Managing apps on your iPad might seem straightforward, but knowing how to properly close them can make a real difference in your device’s performance and battery life. Let me walk you through the most effective methods and share some insider tips I’ve learned from years of iOS experience.
The Basic App Closing Method
First things first – to close apps on your iPad, start by swiping up from the bottom of your screen and pausing in the middle. This brings up the App Switcher, showing all your recently used apps as cards. From here, simply swipe up on any app card you want to close. You can even use multiple fingers to close several apps at once, though I’ll explain in a moment why you might not want to do that.
When Should You Actually Close Apps?
Here’s something that might surprise you – you don’t need to close your apps as often as you might think. iOS is actually designed to manage apps efficiently in the background. I often see people religiously closing every app after use, but this can actually drain your battery faster since the iPad has to completely reload the app next time you open it.
Times When You Should Close Apps:
• When an app is frozen or misbehaving
• If a specific app is draining your battery unusually quickly
• When an app isn’t responding to touch input
• If you’re troubleshooting performance issues
The Smart Way to Manage Your Apps
Instead of closing all apps regularly, I recommend focusing on apps that are actually causing problems. For instance, if you notice your favorite streaming app is stuttering or your social media app isn’t refreshing properly, those are good candidates for closing.
Pro Tips for Better App Management
Let me share a few tricks I’ve learned over the years:
• Double-check if an app is truly closed by trying to reopen it immediately after closing
• If you’re experiencing general sluggishness, try restarting your iPad instead of closing all apps
• For newer iPads with gesture navigation, make sure you’re using a firm, decisive swipe to close apps
• Keep your most frequently used apps running – it actually helps with battery life and performance
Remember, your iPad is pretty smart about managing memory and battery life on its own. Think of apps in the background like paused TV shows – they’re not really doing anything until you switch back to them. By following these guidelines, you’ll have a smoother, more efficient iPad experience without unnecessarily micromanaging your apps.
