Table of Contents

How to Close Windows on an iPhone 14: The Definitive Guide

Let’s cut to the chase: There’s no actual concept of “closing windows” on an iPhone 14 in the same way you might think of it on a desktop computer. Instead, you’re managing apps and their state. To effectively close apps (thereby “closing windows”) on your iPhone 14, you’ll use the App Switcher. Simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly in the middle to access the App Switcher. From there, swipe left or right to find the app you want to close, and then swipe upwards on the app preview to force it to quit.

Understanding App Management on Your iPhone 14

The iPhone 14’s operating system, iOS, is designed to be highly efficient with memory and battery life. It intelligently manages apps in the background, suspending them when they’re not actively in use. This means they’re frozen in their last state, allowing for quick resumption when you return to them. Force-closing apps should be reserved for when an app is malfunctioning or if you’re trying to conserve battery.

Why Not Just Leave Apps Open?

iOS is pretty good at handling background apps. In most cases, leaving apps open isn’t going to significantly drain your battery or slow down your iPhone 14. In fact, constantly force-closing and reopening apps can actually consume more battery power than leaving them suspended in the background. This is because the process of relaunching an app from scratch takes more processing power.

When Should You Force-Close an App?

There are a few scenarios where force-closing an app on your iPhone 14 is a good idea:

The App is Frozen or Unresponsive: If an app is stuck, showing a spinning wheel, or simply not responding to your touches, force-closing it is the best way to resolve the issue.
The App is Draining Your Battery Excessively: Although rare, some apps may have bugs that cause them to drain your battery even when they’re not actively being used. If you suspect an app is the culprit, force-closing it can help. Check Battery Health in Settings.
You Want to Free Up RAM (In Limited Cases): While iOS manages RAM effectively, force-closing a memory-intensive app might, in rare cases, improve performance, especially on older iPhone models. However, the iPhone 14 has plenty of RAM so this is unlikely to be required.
Troubleshooting: Sometimes, developers or support teams might suggest force-closing and reopening an app as part of a troubleshooting process.

The App Switcher: Your App Management Hub

The App Switcher is the central place to manage open apps on your iPhone 14. Here’s a closer look at how to use it:

Accessing the App Switcher: As mentioned earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly in the middle. This gesture brings up a carousel of app previews, each representing an app that is currently suspended in the background.
Navigating Through Apps: Swipe left or right to scroll through the open apps. The currently active app is the one in the center of the screen.
Force-Closing an App: Swipe upwards on the app preview you want to close. The preview will disappear, indicating that the app has been terminated.
Returning to an App: Simply tap on the app preview in the App Switcher to quickly return to that app’s last state. Or tap the app icon on the Home Screen.

Alternative Ways to Close Apps

While the App Switcher is the primary method for force-closing apps, there are a couple of alternative approaches:

AssistiveTouch: If you have AssistiveTouch enabled (a floating button that provides various shortcuts), you can customize it to include a “Home” or “App Switcher” option, making it easy to access the App Switcher without using the standard gesture.
Voice Control: With Voice Control, you can use voice commands to navigate to the App Switcher and close specific apps. You would need to enable and set up voice control beforehand.

Understanding the App Lifecycle

It’s important to understand that iOS manages apps in different states:

Not Running: The app is completely closed and not running in the background.
Inactive: The app is running but not receiving events. This often occurs when the user switches to another app.
Active: The app is running in the foreground and is actively receiving events.
Background: The app is running in the background and may be performing tasks like downloading data or playing music.
Suspended: The app is in the background but not executing code. It’s frozen in its last state, ready to be quickly resumed.

When you force-close an app using the App Switcher, you’re essentially moving it from any of these states back to the “Not Running” state.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Closing Apps on iPhone 14

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify app management on your iPhone 14:

1. Does force-closing apps really save battery on iPhone 14?

Generally, no. iOS is optimized to handle background apps efficiently. Force-closing apps unnecessarily can actually drain more battery because the phone has to reload the app entirely the next time you use it. Only close an app if it’s malfunctioning or suspected of excessive battery drain.

2. Will force-closing apps make my iPhone 14 faster?

Not usually. The iPhone 14 has plenty of RAM. Force-closing might help in rare cases if an app is hogging resources, but iOS typically manages memory well.

3. How can I tell which apps are draining my battery?

Go to Settings > Battery. Scroll down to see a list of apps and their battery usage. This will help you identify any apps that might be using an unusually high amount of power.

4. Is there a “close all apps” button on iPhone 14?

No, Apple doesn’t provide a “close all apps” button. You have to close apps individually in the App Switcher.

5. What’s the difference between minimizing an app and force-closing it?

Minimizing an app sends it to the background, where it’s either suspended or continues running (if it’s performing background tasks). Force-closing terminates the app entirely.

6. Do I need to close apps after using them?

In most cases, no. Let iOS manage the apps in the background. Only close apps if they are malfunctioning or suspected of draining battery.

7. Can I prevent apps from running in the background altogether?

Yes. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You can turn off Background App Refresh entirely or disable it for specific apps.

8. Why does my iPhone 14 sometimes reopen apps automatically?

iOS may automatically reopen apps that were recently used if it anticipates you’ll need them again. This is part of its intelligent app management system.

9. What happens when I receive a call while an app is running?

The app is typically paused and moves to the background. After the call, you can usually resume the app from where you left off.

10. How do I restart my iPhone 14 if it freezes completely?

Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button (power button). Continue holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

11. Is there a way to see all apps that are currently active, not just the ones in the App Switcher?

No, there isn’t a built-in tool to see all active processes in the same way as a desktop task manager. The App Switcher shows recently used and suspended apps.

12. Can an app secretly drain my battery even if it’s not shown in the Battery settings?

It’s highly unlikely. The Battery settings provide a good overview of app battery usage. If you suspect an app is behaving maliciously, consider uninstalling it.

By understanding how app management works on your iPhone 14, you can optimize its performance and battery life without unnecessary force-closing. Focus on addressing specific issues rather than habitually clearing the App Switcher.