource-intensive, can help conserve battery life, though iOS is generally efficient at managing background processes.
How to troubleshoot a slow iPad by closing apps?
If your iPad is slow, access the App Switcher and close all unnecessary apps by swiping them upwards. This often frees up resources and improves performance.
How to prevent apps from appearing in the App Switcher?
Apps will automatically appear in the App Switcher once they are opened. The only way to remove them is to close them by swiping them away from the App Switcher view.
