Learning how to close apps on iPhone 12 is a fundamental skill that helps maintain your device's performance and battery life. While the iPhone manages memory efficiently, leaving numerous apps running in the background can still slow down your device and drain power. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step walkthrough of the process, ensuring you can navigate your phone with confidence.
Understanding Background Activity on iPhone 12
Before diving into the steps, it is important to understand what happens when you press the home button or swipe up. On the iPhone 12, apps do not completely close when you leave them; instead, they enter a suspended state known as background mode. This allows for quick switching between tasks and preserves your place within the app. However, these apps continue to use system resources, which is why knowing how to manually close them is beneficial for optimizing performance.
Method 1: Using the App Switcher
The primary method for closing apps on your iPhone 12 involves accessing the App Switcher, a feature that lets you view all currently active applications. This is the most visual and intuitive way to manage your open apps, and it works the same way whether you are closing a single app or clearing your entire background.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Locate the gesture bar at the bottom of your screen, which houses the Home Indicator.
Swipe up vertically from the bottom of the screen and hold your position.
Continue holding until the App Switcher interface appears, displaying your open apps as cards.
Navigating the App Switcher Interface
Once you have triggered the App Switcher, you will see a horizontal scroll view of your recently used applications. Each card represents an app that is currently active or suspended in the background. Mastering this interface allows you to quickly identify resource-heavy apps or ones you no longer need, preparing you for the next step in the closing process.
Method 2: Force Closing an App
After accessing the App Switcher, you need to remove the apps from the screen. This action force closes the app, stopping all background processes and freeing up memory. It is important to perform this step correctly to avoid confusing the system or accidentally deleting unsaved data.
Completing the Closure
Locate the specific app card you wish to close within the switcher.
Swipe your finger upward on the card, pushing it off the top edge of the screen.
Watch for the app to disappear from the grid, confirming it has been closed.
When to Close Apps on iPhone 12
While closing apps is a useful tool, it is not always necessary to do so constantly. The iOS operating system is designed to manage memory and prioritize tasks intelligently. You should primarily close apps if you notice significant lag, overheating, or rapid battery drain, as these are signs that background processes are consuming excessive resources.
Common Misconceptions
A widespread myth suggests that closing apps frequently saves battery life. In reality, constantly reopening apps requires more processing power than leaving them suspended. Furthermore, swiping up to close every app you use can disrupt the smooth user experience iOS is designed to provide. Reserve this action for troubleshooting rather than using it as a daily ritual.
