Close Shortcuts App After Opening App

Closing Apps After Opening: Why and How to Do It Efficiently

This article delves into the often-overlooked practice of closing apps after use, particularly on smartphones and tablets. While many modern operating systems manage background processes efficiently, understanding when and how to close apps can significantly impact your device's performance, battery life, and overall user experience. This guide will explain the benefits and provide step-by-step instructions for various platforms.

Why Close Apps After Use?

While background app management has improved dramatically, leaving apps open consumes resources. These resources include:

• Battery Life: Even inactive apps can drain battery power by constantly communicating with servers or performing background tasks.
• RAM Usage: Each open app occupies a portion of your device's Random Access Memory (RAM). Excessive RAM usage can lead to slower performance, lag, and app crashes.
• Data Usage: Background processes may use mobile data even when you're not actively using the app. This can lead to unexpected data overages.
• Security: Keeping apps open unnecessarily increases the potential risk of security breaches, especially if the app isn't properly secured.
• Improved Performance: Closing unused apps helps your device run smoother and faster, particularly on older or lower-end devices.

How to Close Apps on Different Platforms:

The methods for closing apps vary slightly depending on your operating system:

Android:

Android's approach to app closure has evolved. While manually closing apps isn't strictly necessary on newer versions with efficient background processes, here's how to do it:

1. Recent Apps View: Typically, a swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or a dedicated button) will bring up the recent apps view.
2. App Selection: Locate the app you wish to close.
3. Closing the App: Depending on your Android version and device manufacturer, you might need to swipe the app away from the screen, tap a close button (usually an 'X' or similar symbol), or long-press and select "Close."

Note: On some Android devices, you may have options for forcefully stopping apps, which is generally only recommended if an app is misbehaving or freezing.

iOS (iPhone and iPad):

iOS manages background apps quite effectively. While you don't need to meticulously close every app, here's how:

1. App Switcher: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly to reveal the app switcher.
2. Closing Apps: Swipe up on the app preview to close it. You'll see the app card slide off the top of the screen.

Note: iOS automatically manages background processes, so aggressively closing apps isn't usually necessary.

Windows (PC):

On Windows, closing apps is straightforward:

1. Taskbar: Locate the app icon on the taskbar.
2. Right-Click: Right-click the app icon.
3. Close: Select "Close" or "Exit." Alternatively, you can press Alt+F4 on your keyboard.

For more aggressive closure, you can use the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to end processes, but this should only be used as a last resort if an app is unresponsive.

macOS (Mac):

Closing apps on macOS is similar to Windows:

1. Dock: Locate the app icon in the Dock.
2. Click and Drag: Click and drag the app icon upwards off the Dock, or click on the app's menu and select "Quit."

You can also force quit unresponsive apps through the Force Quit Applications window (Command+Option+Esc).

Conclusion:

While modern operating systems effectively manage background processes, understanding how to close apps can improve your device's performance, prolong battery life, and enhance your overall mobile experience. Remember to balance the benefits of closing apps with the convenience of having them readily available. The key is to find a balance that suits your usage patterns and device capabilities.