So you’ve updated to iOS 7 (or taken delivery of your new iPhone 5s or 5c) and you can’t figure out how to close all those apps you’ve launched. Don’t worry: you’re not alone.
How to close apps in iOS 7
In iOS 6 and previous versions you had to double-tap the Home button to show the tray containing all the apps which were running in the background, using up all the smartphone or tablet’s precious resources (particularly RAM). You’d then tap and hold any one of them to make them all wiggle, and press the red cross to close the app.
It was never a good system, and most people didn’t realise you didn’t actually have to tap the ‘x’ – pressing anywhere on the icon would close the app.
In iOS 7, reviewed, you still double-tap the Home button to bring up the list of running apps, but it’s now a full-screen affair, no matter whether you’re using an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.
As well as the icon, you also get a larger thumbnail of what was on screen when you last used the app, so it’s easier to see at a glance which app is which.
To close an app, you simply swipe upwards on the thumbnail to dismiss it – just as on an Android tablet or smartphone. Swipe left and right to scroll through the list of apps.
If you have lots of running apps, it’s quicker to use two fingers to simultaneously dismiss two apps.
See also: How to clear unread Gmail emails in iOS 7: mark them all as read
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Comments
NireNire said: Thanks for the post Ive searched this question before but this is the first clear explanation Ive gotten Thank you
Simsim said: Thank you it worked for me
robin Grace said: swipe the large version of the app not the thumbnail That worked for me
Gregg said: Here to help Swipes Up-G
nope said: So how do you kill ALL the running apps with one action
Matt Egan said: What would we do without such insight
Gregg said: Lol Android is garbage And an IOS knockoff
DavidW said: Thanks PC giving advice on Mac Like ebony and ivory working in perfect harmony hahahaha
Elly said: HahahahaYou forget where Android got their interface for years
ProGadgets said: thanks I got it
Hanope said: So why isnt this working for me I swish up down all over and nothing closes the apps
Thx:) said: Thank you so much I just up-dated and I wasnt sure how to close apps So far the only problem I see with this new up date is while typing it doesnt go as I type It keeps freezing in middle of typing Just as Im writing this to you It has taken me forever because it keeps freezing Anyway to fix that Anyways great advice
iceman said: yes because we needed to change the way we closed apps ohh no i remember we just have to arse about with everything what happend to if its not broke dont fix it
peter said: sadly this doesnt work for Skype the app does show in the list and when you swipe it up it stays removed but sadly this has no affect on the app still getting notices
Geo said: its not negativity its common sense its called hey i have my opinion can i speak it
Sandi Osner said: Cant figure out how to delete the updated apps- Ive been swiping up and down and all around and cant figure this out Help
gina said: No x appears on the app after it starts to jiggle like it used to now what
App Affair said: you should NEVER have to buy a user guide for a purchased piece of equipment ios7 appears designed for teenagers including the US kids language really irritating for English from England or Australia - the Queens English - think business and law guys and make a sophisticated approach Id also love to see Apple become openly tech savvy by incorporating basic things like workable file swap and SD between devices not trickery or pseudo always needs tech help nonsense Dont be shy Free us from chaining ourselves to Telcos charging for wifi accessed functions Get Bluetooth that actually works between same brand devices too not just SAY its the latest 40 Would be great If I didnt have to spend two days checking and fixing new purchases from apple and do worse by upgrading to ios7 Thats why Im off to support windows based equipment One folder one card one presentation Easy
marcia said: my battery life was next to nil Just saw all apps were open Hopefully this will do it Have tried every other tip I wish they had told us
frankenmouse said: One would think that when making such a large change to a basic function that Apple would make it a bit more obvious what they had done to change the system