Closing apps on your iPhone XR involves a simple gesture to access the App Switcher and then dismissing the desired app. While iOS is designed to manage background apps efficiently without needing to close them frequently, you might want to do so if an app is unresponsive or to clear your multitasking view.
Steps to Close an App
To close an app on your iPhone XR, follow these steps:
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Access the App Switcher: From the Home Screen, swipe up from the very bottom edge of your screen. When you reach the middle of the screen, pause your finger. This action will reveal the App Switcher, showing previews of all recently used apps.
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Locate the App: Once in the App Switcher, swipe right or left through the app previews to find the specific app you wish to close. Each preview represents an open or recently used application.
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Close the App: With the app's preview centered or visible, swipe up on that app's preview. The app will then slide off the top of the screen, effectively closing it.
Here's a quick overview:
| Action | Gesture | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Open App Switcher | Swipe up from bottom and pause | Shows all recently used apps |
| Navigate Apps | Swipe right or left in App Switcher | Browse through open apps |
| Close an App (Force Quit) | Swipe up on an app's preview within the App Switcher | Closes the selected app |
When to Close Apps
Most of the time, you don't need to manually close apps on your iPhone XR. iOS is designed to manage memory and battery life efficiently by suspending background apps rather than fully running them. However, there are a few scenarios where closing an app can be beneficial:
- Unresponsive App: If an app is frozen, crashing, or not responding correctly, closing and reopening it can often resolve the issue.
- Troubleshooting: As a basic troubleshooting step for app-specific problems.
- Privacy: If you want to ensure an app is completely inactive for privacy reasons, although background app refresh settings often manage this.
For more information on managing apps and multitasking, you can refer to official Apple support resources like Apple Support.
Understanding Background Apps vs. Closed Apps
It's important to understand the difference between an app running in the background and an app that has been explicitly closed (force quit):
- Background Apps: When you leave an app by going to the Home Screen or switching to another app, it often remains "suspended" in the background. This means it's paused and not actively consuming significant battery or CPU, but it's ready to resume quickly when you return to it.
- Closed (Force Quit) Apps: When you swipe up to close an app in the App Switcher, you are essentially force quitting it. This removes it from your iPhone's memory and it will need to launch fresh the next time you open it. This process can sometimes consume slightly more battery and take a bit longer to open than resuming a suspended app.
