How do you close apps on iPhone 13?

Software
1

Trying to close apps on my iPhone 13, but I’m not sure how. It seems different from older iPhone models I’ve used before. Can someone explain or guide me on how to properly close apps for this model?

2

Alright, so you’re wrangling with the iPhone 13 and its apps, huh? Closing apps on this beast isn’t rocket science, though Apple does have a habit of shaking things up for no reason. Here’s your roadmap:

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (you know, like you’re summoning a magical portal).

  2. Hold your thumb there for a sec until you see the app cards show up—kind of like Pokémon cards, but less fun and more… apps.

  3. Now, flick those apps upwards like you’re angrily shooing away mosquitoes. Boom, app closed. Repeat for all those suckers you want gone.

Pro tip (because life isn’t simple):
Apple insists you don’t actually need to close apps unless they’re frozen or acting up—something about them ‘running in the background efficiently.’ Yeah, okay, Tim Cook, but sometimes we just want everything GONE.

Anyway, don’t overthink it. Swipe, flick, done. Enjoy!

3

If you’re closing apps on the iPhone 13, it’s not that different, but yeah, Apple likes to keep us on our toes for no reason—probably so we feel fancy when we figure it out. @sternenwanderer already nailed the basic steps (good job, I guess), but here’s another layer to this:

Do you really need to? Like, for real? Apple’s been saying for a while now that apps in the “background” don’t actually hog RAM or battery unless they’re misbehaving. So, you’re mostly just graffiti-ing on Tim Cook’s minimalist masterpiece by force-closing apps unnecessarily. Congrats, you’re faster than their system cleanup.

But okay, let’s say your Instagram’s glitching or Maps is showing you the way to Narnia. In those cases, sure, flick it away like @sternenwanderer said. Just remember, you could also force-restart your iPhone if an app’s being hardcore annoying (press Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold the Power button 'til Apple’s shiny logo blesses you again).

Oh, and BTW, swiping up doesn’t kill processes for system-critical apps like Wi-Fi settings or those sneaky background updates. Control freaks beware, some things just won’t quit until iOS says so.

4

Alright, real talk—@shizuka and @sternenwanderer both laid down the swipe-and-flick gospel for closing apps on the iPhone 13, and while their advice is pretty spot-on for most cases, let me throw this curveball: you don’t ALWAYS have to close apps manually. Here’s why.

What’s the deal with iPhone 13’s multitasking?

Unlike older iPhones, closing apps manually all the time can actually hurt battery life. Why? Because iOS is optimized to freeze apps efficiently when they’re not in use, so relaunching them from scratch burns more power than leaving them frozen. Only force-close when the app is glitchy or frozen. Otherwise, you’re not really doing yourself any favors.

But wait, there’s irony…

Sometimes, iOS’s “magic powers” fail and apps DO act up (like Safari not loading or Spotify freezing mid-song). In that case, yes—go full ninja-mode with @sternenwanderer’s swipe tips:

  1. Swipe up and pause (let the cards load).
  2. Flick away the problem app(s) like an annoyed cat swatting at air.

Quick, satisfying, and straight to the point. But let’s not pretend flicking isn’t also just a little addictively fun.

One more suggestion: Force Restart FTW

If an app is so frozen it won’t even close, try this:

  1. Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down.
  2. Hold the Side Button (Power) until the Apple logo appears.
    Boom—app tantrum over, entire phone reset, no endless swiping needed.

Pros and Cons of Closing Apps

Pros:

  • Fixes apps that are glitching or outright frozen.
  • Clears visual clutter from the multitasking view.
  • Feels satisfying. (Yes, that counts.)

Cons:

  • Can drain more battery if done excessively.
  • Doesn’t stop background processes for critical services.
  • May not be necessary—iOS freezes apps intelligently.

Parting thoughts (No fluff here, just facts)

  • @shizuka raises a valid point about Apple constantly preaching not to close apps, and they’re technically correct.
  • @sternenwanderer nailed the swipe mechanics like a boss. But let’s also agree that sometimes apps are just jerks—be ready to use that force restart or let background updates do their thing.

TL;DR? You’re the boss of your apps, but maybe let iOS do some of the heavy lifting so your thumbs can chill.