The fastest way to close an app on Android
To close an app on your Android tablet, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment. A row of your recent apps will appear. Find the app you want to close, then swipe it upward off the screen. The app closes when ready.
If swiping doesn't work on your tablet, you may have an older Android version or a different navigation style. In that case, look for a square or rectangle icon at the bottom right of your screen — that's your recent apps button. Tap it, find the app, and swipe it up to close it.
Some tablets also have a back button (an arrow pointing left) at the bottom left. Pressing it repeatedly while inside an app will eventually close that app and return you to your home screen, though this is slower than the swipe method.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to see your recent apps, then swipe the app upward to close it.
- If your tablet has a recent apps button (usually a square icon), tap it and swipe the app up to close it.
- Closing apps this way does not delete them — they remain installed on your tablet and can be opened again anytime.
- Android automatically manages memory, so closing apps is rarely necessary unless one is frozen or draining your battery.
Why you might want to close an app
Most of the time, you don't need to close apps on Android. The system manages memory automatically and puts apps to sleep when you switch away from them. However, there are a few situations where closing an app makes sense.
If an app is frozen or not responding, closing it and reopening it often fixes the problem. If an app is draining your battery unusually fast, closing it can help. Some apps also continue to use data in the background — closing them stops that drain until you open them again.
If you're troubleshooting a problem with your tablet or an app is behaving strangely, closing it is a safe first step that costs nothing and takes seconds.
Closing all apps at once
If you want to close multiple apps quickly, open your recent apps view (swipe up from the bottom and hold, or tap the recent apps button). You'll see thumbnails of your open apps arranged in a row or grid.
Swipe each app upward to close it one by one. There is no "close all" button on most Android tablets, so you'll need to close them individually. This usually takes less than a minute even if you have five or six apps open.
If your tablet feels slow or sluggish, closing several apps and restarting your tablet often helps more than closing apps alone.
The difference between closing and uninstalling
Closing an app stops it from running right now, but the app stays on your tablet. You can open it again anytime by tapping its icon on your home screen or in your app drawer. Closing an app does not delete any of your data inside that app.
Uninstalling an app removes it from your tablet entirely. To uninstall, press and hold the app icon on your home screen, then tap "Uninstall" or "Remove." You'll need to reinstall the app if you want to use it again later.
For most situations, closing is what you want. Uninstalling is only necessary if you no longer want the app on your tablet or if it's taking up storage space you need.
What happens when you close an app
When you close an app by swiping it away, it stops running when ready. Any unsaved work inside that app may be lost, so save your work before closing if you're in the middle of something important.
The app's data — your messages, photos, settings, login information — stays on your tablet. When you open the app again, it usually remembers where you left off, though some apps reset to their home screen.
Closing an app does not clear its cache or temporary files. If you want to fully clear an app's data, you'll need to go into your tablet's Settings, find the app, and tap "Clear Cache" or "Clear Data." This is a separate action from straightforward closing the app.
When closing an app doesn't help
If an app keeps freezing or crashing even after you close and reopen it, the problem may be deeper. Try restarting your entire tablet by holding the power button until a menu appears, then tap "Restart" or "Power Off." Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
If the app still misbehaves, check your tablet's Settings to see if there's an update available for that app. Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap "Manage apps and device." Look for the app in the "Updates available" section and tap "Update."
If the app continues to cause problems after a restart and an update, you may need to uninstall and reinstall it, or contact the app maker's support team for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does closing apps save battery?
Closing apps saves battery only if they were actively running or using data in the background. Most apps that are closed don't drain battery because Android puts them to sleep automatically. If a specific app is draining your battery unusually fast, closing it will help, but closing apps you're not using won't make much difference.
Will closing an app delete my data?
No. Closing an app stops it from running but leaves all your data inside it untouched. Your messages, photos, settings, and login information stay on your tablet. When you reopen the app, your data is still there.
What if I can't swipe up from the bottom?
Your tablet may have an older version of Android or use a different navigation style. Look for a square or rectangle button at the bottom of the screen — that's your recent apps button. Tap it to see your open apps, then swipe the one you want to close upward off the screen.
Can I close an app without losing my work?
Most apps save your work automatically as you go, so closing them won't lose anything. However, if you're in the middle of typing a message or editing a document, save it first before closing the app. When you reopen the app, your work is usually still there.