Does Closing Apps On IPhone Save Battery Or Is It A Myth Debunked

For years, iPhone users have been told that swiping away background apps saves battery life. From family members to online forums, the advice is everywhere: “Close your apps to make your phone last longer.” But does this actually work? Or is it just digital folklore passed down like an old wives’ tale? The truth, backed by Apple’s own design principles and independent testing, may surprise you. In fact, not only does closing apps rarely help, but it can sometimes hurt your battery more than it helps.

iOS is engineered differently from desktop operating systems and even some Android devices. Its app management system is designed for efficiency, not constant user intervention. Understanding how iOS handles background processes is key to separating myth from reality when it comes to battery optimization.

How iOS Manages Background Apps

When you press the Home button or swipe up to return to the home screen, most apps don’t continue running in the traditional sense. Instead, they go through a lifecycle managed by iOS:

1. Active: The app is open and in use.
2. Inactive: The app is still visible but no longer receiving events (e.g., during a phone call).
3. Background: The app runs limited processes for a short time (like finishing a download).
4. Suspended: The app is in memory but uses no CPU or energy. It’s frozen, ready to resume instantly.
5. Not Running: The app has been terminated or never launched.

The crucial point is that once an app is suspended, it consumes virtually no battery power. It remains in RAM so it can reload quickly when you reopen it—much like pausing a movie rather than turning off the TV. This design prioritizes speed, responsiveness, and overall energy efficiency.

Tip: Force-closing apps regularly doesn’t save battery—it often increases usage because apps must reload entirely, consuming more power.

Why Closing Apps Doesn’t Save Battery (And Can Hurt Performance)

When you manually close an app, you force it out of memory. The next time you open it, iOS must reload it from scratch—reinitializing code, reconnecting to servers, and rebuilding the interface. This process uses significantly more CPU and energy than resuming a suspended app.

Think of it like driving a car. Keeping the engine idling uses a small amount of fuel, but turning it off and restarting repeatedly uses far more over time. Similarly, constantly killing and relaunching apps forces your iPhone to do more work, draining the battery faster.

Apple has long maintained this stance. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Product Marketing, stated clearly:

“Closing apps isn't necessary and doesn't help battery life. In fact, it hurts performance and can use more battery because the system has to reload the app.” — Greg Joswiak, Apple

This isn’t speculation—it’s rooted in how modern mobile operating systems are built. iOS automatically manages memory and background activity. If your device needs more RAM, it will purge suspended apps intelligently and without user input.

When App Closure Might Be Useful (Rare Exceptions)

While routine app closing is ineffective, there are legitimate scenarios where force-quitting an app makes sense:

• App freezing or crashing: If an app stops responding, closing it can resolve the issue.
• Excessive background activity: A buggy app might continue using GPS, audio, or network services after being backgrounded.
• After software updates: Occasionally, outdated app states cause glitches post-update.
• Security concerns: If you’ve used a banking or login app on a shared device, closing it ensures no sensitive data remains active.

These cases are exceptions, not rules. They involve malfunctioning behavior, not normal operation.

Mini Case Study: The Overzealous App Closer

Meet Daniel, a freelance photographer who believed closing apps extended his iPhone’s battery life during long shoots. Every hour, he’d swipe away all apps—Mail, Camera, Lightroom, Safari, Messages. He thought he was conserving power.

Over a week, he noticed his battery drained faster than usual. Curious, he tested two days under identical conditions:

• Day 1: Closed all apps hourly.
• Day 2: Left apps alone unless unresponsive.

Result: On Day 2, his battery lasted 27% longer. Usage logs showed higher CPU activity and more frequent app reloads on Day 1. The constant relaunching of editing tools and communication apps consumed more energy than letting iOS manage them.

Daniel now only closes apps when they misbehave—saving both time and battery.

What Actually Drains iPhone Battery (And What You Can Do)

If closing apps isn’t the solution, what truly impacts battery life? Real culprits include:

Battery Drain Factor	Impact Level	Recommended Action
Screen brightness & timeout	High	Lower brightness; set auto-lock to 30 seconds.
Background App Refresh (for select apps)	Medium	Disable for non-essential apps in Settings > General.
Location Services (always-on GPS)	High	Set to \"While Using\" instead of \"Always\" for most apps.
Poor cellular signal	High	Use Airplane mode in dead zones or enable Wi-Fi calling.
Push email and notifications	Medium	Switch to fetch manually or hourly.
Background playback (music, video)	High	Ensure media stops when app is closed.

Unlike app switching, these settings directly influence energy consumption. For example, a single app refreshing every 15 minutes in the background can wake the radio and CPU hundreds of times per day.

Tip: Check battery usage per app in Settings > Battery. Sort by \"Last 24 Hours\" or \"Last 10 Days\" to spot hidden offenders.

Step-by-Step: Optimize iPhone Battery Without Closing Apps

Follow this sequence to improve battery life the right way:

1. Review Battery Usage: Go to Settings > Battery and identify top consumers.
2. Adjust Screen Settings: Reduce brightness and shorten auto-lock time.
3. Manage Location Services: Tap Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Set high-drain apps (like social media) to \"While Using.\"
4. Control Background App Refresh: Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Disable for apps that don’t need live updates.
5. Limit Push Notifications: Settings > Notifications. Turn off non-essential alerts.
6. Enable Low Power Mode: Automatically reduces background activity when battery drops below 20%.
7. Update iOS and Apps: Bugs in older versions can cause excessive battery drain.

This approach targets actual sources of energy use, not perceived ones.

Debunking Common Misconceptions

Several myths persist about iPhone battery management. Let’s address them directly:

• Myth: More RAM usage = worse battery life. Reality: RAM holds data; it doesn’t consume significant power. What matters is CPU and radio activity.
• Myth: Background apps are secretly running. Reality: Most suspended apps are frozen. Only specific services (audio, navigation, VoIP) run briefly in the background—and only with permission.
• Myth: Restarting your iPhone daily saves battery. Reality: While occasional restarts clear temporary glitches, doing it daily offers no measurable benefit and uses extra energy.

These misconceptions stem from misunderstanding how iOS works. Unlike computers, iPhones don’t rely on users to manage memory or processes.

Expert Insight: Inside iOS Power Management

Dr. Linette Lopez, a mobile systems engineer and former iOS developer, explains:

“The entire premise of ‘closing apps to save battery’ misunderstands iOS architecture. Apple’s kernel-level task scheduler is optimized to suspend apps efficiently. User-initiated closures disrupt this flow. The system knows when to free memory better than any human ever could.” — Dr. Linette Lopez, Mobile Systems Engineer

She adds that iOS uses predictive models to anticipate which apps you’ll use next, preloading them quietly during low-power moments—a feature undermined by constant manual closure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does leaving apps open in the background drain battery?

No, not once they’re suspended. An app in the background list isn’t actively running. It’s either frozen in memory or already purged by iOS if resources are needed. Only apps actively using location, audio, or downloads impact battery while in the background.

Should I close apps before charging my iPhone?

No. Charging performance and battery health aren’t affected by open apps. In fact, iOS optimizes charging cycles regardless of app state. Focus on avoiding extreme heat and using certified chargers instead.

Why do some people swear closing apps helps their battery?

Perception plays a big role. If someone closes apps and then sees improved battery life, they may attribute it to the wrong cause. Real improvements usually come from coincidental factors—like reduced screen time, entering a strong signal area, or iOS completing a large background task. Confirmation bias reinforces the myth.

Final Checklist: Smart iPhone Battery Habits

Instead of closing apps, follow this checklist for genuine battery savings:

• ✅ Lower screen brightness or enable Auto-Brightness
• ✅ Set Auto-Lock to 30 seconds
• ✅ Disable Background App Refresh for non-critical apps
• ✅ Review and restrict Location Services permissions
• ✅ Use Wi-Fi instead of cellular data when possible
• ✅ Keep iOS updated to the latest stable version
• ✅ Enable Low Power Mode when battery is low
• ❌ Stop force-closing apps as a routine practice

Conclusion: Trust the System, Not the Myth

The idea that closing iPhone apps saves battery is a well-intentioned myth—one that’s persisted because it feels logical. But iOS was built to handle app management automatically, efficiently, and invisibly. Interfering with that system often does more harm than good.

True battery optimization comes from adjusting settings that actually affect power draw: screen usage, connectivity, and background permissions. These changes yield measurable results. Manual app closure does not.

Let go of the habit. Stop swiping. Trust iOS to do its job. Your battery—and your peace of mind—will thank you.

🚀 Ready to maximize your iPhone’s battery life the right way? Share this article with someone who still closes apps religiously—and help debunk the myth for good.