How to Close Applications on Your Computer or Phone
Understanding What It Means to Close an Application
Closing an application means stopping a program from running on your device. When you close an app, it stops using your device's memory and processing power. Think of it like turning off a light in a room you're no longer using—the light stops consuming electricity, and you free up that energy for other things.
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On computers and phones, applications run in the background even when you're not actively using them. According to research from app monitoring services, the average smartphone user has between 60 to 100 apps installed, though they actively use only about 9 to 10 regularly. When apps stay open, they can slow down your device, drain your battery (on phones), and use up your available storage space.
There are different types of closing actions depending on your device. You might minimize an app, which hides it from view but keeps it running. You might put it to sleep, which pauses it but leaves it ready to restart quickly. Or you might fully close or force close an app, which stops it completely. Understanding the difference between these actions helps you manage your device more effectively.
Closing applications is one of the most basic maintenance tasks you can do to keep your device running smoothly. It requires no special knowledge and takes only seconds. Whether you use a computer running Windows or Mac, an iPhone, or an Android phone, the process is straightforward once you know where to look.
Practical Takeaway: Regularly closing unused applications can improve your device's speed and battery life. Start noticing which apps you actually use daily versus which ones stay open unnecessarily.
How to Close Applications on Windows Computers
Windows computers offer several methods to close applications, each useful in different situations. The most common method is clicking the X button in the top-right corner of any open window. This button appears on virtually every application window in Windows. When you click it, the program closes completely and stops running on your computer.
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Another straightforward method involves using the Alt+F4 keyboard shortcut. This combination works on most Windows applications. Simply hold down the Alt key and press F4, and the active window (the one you're currently using) will close. This method works even if you can't see or reach the X button for some reason. Many experienced computer users prefer this method because it's faster than using the mouse.
For applications that aren't responding or have become frozen, Windows includes a Task Manager tool. You can open it by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc or by right-clicking on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and selecting "Task Manager." Once open, you'll see a list of all running programs. If a program is frozen or unresponsive, you can click on it to select it, then click the "End Task" button. This forces the application to close, even if it's not responding normally.
The taskbar at the bottom of your Windows screen shows all currently open applications. You can click on any application in the taskbar, and if it's already open, it will come to the front of your screen. From there, you can use any of the closing methods mentioned above. Right-clicking on a taskbar icon also gives you additional options, including "Close window" or "Close all windows" if multiple instances of that application are running.
Some applications create system tray icons (small icons in the bottom-right corner near the clock). Right-clicking on these icons sometimes provides an option to close or exit the application. However, not all applications offer this feature, so you may need to use one of the other methods if this option isn't available.
Practical Takeaway: Master the Alt+F4 keyboard shortcut and the X button as your primary methods. Keep Task Manager bookmarked in your mind for those frustrating moments when an app freezes and won't respond to normal closing commands.
How to Close Applications on Mac Computers
On Mac computers, closing applications involves similar concepts to Windows but with some differences in appearance and method names. The most straightforward way to close a Mac application is to click the red circle button in the top-left corner of any open window. Unlike Windows, where the close button is on the right, Mac places it on the left side. Clicking this red button closes the active window and usually closes the entire application, though some programs may continue running in the background.
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The Command+Q keyboard shortcut is Mac's equivalent to Alt+F4 on Windows. Pressing Command (the key with the Apple logo) and Q together will quit the currently active application. This is typically the quickest way to close apps on a Mac. Many Mac users develop a habit of using Command+Q because it's so efficient, similar to Windows users favoring Alt+F4.
If an application becomes unresponsive or frozen, Mac includes the Force Quit feature. You can access this by pressing Command+Option+Esc, which opens the Force Quit Applications window. This window displays all currently running programs. If one has stopped responding, you'll see the word "Not Responding" next to its name. Select the frozen application and click "Force Quit" to close it. This is Mac's equivalent to Windows Task Manager's End Task feature.
The Dock, which appears at the bottom (or side, depending on your settings) of your Mac screen, shows all open applications. You can click on any application icon in the Dock to bring it to the front. Right-clicking on an icon in the Dock also provides options, including "Quit" which closes that application. Some applications show multiple open windows—you can see this indicated next to the application's name in the Dock.
Mac's menu bar at the top of the screen contains application-specific options. When an application is active, its name appears in the menu bar. You can click on the application name to see a dropdown menu that often includes a "Quit [Application Name]" option. This provides another reliable method to close applications on your Mac.
Practical Takeaway: Learn Command+Q and master the Force Quit window (Command+Option+Esc). These two tools will handle nearly every situation you encounter when closing Mac applications.
How to Close Applications on iPhones and iPads
Apple's iPhone and iPad operating systems (iOS and iPadOS) handle application closing differently than computers. Unlike computers where you actively close each program, iPhones and iPads manage apps automatically through a system called memory management. However, you can still manually close apps, which can be useful if an app is misbehaving or using excessive battery power.
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For iPhones with Face ID (the newer models released from 2017 onward), closing an app involves using the App Switcher. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen toward the middle, then pause for a moment. This brings up the App Switcher, which displays all your recently used applications as cards. Find the app you want to close by scrolling horizontally, then swipe that card upward off the screen. This action closes the application.
For older iPhones with Touch ID or a home button (models before 2017), the process differs slightly. Double-tap the home button to open the App Switcher. You'll see applications displayed as cards. Swipe up on the card of the app you want to close, and it will disappear, indicating that the app has been closed. This method works on any iPhone that has a physical home button.
It's worth understanding that closing apps on iPhone and iPad doesn't necessarily improve performance as much as it does on computers. Apple's operating system is designed to handle multiple apps running simultaneously without the same slowdown that affects computers. However, if an app is frozen, draining your battery unusually fast, or misbehaving in some way, manually closing it and reopening it can often solve the problem.
If you want to close all your open apps at once (though this isn't necessary for general maintenance), you would need to repeat the App Switcher process for each app individually. Some users do this occasionally if their device feels sluggish, though Apple's system typically manages this without requiring manual intervention.
Practical Takeaway: Most iPhone and iPad users don't need to regularly close apps since the system manages them automatically. However, knowing how to close a misbehaving app using the App Switcher gives you a quick troubleshooting tool when needed.
How to Close Applications on Android Phones and Tablets
Android devices offer multiple ways to close applications, giving you more control than iOS devices in
This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.