In iOS 4.0 and higher Apple launched the feature that allows the user to run apps while using some other apps. In a way it was nicer for the users that they can multitask and keep getting notifications from all the apps that are running. Yet many users are unaware of this update that allows them to have multiple apps running together, and raises concerns of their battery life, memory and cellular data usage. People just keep browsing through the apps unaware that there are a lot of apps running in the background all day long. Background apps are the apps that are once opened, not completely shut down just piling up on the phone usage, this feature was available if the user wishes to continue on a previously used app from the point where he/she had previously stopped. I will show you the steps that the iOS device users can follow for closing the background apps in iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Home Screen

Home Screen

Too many applications running the background slow down the device and use extra power. Closing these extra background apps will let your device have extended battery life, lesser cellular data usage, and a faster loading phone.

For truly shutting down the background apps you have to access the multi-task bar on the phone. To do so, follow the steps listed below

  1. Tap the Home button twice.
  2. At the bottom of the screen you will see a list of apps. These are the apps that you have previously used but have temporarily stopped using it for a while i.e. background apps. If you are doing it for the first time, chances are you will have more than six apps showing up in multi-task bar
Background Apps

Background Apps

  • Press any one of the app from that multi-task bar until you see them shaking. You will see a small red circle with a minus in it on the top left corner of each app
    • Deleting Background Apps

    Deleting Background Apps

  • Tap that small red circle for each app until all the apps are deleted (Note: this deletes the app only from the multi-task bar, your apps on the phone are safe if you delete them from this multi-task bar) This clears all the apps on your phone running in the background
  • If you do not wish to delete any app from the multi-task bar ( want it still running in the background) you can press the Home button once and you will notice that the apps have stopped shaking and are still running in the background.
    • Deleted Background Apps

    Deleted Background Apps

  • After you have delete the background apps, you can either press home button two times or just tap anywhere on the upper screen of the device which is grayed out and it will take you to the home screen.

    • Removing apps from your multi-task bar give a longer battery life, improves device speed and reduces cellular data usage. Give it a try and see how many apps do you have running in background!

    Closing Your Background Apps in iOS 7