When an app on your iPhone or iPad becomes unresponsive, knowing how to force quit it can save you a lot of frustration and potentially prevent the need for a full device restart. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to force quit apps on both iPhone and iPad, tailored to different device models.
Force Quitting Apps on iPhone with Face ID
For iPhones without a Home button, such as the iPhone X, XR, XS, 11, 12, 13, and 14 series, follow these steps:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a brief moment until the App Switcher appears.
- Swipe horizontally to find the app you want to force quit.
- Drag the app’s preview card all the way up to close it. You can also use two or three fingers to swipe up on multiple app cards simultaneously to close them.
Force Quitting Apps on iPhone with a Home Button
For iPhones with a Home button, such as the iPhone SE, 8, 7, 6S, 6, 5S, and 5, follow these steps:
- Double-click the circular Home button in quick succession to open the App Switcher.
- Swipe right or left to find the app you want to close.
- Drag the app’s card all the way up to force quit it.
Adjusting Home Button Click Speed
If you have difficulty double-clicking the Home button quickly due to old age, weak muscles, or a disability, you can adjust the click speed:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Home button.
- Choose Slow or Slowest under Click Speed. This allows the device to register a double-click even if the buttons are pressed with a relatively long gap.
Force Quitting Apps on iPad
The steps for force quitting apps on an iPad are similar to those for iPhones, depending on whether the iPad has a Home button or not.
iPads Without a Home Button
For iPads like the iPad Pro without a Home button, follow these steps:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a brief moment until the App Switcher appears.
- Swipe horizontally to find the app you want to close.
- Drag the app’s preview card all the way up to force quit it.
iPads With a Home Button
For iPads with a Home button, follow these steps:
- Double-click the Home button to open the App Switcher.
- Swipe right or left to find the app you want to close.
- Drag the app’s card all the way up to force quit it.
Reopening a Closed App
After force quitting an app, you can reopen it using several methods:
- Tap the app icon from the Home Screen or App Library.
- Type the name of the app in Spotlight Search and tap its icon.
- Ask Siri to “Open [app name].”
- Tap the app widget from the Home Screen or Today View.
Important Considerations
- Battery Life: Force quitting apps does not improve battery life and can potentially drain the battery faster because the app needs to be loaded again.
- Resource Management: iOS and iPadOS are designed to manage app resources efficiently, so there is generally no need to force quit apps unless they are unresponsive or misbehaving.
By following these steps, you can efficiently manage and troubleshoot unresponsive apps on your iPhone and iPad, ensuring smoother device performance.