iPhone users told to stop swiping apps closed as it 'interferes' with device

23 February 2024 , 06:46

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Apple recommends only quitting an app in extreme circumstances (Image: No credit)

iPhone users have been told to stop swiping apps closed as it's reportedly "ruining your phone."

Tech giant Apple recommends only quitting an app in extreme circumstances and said there's no battery benefit to closing all of your apps. On Reddit, iPhone experts and Apple workers have been issuing warnings to fans and warning the practice is completely futile. The Reddit thread is now going viral.

One user said: "Generally speaking, iOS does a better job managing memory and power than you will, so there is no need to routinely force-close apps. You're just interfering with the system's self-management. Now, occasionally an app will misbehave - in which case force-closing and re-opening is often the best way to get past the problem."

Another explained: "Many people have the mistaken impression that manually forced quitting iOS apps is a good thing to do. But in reality, force quitting apps makes the device work harder and use more battery the next time those apps are used. The OS manages apps in a much more efficient manner than you can. The only reason you should be thinking about force quitting apps is if you are troubleshooting a problem."

Another said: "I was force-closing all my apps for the first 2 months of owning my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I started to wonder the same as you about a month ago. I started to leave all my apps open (mind you it has been difficult to kick the habit of closing them all) and I really haven't seen much of a difference in battery usage tbh. I'm sure it would likely affect the battery, however, for me it has been negligible/unnoticeable."

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Another said: "The app list is more of a history of launched apps than a list of actually running apps. Yes, they may be running, they may be suspended and they may long have quit with just a screenshot remaining and the app starting anew when you tap it."

Force closing usually does hardly more than remove a screenshot from the list and iOS manages running apps all by itself, another Reddit user wrote, adding: "The list is more a convenient illusion for the benefit of the user."

Rachel Hagan