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Closing Background Apps

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Closing Background Apps

Have you ever noticed that your computer or mobile device starts to slow down or become unresponsive? One common culprit of this issue can be background apps running in the background, consuming valuable system resources. Closing background apps can help improve the overall performance of your device and ensure smooth operation. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of closing background apps on different platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Table of Contents

Closing Background Apps on Windows

Step 1: Open Task Manager

To close background apps on Windows, you need to access the Task Manager. Right-click on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select "Task Manager" from the context menu.

Step 2: Identify Background Apps

In the Task Manager window, go to the "Processes" or "Details" tab, depending on your Windows version. Look for apps or processes that you don't need to have running in the background. Note that some background processes are essential for the functioning of your system, so be cautious when closing them.

Step 3: End Background Apps

To close a background app or process, select it and click on the "End Task" or "End Process" button at the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window. Confirm any prompts if necessary. Repeat this step for all the unnecessary background apps you want to close.

Closing Background Apps on macOS

Step 1: Access Activity Monitor

On macOS, you can use the Activity Monitor utility to close background apps. You can find it by navigating to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Activity Monitor" or by using Spotlight Search to find and open it.

Step 2: View Processes

In the Activity Monitor window, you will see a list of all the running processes and apps. By default, it shows the "CPU" tab, which displays the processes using the most CPU resources. You can also check the "Memory" tab to see processes consuming high amounts of memory.

Step 3: Close Background Apps

To close a background app, select it from the list and click on the "X" button in the upper-left corner of the Activity Monitor window. Confirm any prompts if necessary. Repeat this step for all the unnecessary background apps you want to close.

Closing Background Apps on iOS

Step 1: Access the App Switcher

To view and close background apps on iOS, you need to access the App Switcher. On devices with a home button (older iPhones and iPads), double-press the home button. On devices without a home button (iPhone X and newer), swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.

Step 2: View Background Apps

In the App Switcher, you will see a horizontally scrollable list of recently used apps. Swipe left or right to navigate through the apps and find the ones you want to close.

Step 3: Close Background Apps

To close a background app, swipe it up and off the top of the screen. This gesture will remove the app from the App Switcher and close it. Repeat this step for all the unnecessary background apps you want to close.

Closing Background Apps on Android

Step 1: Open Recent Apps

To access the list of recent apps on Android, you generally have two options. Either tap the "Recent Apps" button (usually a square or overlapping rectangles icon) on the navigation bar, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly.

Step 2: Navigate Recent Apps

In the Recent Apps view, you will see a vertically scrollable list of apps. Swipe up or down to scroll through the list and find the apps you want to close.

Step 3: Close Background Apps

To close a background app, swipe it to the side or swipe it up and off the screen, depending on your device and Android version. This action will remove the app from the Recent Apps list and close it. Repeat this step for all the unnecessary background apps you want to close.

That's it! By following these steps, you can effectively close background apps on different platforms and optimize the performance of your device. Remember to exercise caution and avoid closing essential system processes.